Kicker install for Islander

[ricohman]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

More pics would be great.
I was talking with a friend today and he installed a 9.9 on a 18 ft Crestliner. He said the trolling speed was to fast so he sold the 9.9 and went to a 6hp.
After a long discussion I think the 9.9 is all I need. The only reason we could think of for the bigger engine is the event of a failure of the main engine. It gets windy out here and if I'm 50km's away from the dock it could be a long day getting back. But since this is a new boat I hope for better luck than last summers fiasco.
I am going to listen to you guys and shop for the 9.9. Maybe one of those brackets that drop down would be better with the lighter motor. Do I even need tilt with the 9.9?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

That's a wise choice. Even if you WERE 50 kms (whatever that is LOL) out the bigger motor would make almost no difference in speed.... you are limited to hull speed within 1 or 2 mph unless you get a motor big enough to plane or at least seriously plow the boat.

IMHO I'd look more at weight than hp and get the lightest motor I could 7.5 - 10 hp. I don't think I'd bother with power trim but rather just get a good spring assist bracket.

Any chance that your buddy would let you try his 6hp just to get an idea of what it did on your boat?

 

[ricohman]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

Funny you should mention that. His boat is across the road at the dealer. He is getting a new boat and they are going to reuse that 6hp so its not attached to anything. To bad its -20. If it was spring time I would seriously consider this.
I am going to do some research on the spring assist bracket you mentioned.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

Ordinarily I would say get the 15HP because they were typically the same "form factor" so you'd gain the additional 5HP with no weight gain. However, in light of the info you posted about the new 15s being different, I'd stick with the 9.9.

 

[ricohman]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

The 9.9 is 40+ pounds lighter so I am considering that.
But speaking of engines another friend of mine (from South Africa) told me that Honda makes a better 9.9 than Merc. He said the Merc motors are made by Tohatsu and where he comes from, there is no comparing a Honda motor to a Tohatsu.
So yet another twist.

 

[Jet Mech 71]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

My kicker set up came on the boat when I bought it, but mine has electric start, and the controls at the helm. It is tied to the main motor with an easy steer. I will say I love the fact I dont have to goto the back of the boat for anything other than the tilt lock. Now I have an outboard with the off shore bracket. I am guessing yours is an I/O. My fuel line is just tee off the main feed line to my 150. I dont run them at the same time other that an idle. Since you pretty much have a brand new boat, I would pay for the extra bells and get the hydo lift, electric start and controls. I do have the troll box as well. It is a nice added feature. I have a Mercury 9.9 Pro kicker and it just about puts my 221 on a plane. Dont get me wrong it is not a cheap up grade. Shop around and price check you local boat shops. I am guessing for my set up it is around $6000. Mine is a 2008 just in case you were wondering.

 

[Jet Mech 71]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

Here is a pic of my kicker setup. I will try to get some pics of the helm to show you the controls.
http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/fishunter71/FishingMachine.jpg

 

[ricohman]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

This would be a lot easier if I had the bracket Islander but I have what I have. I would like to see how you mounted the second set of controls as I don't think the trollmaster has provisions to allow gear selection.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

personally. I'd just leave it in forward gear and start/stop it as needed

 

[Jet Mech 71]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

you are correct the trollmaster is nothing more than throttle. My second set of control are mounted one the wall just below the helm seat. You still have the storage spot there to use as well. I will try to get out to it tomorrow and see what I can get for a clean pic. Been very windy and rainy here over the last few days. The easysteer ( I think that is what it is called should still work from your outdrive to the kicker. That is what I had on my last I/O and it worked well. With the trollmaster I simple just but the kicker in gear and use the control box for speed control. Good luck with what ever you decide to do. Like is suggested before, I would spend the extra and get all the goodies for it now, instead of kicking my self later. Money allowing of course.

 

[1216bandit]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

Jet Mech, I must say your boat does like like the ultimate fishing machine! Very nice indeed!

ricohman, I dont know about you, but my boat is also used a lot for taking out the grand kids and family for swimming and just playing around on the water without dropping a line in. So with that in mind I went with a system from Berts tackle that is a track that the rod holders and down riggers slide in and out of. When not in use there is nothing to get in the way of anyone. I bought inserts for the tracks and they basically become step pads. Just thought I'd pass that on to you.

 

[ricohman]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

Jet Mech, I must say your boat does like like the ultimate fishing machine! Very nice indeed!

ricohman, I dont know about you, but my boat is also used a lot for taking out the grand kids and family for swimming and just playing around on the water without dropping a line in. So with that in mind I went with a system from Berts tackle that is a track that the rod holders and down riggers slide in and out of. When not in use there is nothing to get in the way of anyone. I bought inserts for the tracks and they basically become step pads. Just thought I'd pass that on to you.

I will be doing plenty of cruising as well. Not all trips are fishing trips. My boat has the tracks for the slide in rod holders installed by the factory so I will definately be buying some attachments for that. The merc dealer had a 9.9 from 2011 with the control box and power trim. I am going to compare it with other brands as this is a considerable investment. I have a lead on a 8 year old Honda 8hp long shaft four stroke at a very good price. But I am leary about older engines after what happened last year.

 

[Jet Mech 71]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

rico here is the pic of my controls. I do have the Traxtech rail system and I LOVE it. I have 8 rod holders and 2 downrigger mounts all on there. I am currently looking for a nice set of aluminum rod racks for the side of the boat just behind the cabin windows for the extra rods that I always seem to take up too much room. I really want to do an arch but I just dont have the $2200 for one. I hope this pic give you a good idea of what I have, and you can see the control box hanging for the trollmaster as well.
http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/fishunter71/IMG_20120219_144708.jpg

 

[timfives]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

This would be a lot easier if I had the bracket Islander but I have what I have. I would like to see how you mounted the second set of controls as I don't think the trollmaster has provisions to allow gear selection.

NO the troll master is only for the gear, you will still need the controls for the motor. You'll still have to use the controls to start the engine and switch from forward to reverse.

T

 

[timfives]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

Okay,

Found some pictures.. Note that my kicker is mounted a little to high, that entire mount will be lowered by a couple inches this spring.

http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae138/timfives/102_0895-Copy.jpg

http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae138/timfives/102_0898-Copy.jpg

(this shot show just how far it can be lowered.)

http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae138/timfives/102_0896-Copy.jpg

You can also see how much space you need from the boat to the kicker so that it can be trimmed all the way up..

T

Hope this helps

T

 

[Jet Mech 71]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

Just one other tid bit I am going to add. If you do get the controls, spend the extra $20 and get the platinum cables over just the basic cables. I had to replace on this year due to the casing splitting. The shop that installed mine priced them for me and it was about $18 more for the smoother cables. He also said they should last longer as well.

Good luck, off to Vegas for a few days.
Allen

 

[ricohman]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

Thanks for the pics. I had no idea how far the motor needed to hang off the back of the transom. Does the bracket have any side to side flex?
That is a very clean install for the controls. I would probably do it just like that!
I am still mulling over the many options that I have and I am trying to keep the cost down. The wife is wondering why the new boat needs another motor........

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

Just a thought here.

if you REALLY want to keep the cost down, you can get a 20 yr old engine and run it without controls.... after all you are going 2 mph, you can easily adjust throttle by walking to the motor to do it. You can add a simple on/off kill switch on the dash. pull start the engine in gear to go and flip switch to stop.... If your $500 kicker DOES happen to blow up you can fire up the main and continue, and then snag another kicker on c/l still saving LOTS of $$$ compared to the fancy new motor...

Heck I had a '56 7.5 evinrude given to me by my school teacher in the early 80's and I abused that thing with no maintenance till about 3 years ago when I gave it to a friend who is still beating the snot out of it.

 

[ricohman]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

This may sound like a stupid question but.....if this 8hp Honda seems solid and I mount it. Can I mount different motors to the same transom plate? I don't really want to have to buy another plate that may lead to more mounting holes in the transom.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Kicker install for Islander

yep as long as you don't change to one that is too big later... otherwise you can run a different kicker every weekend