Which Kicker to Buy ?? [Archive]

RazorClam

03-02-2007, 06:16 PM

Dont get the mercs...too many problems. You cant go wrong with the other two. I have a honda, and my buddy has yamas. They both work great. In my opinion those two motors are like pepsi vs coke....all preference. Just ask your self what color goes better with the boat...blue or silver.

fish-on-bend

03-02-2007, 06:32 PM

T8---best kicker I ever had. If you run any electric stuff like downriggers or gps etc you will appreciate the electric start and charging your battery while you troll. :bowdown: :bowdown: T8

03-03-2007, 01:15 PM

I have the T8 and the F8, owned the Merc Bigfoot, Brother in law has the Honda 9.9
The Yamaha t* is the way to go (in my opinion)
it has everything you new, it is quiet and easy to run

Regular Joe

03-03-2007, 01:42 PM

Honda

:yeahthat:

driftin buy

03-03-2007, 08:41 PM

I have the honda and love it.

richmake

03-05-2007, 05:23 AM

I'd go t-8....I've used one guiding for 2 years and it is fantastic!

Bluto

03-05-2007, 12:00 PM

The gold standard and the "energizer bunny" of kickers = T8

seahawk503

03-05-2007, 03:29 PM

Hands down the T8 got mine a while ago from Browns Landing they walked me through all the specs and we did a comparision right there at the dealership they gave me a super deal and I liked the idea of the chargong system and how quite it was. :twocents:

FishTy

03-05-2007, 07:12 PM

luckyr

03-05-2007, 07:47 PM

Not to run off I believe that they have been co habituating on four strokes for a few years now. Back on the subject the T8 is a good motor but a few guys have had trouble with the tilt but i don't know if this is abuse or not using properly. When I bought my Honda they told me not to use the tilt as a trim and run all the way down unless you need to stay off bottom but never run full throttle unless all the way down. If your looking for trim and electric start the T8 is going to cost you a few hundred less. The T8 has a longer handle and shifter farther up front. If you want manual tilt manual start the Honda will be cheaper because the T8 only comes with electric start tilt is the only option. I went with Honda because of my main power is Honda and they have an oil filter. Just a good motor. So what will it be Ford Chevy Dodge.

Blue Seaduction

03-06-2007, 11:31 AM

Thanks ! Guys

I purchased a T-8 Elec & Tilt.
Picking it up today :)

lightning

03-08-2007, 05:21 PM

:yay:
Great choice. I love mine.

bullshooter

03-12-2007, 08:38 PM

You will be happy with the T-8. I have the same setup. If you decide to go with a remote steering setup, call NR and ask which one they install. It installs on the front of the motors with a quick connect ball and socket on each end of metal rod. Very easy to put on and take off. It was a $100 option when i bought my boat.

Radiator

03-13-2007, 01:41 AM

T8 all the WAY!!!!!

foxer

03-13-2007, 02:10 AM

Bullshooter, I have the same quick connect but find that the mounting hold on the T8 is too narrow..How is yours connected?

bullshooter

03-13-2007, 07:23 AM

I will take a picture and post it tonight.

bullshooter

03-13-2007, 07:35 PM

Here are a couple photos of the remote steering system I was talking about. It works really well. Way nicer than having to hook up that rod to the back of the motors.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/kornwhoulio/remotesteer003.jpg
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/kornwhoulio/remotesteer002.jpg
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/kornwhoulio/remotesteer001.jpg

foxer

03-13-2007, 11:23 PM

Cool...thx for the pictures. Now to get mine hooked up.

Jedcraft

03-14-2007, 01:44 PM

Have had both Honda(2001) & Yam.(2004). Had TR1 hooked up to Honda and it worked great. Honda would eat a plug or two a year so would buy them by the six pack-no big deal. Love the Yamy elec. tilt & start and have ordered the parts to connect my old TR1 to it. At this point would favor the Yamy over the Honda for the tilt/start features also like the forward/reverse lever on Yamy closer to operator.

bullshooter

03-17-2007, 07:22 AM

I might be wrong but At the boat show the guy at one of those boat dealers can't remember which one now ? anyway he said the new smaller mercurys like 9.9 and yamaha 9.9 have the same power heads now!
coming from the same factory....anybody else ever heard this or is this info that I got just Wrong?:shrug:

This is true. I had a Merc 9.9 on my last boat. The power head was identical to the 15hp yamaha that came with the new boat. As I understand, Merc buy's their small 4-stroke power heads from Yamaha.

fish-on-bend

03-18-2007, 08:02 PM

Bullshooter........I have the same quick-connect set up on mine. Browns Landing did it last year and it works great.

drd1way

03-21-2007, 05:20 PM

Over the last few years, the Mercury 9.9 fourstroke has had some carb problems. Difficult to start, flooded easily. I just dealt with mine (kicker) until I sold the boat and motor. My friend had same symptoms and finally got a rebuild kit from manuf. and fixed problem. Don't know if they are still having trouble. I would go with Yamaha or Honda.

Abalone

03-22-2007, 01:38 PM

I can't see what would be wrong with owning a T-8 and I can't see anything wrong with owning a Honda they are both great products.
I believe the Merc has the same power head as a Yamaha.

Two Fister

03-22-2007, 02:39 PM

bajadan2000

03-22-2007, 10:21 PM

I've always been curious why the T8 is so great? That's not meant as a jab, it's just that whenever somebody asks what kind of kicker to get a lot of folks will say T8, but nobody ever says why the T8 is so superior. I know it's a Yamaha (I just bought Shakeys F8 for my drifter) and it has a great reputation, but what's it do to make it the overwhelming choice of ifishers?

Just curious I guess.
TF

Dan,

The T-8 is designed to push heavy weight. It has a stronger gear ratio that turns a 14" prop, which is a much larger prop then is on the F-8. The prop/gear ratio make it an ideal trolling motor for larger boats and an OK back up emergency motor (for only 8 HP). Other than that, I believe the T-8 and F-8 are the same.

Starfish

03-23-2007, 05:41 AM

Dan,

The T-8 is designed to push heavy weight. It has a stronger gear ratio that turns a 14" prop, which is a much larger prop then is on the F-8. The prop/gear ratio make it an ideal trolling motor for larger boats and an OK back up emergency motor (for only 8 HP). Other than that, I believe the T-8 and F-8 are the same.

:yeahthat:

The gear ratio and very low pitch prop make it troll down to very slow speeds. They also let the engine rev up into its powerband when you open it up, so it can push a boat at hull displacement speeds (6 mph or so) even if it's a really large boat.

The alternator on the T-8 puts out a decent amount of charging current even at trolling speeds so you can keep your boat batteries topped up even when running lots of electronics.

To top it all off, electric start and power tilt are priceless once you've tried them.

fishkisser

03-23-2007, 07:37 AM

:yeahthat:

The gear ratio and very low pitch prop make it troll down to very slow speeds. They also let the engine rev up into its powerband when you open it up, so it can push a boat at hull displacement speeds (6 mph or so) even if it's a really large boat.

The alternator on the T-8 puts out a decent amount of charging current even at trolling speeds so you can keep your boat batteries topped up even when running lots of electronics.

To top it all off, electric start and power tilt are priceless once you've tried them.
:yeahthat: :agree:

Snowwolfe

03-23-2007, 10:10 AM

I know the Yamaha HT 10 hp does not have power tilt but other than that why do most people pick the 8?
I have the 10 and love it. It also puts out more charging amps than the 8. I never once had a reason to use power tilt in 2 years of having it on my 24 foot Sea Sport.
They are about the same price and weight, so what makes the 8 a better choice?

Starfish

03-23-2007, 03:58 PM

Other than the power tilt... I'd pick the T8 because of the power tilt. I pooh-poohed the idea until I used it. Now I can't imagine not having it.

Snowwolfe

03-23-2007, 05:41 PM

Mine is on a 24 foot Sea Sport. For the life of me I could never find a reason to tilt it up. It is mounted on a hyd mount.

warnerww

03-24-2007, 07:16 PM

Power tilt comes in handy when you like to fish real shallow water.Saved me a few times but then again I am a flatlander that fishes really strange places. Trolling 6 ft from shore in 7 feet of water for smallies walleye or whatever else comes along ( 3 inch Perch)

Two Fister

03-26-2007, 12:38 PM

Thanks for the info guys! The F8 is just right for the back of a drifter as it weighs substantially less than the T8, but I'll head the T8 route when I find my next big boat.
TF

FastAction

03-27-2007, 11:17 AM

a buddy of mine made a good point on his t8 purchase.. He went for the Non power tilt model for a few reasons.. He really didnt need it, plus his electric start also comes with the Pull start.. which is a little more insurance when fishing the jaws and he saved a few $$.:smash:

Ethical hunter

03-29-2007, 09:27 AM

Johnson

Downlake

03-29-2007, 11:33 AM

good choice.

bullshooter

03-31-2007, 02:56 PM

My new NR Sea Hawk came with a f-15 Yamaha. pull start and manual tilt. being mounted on an off shore bracket I had to step out of the boat and onto the bracket to lift the motor. I didnt like the idea of doing this in bad seas. So I trader it for a T-8 with elec start and power tilt.

On my last boat I had a 01 9.9 merc 4-strk. It also had the occasional flood problem and sometimes did not like to idle. Ran great and very reliable other than that. The Merc was also a lot louder than my T-8.

garyk

04-02-2007, 05:15 PM

Since these 8hp are being mostly used for trolling motors, the chief question ought to be - so, how are they at doing that function?

I own a 1999 Honda BF8. I love it's first-pull reliability. Even after storage it starts on the second pull.

Honda should have put on a smaller pitch prop for better trolling...or give the purchaser a choice of props. I had the pitch reduced.

I HATE how coarse the throttle is. A TR1 with it's super find throttle adjustment eliminates this problem. Still in all, a small trolling motor ought to give you very close control over the RPMs. I'd like to try a Yamaha throttle for comparison.