Kicker motor/transom weight (need advice)

[JIMMYHOUSTON1977]

So im at bass pro shops looking for a trolling motor over the weekend they got me just about sold on the minnkota i pilot 80/60 bow mount. i walk away and go over to the regular motors section and here it is the mercury 9.9 4 stroke short shaft lowest price ever .the minnkota was 1900+ also have to buy batteries ,wiring,misc for install.The mercury comes with fuel line /gas tank/everything for like 1700 and i can use it both for back up motor and trolling motor. no brainer right? here is my worry first o f all the boat is a 18ft starcraft sfm180 aluminum.80h.p mercury main motor.tag on boat reads its rated for 120h.p .i have an adjustable bracket mounted rated to 20 h.p. weight is my concern on the transom the motor comes in at 81 or 84 pounds four strokes are heavier by like 12 pounds to 2 strokes in the 9.9 's. now the boat is rated for 120 h.p motor i have 80 hp is it safe to assume that by adding 80 lbs to the transom im making up some weight if i had a bigger motor on ? which would be alot more then 80 more pounds.i just dont want to stress the transom and have it start cracking.please help!

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Kicker motor/transom weight (need advice)

If adding an extra 12 pounds over an equivalent 2 stroke is gonna bust your transom, it's busted already. A 120 is gonna weigh more than the 80 and 4 stroke.

The other consideration is a bow mount TM and a 9.9 on the back are used two entirely different ways. It all depends on what kind of fishing you do.

 

[JIMMYHOUSTON1977]

Re: Kicker motor/transom weight (need advice)

HI just wanted to add a couple things. i dont have room to put a kicker directly on the transom no room thats why the bracket.the fishing i do is maybe troll for walleye .tilting the big motor all the way up and trolling with kicker (old school) but i prefer keeping things simple the more sh#t on the boat the more cost to fix..i dont troll often mainly bass casting/tubing. mainly a back up to get me in .i know i will have close to 80 lbs on the bow with the i pilot rig plus batteries but its on the front not hanging off the back boat is rated to 8 persons 1200lbs.to buy a used 2 stroke is gonna cost at least 1200 in a 9.9 and i dont know what im buying online i dont get to hear it run for 1700 i get brand new.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Kicker motor/transom weight (need advice)

That sounds like a lot for a trolling motor and not much for an OB. I could find more use for the OB than the trolling motor but that's just me and my boating style; my friend with a bow mounted TM would give up his daughter before he's give that rig up.

I think you're over-thinking the numbers, though. the HP rating is all about speed and power, not motor weight. The weight limitations are not about the transom strength. And if your boat is more than 10 years old, all that goes out the window and your individual boat's condition is all that matters. If you don't see or suspect weakness, all you can do is put away the pocket calculator and try it.

factor in seperate gas tanks if the 80 is premixed. But I think that anyone who carries an OB as a spare motor (rather than for trolling) ought to carry a spare tank and hose for it, since fuel path problems are what often kills the main motor at sea.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Kicker motor/transom weight (need advice)

A gas kicker motor and a bow mount electric are typically used in very different ways, although I have both (80# Terrova I-pilot) and in some fisheries I may use either one depending on conditions.

If you plan to fish for bass and not actually troll, then go electric, gas is hard to use for bass fishing.