Motor question

[Fisherman87]

I've got a 19' Custom Weld with the offshore bracket. My main motor is a 150 Horse Yamaha and when I use the kicker I have to lift the main motor out of the water in order to steer the boat. I see that some boats with the offshore brackets have to do this also but then again I see some that don't. I was wondering if this is a setup issue or if it's just the way it is. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

[WaterDog]

My :twocents: .......

The big motor is like a rudder and it's harder to steer with the big motor down. In the ocean I bet you could lock the kicker ahead and steer with the big motor if you wanted too.

[RODACTION]

Waterdog is correct.......and there is a good chance that the guys with thier big motors down while under way on the kicker are wondering why the responce time is so slow with the kicker steering. :twocents:

[fish Addict80]

I used the big motor as a rudder when I had a different kicker setup and it works quite well in the ocean. In the river the response time is too slow and you can turn one way quickly and the other way slowly depending on which side the kicker is mounted.

Luke

[Starfish]

Sometimes when I want the boat to track pretty straight while trolling or backtrolling I'll intentionally leave the big motor down. I can still steer fine but it's dampened quite a bit and the steering is stable enough that you can walk around the boat and ignore it for a while without the boat taking off in unexpected directions. But in some wind conditions, or in very tight quarters when quick maneuvering is needed, I'll tilt up the big motor.

If you're having trouble with basic maneuvering with the big motor down, it might be that a longer shaft kicker would give better control.

[pugetplunker]

i have found that on calm days tilting my main motor up will alow me to have quicker responce with the kicker but if the wind is up i like to keep the main about half in to steady the boat(almost like a keel)with the hard top in a good wind it makes for a great sail in which case im always moving the kicker to stay on course. so with the main half down i doesnt seem to get blown around as much but the responce time is slower.oh wait :blush: starfish just said that.well i agree with starfish :clap:

[Starfish]

:smile:

Interestingly, one of the conditions where I'll tilt up the big motor for quick response is in a really strong wind. In moderate winds I like the stability of having the big motor down as an extra keel, but if the wind is so strong (or strongly quartering from the front) that the bow is really getting pushed around I find that having the back end free to intentionally crabwalk can make boat handling easier. The best improvement in such conditions is to run dual drift socks from the bow about 2/3 back on each side, but even then being able to skid the back around is sometimes an advantage.