kicker dragging

[nooknut]

I just put a Honda 8HP kicker on my 17 1/2 ‘ Stryker. My main motor is a Honda 50HP tiller. While I was taking everything for a test run today, I noticed while operating the main motor with the kicker tilted all the way up, that the kicker’s lower unit and prop would drag until I got the boat up on plane. Is this normal? When I did get the boat on plane, the kicker prop was only about 3 inches above the water. Also, if I’m operating the kicker. Is it okay to have the main motor in the water, or should this be up? Thanks.

[gr84x4]

Is your kicker a long shaft? Can you adjust the kicker so it locks up higher? I have a power tilt/trim Honda kicker, and I can't remember if there is an adjustments on the manual models...

[fish-on-bend]

Mine sounds like its about the same, not quite as low, the prop and skeg on the kicker are just above the water at idle, the skeg drags a little before it gets on plane. 18' Fishrite, Yamaha 115 and T8. Been running it that way for over 3 years. I always leave my 115 down while running the kicker, partly because the big motor cowling gets in the way on turns if the big motor is raised.

[Empire]

You might be able to put a shim under the kicker motor to raise it a bit. An inch or so might help as long as the kicker prop still reaches moving water below the hull while it is being moved. I used a couple pieces of plastic cutting board.

While trolling I leave the main motor down in the water. It keeps the boat on a straighter coarse if it is windy or choppy.

[Blue Seaduction]

Normal for my Seahawk until it is on plane.

[baitsauce]

The kicker motor sounds about like mine too.

Can't comment on leaving the main motor in the water though. I have a 175SJ. But I'd think it would be alright as long as it was in neutral. For what its worth I leave my kicker in the water when I'm anchored up on the CR or Willy. It helps to keep everything stable by acting like a rudder.

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[namu mac]

Raise it up about 1" and see if that helps. That's what I had to do on my boat.

[ondarvr]

If its out of the water on plane then its not an issue. Having the big motor up or down is up to you and the conditions, but there's no reason to raise it for normal trolling.