Kicker for Use in Saltwater?

[ondarvr]

Re: Kicker for Use in Saltwater?

If your main motor fails for some reason its fine to wait for a tow through insurance....if you're sitting quietly with no wind, waves or current. The Kelp beds aren't too far off the beach in the San Diego area and even a light wind will normally push you to the beach rather quickly. With a kicker there is no issue, you don't need cell phone service or a radio to call in and then wait, you just start it up and head home...or just continue to fish.

I will say that in 40+ years of boating I have only needed the kicker to get back a couple of times, but I've towed in many other boats that could have easily made it back to the dock with a kicker.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Kicker for Use in Saltwater?

which is why the anchor is so important, in areas where you can anchor.

 

[nwcove]

Re: Kicker for Use in Saltwater?

home cookin'......not all ob's were made for salt water use. their have been some sold as "fresh water" motors.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Kicker for Use in Saltwater?

home cookin'......not all ob's were made for salt water use. their have been some sold as "fresh water" motors.

Find me saltwater/freshwater motors under 20HP

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Kicker for Use in Saltwater?

there may be some novelty motors like a Briggs and Stratton sold a 'fresh water only' but not any mainstream motors, not recently. And the mainstream motors that are supposedly made for salt water use are merely admitting that their standard motor is substandard.
It's like that "Z Offroad" series of GMC trucks--the buyers who fell for it only got a slightly different rear end and some lettering on the side--and paid extra for it.

 

[nwcove]

Re: Kicker for Use in Saltwater?

I do believe the 1963 gale buccaneer 3hp was sold as a freshwater motor.

 

[nwcove]

Re: Kicker for Use in Saltwater?

Find me saltwater/freshwater motors under 20HP

This 1963, 3 hp Buccaneer-Gale is made for freshwater. This outboard engine weighs approximately 29 pounds. It has 1 cylinder. The pistons have a 5.32 displacement. The bore width is 2.12" and the stroke length is 1.50". This model has a recoil starter and power steering.

This is copied and pasted from info found here on iboats. ( dunno about the power steering?)

 

[nakedguydb]

Re: Kicker for Use in Saltwater?

well let me tell you a little story . I retired and moved to Panama , having never owned a boat before in my life had a typical 24 ft panga built , picture a fiberglass row boat 24 ft long 6 ft wide , every local fishermen has this same boat , put a 40 suzuki 2 stroke and it great on the ocean , never thought about a kicker until a month ago when the story broke here and in the states about 3 guys that went fishing one night in the bay of panama , their motor would not start to come home , the 34 yr old died first , the 16 yr old second , and on day 28 they saved the 3rd guy 650 miles from home . do a google search on this as a cruise ship spotted them 10 days into this ordeal when all three were still alive and did not stop to help them , it is in the news in the states as we speak because 3 lady bird watchers were on the cruise ship and brought it to the attection of the crew who even looked through their spoting scope at the 3 guys waving for help . I am looking for a kicker , you can get towing insurance if you want , maybe you can eat the policy as you wait , these kids caught rain water , when it rained and ate fresh and rotting fish , be careful , save your own butt because someone might not be there to save it for you , PS , there is lots of ships around panama also, seeing the panama canel is here , yet away they drifted