Kicker for Use in Saltwater?

[minuteman62-64]

I'm starting to scan Craigslist for a small (under 10 HP) motor to use as a kicker for my boat. Use would be strictly for emergency power, as backup to my 30 year old Mariner. The boat is used strictly in saltwater.

Apparently there is/was a difference between motors made for use in saltwater and use in freshwater. Is that correct? Is it correct regardless of the age or size of the motor?

For my anticipated use (hopefully only once in a blue moon) does it matter?

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: Kicker for Use in Saltwater?

And, I forgot to post my other question: if there is a difference between saltwater and freshwater motors, is there a way to tell (serial #, etc.), since a lot of the Craigslist offerings don't seem to have much documentation. I'm sure I can rely 100% on the seller, but, just in case .........

 

[F_R]

Re: Kicker for Use in Saltwater?

I don't believe that old yarn about special motors built for saltwater.

Do you plan to carry it on the transom? The worst part of it is that when you need it, it probably won't work. You must make a habit of starting it up every time you go out to keep it operational. That brings up another issue. It is in regular use, so it needs regular maintenance. In reality you are running a twin engine rig.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Kicker for Use in Saltwater?

I don't think I've seen too many small outboards labeled for "saltwater" use. And from what I understand there isn't just difference between the salt and freshwater versions of the larger motors anyway. I'd look for an 8-15 HP long shaft.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Kicker for Use in Saltwater?

there are electric trolling motors "made" for saltwater but I have heard they just have different paint.
All outboards are made for salt water.

Unless you boat alone in remote areas, I question the wisdom of spending the money and adding the weight for "emergency back-up." The cost of something reliable may be the cost to repower the main motor, because buying an old one for back-up is going backwards. You will have to run it a lot.

Meanwhile your insurance probably covers towing, if you can't flag down a Good Samaritan. Depending on your boat size, maybe invest in an anchor and a couple of paddles instead.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Kicker for Use in Saltwater?

there are electric trolling motors "made" for saltwater but I have heard they just have different paint.
All outboards are made for salt water.

Unless you boat alone in remote areas, I question the wisdom of spending the money and adding the weight for "emergency back-up." The cost of something reliable may be the cost to repower the main motor, because buying an old one for back-up is going backwards. You will have to run it a lot.

Meanwhile your insurance probably covers towing, if you can't flag down a Good Samaritan. Depending on your boat size, maybe invest in an anchor and a couple of paddles instead.

Your advice is fine for fresh water small lakes. If you be five miles out in the Gulf Stream and your main power craps out you would be pretty pleased with yourself lookin at that 9.9 hangin off the transom. You can get a reliable 9.9 for relative peanuts.

The key to running in salt is preventive maintenance. I run a 37 year old 9.9 in salt and it has gotten me home several times when the main went south.

 

[kahuna123]

Re: Kicker for Use in Saltwater?

I guess that depends on what you call saltwater. In the South you will rarely see them and when you do its usually someone from the North.
I always assumed they were for trolling at very slow speeds.

Don't waste you money. What you should have ANYWAY is a good radio, an EPRIB, and towing insurance.

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: Kicker for Use in Saltwater?

Kickers are a great idea. A general rule of thumb is to size them about 10% of your main engine HP.

I've run in, on the kicker, more than once when the main failed.

As the others mentioned, any engine run in salt requires a great deal more care and maintenance. Yes, there was a difference between salt and regular engines. The salt versions had some different fasteners. Mostly stainless.

Some engines had a better reputation for saltwater use. Johnson and Evinrude seemed to hold up better than Mercury. At least in the 60's, 70's and 80's. Some of the early Japanese engines had a lousy rep. in salt.

I think any of the newer engines have corrected those issues.

 

[gokart83]

Re: Kicker for Use in Saltwater?

I am in savannah and im doing the same thing. I went with a Johnrude 8 hp since it is about 30lbs lighter than the 9.9 hp. radios and tows are nice and should be ava, but knowing i can get home myself is alot more satisifying. Since I got it, Ive had alot of fun running it on a 12' jon boat also which you can get for next to nothing on CL!

 

[jere1972]

Re: Kicker for Use in Saltwater?

There are differences in salt/fresh editions, mainly larger engines, Johnson/Evinrude especially, salt editions have More stainless fastners and Stainless steering tube and swival tube, my exp with the smaller engines is and there seems to be no salt versions for kicker size motors, is mercury seems to be one of the worst for corrosion, mariner (product of Mercury) is not far behind, I would stick with Johnson/Evinrude, quality paint and primer, 50-60 year old John-Rude motors in the 3-40hp range are still being ran on many boats in my area (TAMPA) goes to show there quality!!!!! just flush and rinse them well,,,I run a detergent up in mine aswell when flushing if anything helps coat the impellar when sitting for awhile, invest in some Corrosion X aswell, works great on all power head components, and any area not subjected to heavy water flow(will wash away)

 

[jere1972]

Re: Kicker for Use in Saltwater?

Well I'm gonna recant on my prior post in regards to Mariner at least my 9.9 kicker has held up very well but I clean and flush the crap out of both my engines after every use......have know idea what you plan to run the kicker on, but here is my recent experience, I have ran my kicker on my boat (20' KeyWest WA) many times in shallow inshore flats calm waters pushes around 6-7 mph, but recently my johnson 225 lost a bank of cyl(ignition) 15 miles out in gulf of mexico, seas 2-4 winds from the east @15, this was the 2nd time I ever had to use this kicker for an emergency, first time offshore, because of the seas and wind could only achieve 2.5mph and a heavy swell would push me back, so the 9.9 was great for inshore trolling, but for a offshore kicker may need to go a bit larger...2.5mph would have got me back eventually but what a stain on that little motor in 2-4's, came back in on the Johnson running on 3 Cyl @6mph...so size it correctly...

 

[bryanwess2000]

Re: Kicker for Use in Saltwater?

I don't know of any small outboards made specifically for salt. For small outboards I like the johnson 9.9/15 hp, but I had a mariner 8hp
for a couple years that always started by the 2nd pull. Some things I wanted were long shaft, electric start and remote control. It's nice to be able to steer and control throttle on your kicker from the helm. Some may think it's a waste to buy a kicker, but I've blown 2 used motors and had to paddle back to dock so I'll always have one. If I were going offshore I would have a kicker and tow insurance. A kicker may not get you back to shore in heavy winds and seas but you can point the bow into the waves to prevent being swamped while waiting for a tow

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: Kicker for Use in Saltwater?

Appreciate the input. Looks like the key is good maintenance, particularly washdown.

I'm going to keep an eye out on Craigslist and at garage sales for an older Johnson/Evenrude at a good price that I can play around with. Based on the "10% rule" cited above, since my current motor is 30 HP (and I could get by with 20-25 HP) it seems like I'd be looking at something in the 3-5 HP range for a kicker. It looks like the older 2-strokes in this power range weigh in between 35-40 lbs.

A friend of mine is picking up a new 6 HP 4-stroke Merc. today. If he'll let me borrow it I can test the viability of a kicker in this power/weight range for my boat.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Kicker for Use in Saltwater?

If you have a 30 hp motor you have a boat too small to justify a second outboard.

If you have used a back-up motor "several times" due to the main engine failing, you need to focus on the main engine.

With a 30 hp and correspondnig size (small) boat you won't be more than a couple miles out, and any boat can tow yours.

I say it's an unnecessary waste of money and weight, unless you are alone in remote areas.

BTW my experience is 40+ years in salt water, small old motors and boats, remote areas in winter, open bays, ocean inlets. Never saw the need for a kicker, except maybe trolling if the main is over 150 hp. Don't see many people with them and no experienced boaters I know have them.

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: Kicker for Use in Saltwater?

I've never had an engine failure prior to the cooling problem I had on the first shakedown cruise for my recently brought back to life boat - although haven't had a lot of hours on the water. The previous owner of my current boat did use a kicker. However, he used to take it (a 15'-6" skiff) 20 miles off-shore in search of albacore. I'll be going mostly in San Diego Bay and maybe off the Point Loma kelp beds (1-2 miles off shore) once in a while.

Maybe I don't need a kicker. However, I do have a 30 year old motor and, while I would gladly help a fellow boater in need, don't like the idea of myself being dependent on others for tow/assistance. Maybe just a quirk of old age

Sunny with temperatures in the 70's today so I'm taking my boat out for it's second shake-down cruise. My buddy hasn't volunteered the experimental use of his new motor yet, but he is bringing along a pair of oars. We'll try the oars as emergency back-up to see how they work.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Kicker for Use in Saltwater?

On the West Coast kickers are very popular, mostly because of how we fish, but also as a backup for the main motor, you won't see many boats without them. I would never want to go out without a kicker, I just don't like to be towed back in by anyone, for any reason.

 

[M9.9]

Re: Kicker for Use in Saltwater?

My father got stuck on the pacific when his main mtr died. His 'savior', as he put it, was the little 6 johnston he had just put on. He said each time he flushed-out his main after that, he flush-out the 6 hp too, including starting it. You might consider a low hp but air-cooled model.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Kicker for Use in Saltwater?

You might consider a low hp but air-cooled model.

Unfortunately most of those are junk.

 

[M9.9]

Re: Kicker for Use in Saltwater?

Honda makes a 2hp 4 stroke air-cooled outboard. Though I have not checked it for pricing, like most everything -- Honda, it may be a bit pricy?

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Kicker for Use in Saltwater?

once you price them, compare the price of the motor + bracket (X) to the price of a tow from seatow/boatus for non member (A) , less the amount your insurance will reimburse you for the tow (B) (A-B = Y). Factor the cost/risks: There is a 100% chance you will spend X if you buy the motor; there is a 10% chance you will use the tow service. Compare 100% of X to 10% of Y. Might could buy a lot of gas and lures for the difference.