Kicker install for Islander

[ricohman]

I am pricing out some options for a 4 stroke kicker. The boat is a 221 Starcraft Islander. I was told I would need the motor, transom plate and controls. The salesman said the boat has 2 pickups on the main tank and that I need to install lines for the motor but I also need a second set of controls. I won't have any instruments on the 15hp and I don't think I need them.
How difficult is this to install? I'm fairly skilled as a journeyman mechanic and I did build my own house (and I stayed and a holiday Inn....)
Boats are new to me and I'd like to get the install done right. Drilling holes in my new boat kind of concerns me but I guess it has thousands (rivets) already
That said, I was also told the 4.3 will troll pretty slow compared to my last 80hp two stroke. With a bit of wind I could find myself to fast though.

 

[etracer68]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

I would say you should be able to do it yourself, but always measure twice or three times and drill once.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

I just emailed a friend of mine who is only sporadically here on the forum with this thread link. He's got a SWEET kicker set up on his 191 Islander. Hopefully he will check in with specifics.

I wish had better pics of his setup:

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/Tim Boat/IMG_0805.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/Starcrafts at Long Level/IMG_1227.jpg

 

[ricohman]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

I just emailed a friend of mine who is only sporadically here on the forum with this thread link. He's got a SWEET kicker set up on his 191 Islander. Hopefully he will check in with specifics.

I wish had better pics of his setup:

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/Tim Boat/IMG_0805.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/Starcrafts at Long Level/IMG_1227.jpg

Those are nice pics but I need them a bit closer. If anyone else has any pics I would appreciate if they were posted.
I forgot about the large hole for the lines and cables. That would be the hole that concerns me.

 

[1216bandit]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

If the engine is a tiller than you dont need anything more as far as controls go. Tie the kicker to the main with an ez steer and speed can be controlled at the helm with a troll master. Make sure the kicker motor bracket is rated to handle the weight of the motor. You may be able to get slow enough speeds on the main motor with a beaver tail.

 

[ricohman]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

If the engine is a tiller than you dont need anything more as far as controls go. Tie the kicker to the main with an ez steer and speed can be controlled at the helm with a troll master. Make sure the kicker motor bracket is rated to handle the weight of the motor. You may be able to get slow enough speeds on the main motor with a beaver tail.

Thank you sir!
I never knew something like the troll master existed. I wonder why the dealer wanted a second set of controls?
Anyway, I think this is a far cleaner set up. I wonder what else I don't know about?
With a manual lift and engine start, along with the troll master, the install could be far less complicated.

 

[timfives]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

Those are nice pics but I need them a bit closer. If anyone else has any pics I would appreciate if they were posted.
I forgot about the large hole for the lines and cables. That would be the hole that concerns me.

Hey those are my pics, and i'm EZ's friend with the 191 and the kicker. Couple of question, do you have a long shaft or a short shaft motor? I had to get mine in the water and do all sorts of measurements to make sure the kicker is out of the water when i'm powering the boat with the i/o .

Next is do you have power trim on the kicker or do you need a bracket that has that built in? If your kicker has tilt you need to be sure you have clearance between the boat and the motor, (i've made that mistake)

Finally, i drilled a two inch hole in the transom and ran the control and cabling through that, and then covered it with a boot.

My boat is wrapped but i'll help any way i can.. feel free to PM if you want..

 

[timfives]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

For fuel, i used the other output on the water separator and ran it the fuel from that. Be careful how you run the fuel line, so that it is clear of the main engine pulleys (don't ask how i know that can be an issue).

T

 

[timfives]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

One last thing, is that you could easily push that boat with a 9.9, that could save you some dollars with the engine. I have a 4stroke 9.9 on mine and haven't had to ever run it wide open. i just use it for trolling and such.. Something to consider. I can't argue that more power is always better

T

 

[ricohman]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

I haven't bought the motor yet but I was thinking of a Mercury 15 Prokicker with the power tilt.
But maybe there are less expensive options that I haven't explored. The boat has a seperate pickup already plumbed into the tank from the factory so running fuel lines should be easy enough. It was the control lines that I thought would be the most difficult. I don't want to hack up my new boat.

 

[1216bandit]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

Thank you sir!
I never knew something like the troll master existed. I wonder why the dealer wanted a second set of controls?
Anyway, I think this is a far cleaner set up. I wonder what else I don't know about?
With a manual lift and engine start, along with the troll master, the install could be far less complicated.

The dealer may not have known about that trollmaster either. You are going to be very impressed with the amount of throttle control this unit will give you!

 

[timfives]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

I haven't bought the motor yet but I was thinking of a Mercury 15 Prokicker with the power tilt.
But maybe there are less expensive options that I haven't explored. The boat has a seperate pickup already plumbed into the tank from the factory so running fuel lines should be easy enough. It was the control lines that I thought would be the most difficult. I don't want to hack up my new boat.

the power tilt is nice! But again you'd have more than enough power in a 9.9 if you wanted to save a couple of dollars.. There is one other point that i should make as well, most of the individuals that have installed a kicker have also reinforced the transom. either with and extra layer of plywood or added some steel reinforcement. You probably don't need to but just another thought.

all of this is "easy" to do. So you should have no issue completing the job.

What year is your islander?

t

 

[ricohman]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

the power tilt is nice! But again you'd have more than enough power in a 9.9 if you wanted to save a couple of dollars.. There is one other point that i should make as well, most of the individuals that have installed a kicker have also reinforced the transom. either with and extra layer of plywood or added some steel reinforcement. You probably don't need to but just another thought.

all of this is "easy" to do. So you should have no issue completing the job.

What year is your islander?

t

My Islander is a 2011. I haven't even unwrapped it yet so thats why I am hesitant about the install. I am going to bring it home next month as its in storage. I want to have all the parts that I need organized so I need to do a lot of reading in order to make a wise purchase. The 9.9 certainly is cheaper and lighter. I was told that the 9.9 and the 15 no longer share the same platform and are two completely different engines now. The 15 is also 135lbs.
The dealer told me the transom is plenty strong for a kicker.

 

[timfives]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

The dealer may not have known about that trollmaster either. You are going to be very impressed with the amount of throttle control this unit will give you!

Dude i thought about that troll master a while ago, but thought there were a lot more expensive. I think i'm adding that system to my rig this spring!!! GET SOME

T

 

[ricohman]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

Dude i thought about that troll master a while ago, but thought there were a lot more expensive. I think i'm adding that system to my rig this spring!!! GET SOME

T

Its cheaper then the Merc controls. And I think its a cleaner install. Great idea.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

9.9 hp is PLENTY of power for a kicker and frankly 5 hp would do fine except for the windiest days.... only reason you would ever need more than the 9.9 is for powering up ocean swells...... not too many of those in Saskatchewan. Your top speed on the kicker will be very close to the same with anything from a 5 to a 20... maybe 2mph difference. but fuel consumption will be more with the bigger motor

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

My Islander is a 2011. I haven't even unwrapped it yet so thats why I am hesitant about the install. I am going to bring it home next month as its in storage. I want to have all the parts that I need organized so I need to do a lot of reading in order to make a wise purchase. The 9.9 certainly is cheaper and lighter. I was told that the 9.9 and the 15 no longer share the same platform and are two completely different engines now. The 15 is also 135lbs.
The dealer told me the transom is plenty strong for a kicker.

Your transom is more then capable to handle the weight of the kicker without reinforcement ( other then applying a backer plate). You have an i/o and no addded weight. I used to have a Islander191. It was a nice fishing boat.

 

[ricohman]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

Your transom is more then capable to handle the weight of the kicker without reinforcement ( other then applying a backer plate). You have an i/o and no addded weight. I used to have a Islander191. It was a nice fishing boat.

I should have mentioned that my boat is and i/o. Oops..

 

[ricohman]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

Another question. Do I need a transom bracket that raises and lowers even if the motor has power tilt? Would the motor hit the transom if the tilt is used on a fixed bracket?

 

[timfives]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

Another question. Do I need a transom bracket that raises and lowers even if the motor has power tilt? Would the motor hit the transom if the tilt is used on a fixed bracket?

This is where it gets a tad bit interesting. I have a fixed jack plate on mine. I've had to play with where to mount it, so that the kicker is out of the water. When i get some better pictures, you'll notice mine is actually mounted a little to high.. (spring project to lower the Jackplate).

You do have to consider the distance from the transom to the tilted the motor, again i've made that mistake and had to add a spacer to create enough clearance for the motor.

When i did mine, i had very few options for a 4stroke due to the weight and that is why i went with a fixed jack plate.


The other thing that works excellent in my set up is the ez steer that connects to my i/0 outdrive and then to the kicker for steering. I know we were talking about troll masters earlier but figured i through that out as well.

I'll comb through all my pics and get some posted soon. that may help the discussion.

Tim