As long as you-all are on the subject of kickers!

[Lives_to_fish]

As long as you-all are on the subject of kickers, two questions.
Which one, Honda, Merc or Yamaha and why?
Where do I find the best prices? (online, dealers…)
I have cash and want to buy new.

[TH Rods]

Merc 9.9 four stroke Bigfoot.

We just ordered a new one last weekend from Stevens Marine in Tigard. Their webpage is still under construction, but they do have their motors listed on it.. and if you buy a 4 stroke now within the next 30 days you get a free hand held GPS.

We used all three last summer/fall, the Merc. Honda, and Yamaha and felt like the Merc trolled down real smooth, had enough torque to move our big sled quickly and was very quiet.

The Hoda was a little quieter, the Yamaha was nice to (sorry Major Brown) but we felt like the Merc was the best. The new Bigfoot has a bigger lower end unit which in-turn will have a little better bearing wear which should increase the life of your trolling motor.

Dave Wilson @
Stevens Marine in Tigard
Around $1,900

Thanks for letting me play

TH
www.thcustomrods.com (http://www.thcustomrods.com)

[Jellyhead]

Hey LTF,

I'm assuming you go by LTH over on the Duck hunters page. If you are, shoot me an e-mail. I'm curious how you're season turned out.

You must be getting ready for chinook season huh?

Good luck on a kicker, I'd definetly go four stroke. Any of the three mentioned above should work real well, just shop around. Try to get a 2000 model, if any are left. Should save you some $$$.

Aaron

[rob]

You can't beat a honda.

[Lives_to_fish]

rob
Unfortunately, we did “beat” a Honda right into the pavement. That is why I am looking for a new motor.


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[fishbait]

LTF,
I'm curious. IF you had a Honda, whay are you shopping. I assume pavement has more to do with accident rather that wearing it our?
having the charging system on the Honda is a plus for me, but a merc does troll down slower.

[Tanner]

Merc man Merc.
1. Quiet
2. Lots of torque
3. Cool color
4. Its a merc

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Work is for people who have an expensive fishing habit to support.

[Lives_to_fish]

The only complaint I had about the Honda was the low-end speed control. It was very hard to fine tune the trolling speed. I have been told that this is a common trait of the four stroke small motor. The other thing that I learned is that the small mercury motors are basically single handed operation. Forward, reverse and neutral are all controlled by turning the handle on the tiller. I did not know that they don’t have a charging system.

Any thoughts?

[boater]

i bought a 9.9 honda electric start for my 21 foot sled and love it, has a built in charging system and runs like a top. have used it from trout fishing to bouy 10 and does great.

[Smj]

LtF, I just purchased a new boat with a Merc Kicker. I found out Merc does NOT put the shift control in the handle on their 4-strokes. I ran a Honda 9.9 for almost twenty years prior. The only problem that I had with the Honda was talking to the service people at St. Johns & SportCraft. I like to do my own service and repair on my small motors and the service people at these two shops were TOTAL JERKS. Shoulda' gone to them with $100.00 bills hanging out of my pockets I guess. That's why it's Merc for me now, more service people/more compitition.

---Smj

[WaterDog]

My old man has a 1999 Honda 8hp and it does not like to run at idle either. Takes some delicate throttle work to get to run well until it really warms up. Then it runs ok.

My 8hp Merc loves to idle and trolls nice and slow. The controls in the tiller handle are sweet.

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EAT, SLEEP, FISH!
website (http://www.sites.onlinemac.com/rspofford)

[DK]

lives-to-fish yes they do have a charging system, the manual has a 6amp 75 watt system and the electric start has a 10amp 126 watt system the manual does not come with the harness needed to charge but can be bought for 25.00 dollars all the plug are under the cowling, just bought a 9.9 4 stroke merc trolls perfect quiet. in fact now i need to quiet down my propane heater louder than the motor

[Trout,myster]

I have an 8hp Honda (1999 model) that I purchased from the Sportsman's show last year. Super motor, starts first or second pull everytime providing I follow the dealer's instructions and not the book's.

Mine happens to idle perfectly all day long, but if they don't there is a trick to it. I'm not suggesting anyone tamper with their motors, but the reason most don't idle well or are finicky is because they are so lean they're dying from starvation. Enrichening the low speed idle screw that's hidden behind a plug will cure the problems. That applies to all the motors, 2 or 4 stroke.

Although my Honda is great, I'm curious about the Suzukis. I rode and raced motorcycles for years as well as mechanic'd on them before going to college. Of all the motors I've had apart, Suzuki was by far the best built of Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki. Merc didn't make motorcycles so I can't include them. Anyone had any Suzuki luck good or bad? Curious as I'm looking at maybe replacing the Evinrude with a 4-stroke, either a 130HP Honda or the 115 Suzuki. Yamaha hasn't impressed me as of yet with their 115 4 stroke.

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Troutmyster