Do you really need a kicker moter [Archive]

BrionLutz

07-03-2003, 07:34 PM

gottafish,

The kickers are for trolling. The big engine will usually push you too fast in a lot of conditions.

I like the insurance idea but if it wasn't for the trolling, I'd only have one engine and call SeaTow if I lost it.

Also, on the small engine for trolling, you buy cool stuff like the TR1 auto pilot control.

If you are buying a boat, look for one that has an integral trolling motor mount vs. the add on mounts.

Brion

Tilla

07-03-2003, 07:43 PM

Why stop at one kicker? An electric has advantages too! :rolleyes:

Fish Hawg

07-03-2003, 07:45 PM

Lots of factors really. For folks who fish in the salt, a kicker is considered an extra safety measure, as it can be a long ride home if having to be towed in behind the coasties.

Also, a small kicker can be used as a trolling motor to conserve fuel costs. Those are the two reasons we have one on our boat. If you get one or have one make sure you have it locked up, three years ago we had ours stold off the back of the boat on our trip to Neah Bay, in Port Angelas(sp) when we were waiting for the ferry to go over and get our Canadian fishing license :mad: the new high thrust Yamaha is not going any where now :wink:

gofishoregon

07-03-2003, 08:02 PM

Hi GottaFish,

I see by some of your earlier post that you are looking for a boat and are planning fishing at B10.

Since you are planning on fishing at the mouth of the Columbia and maybe in the ocean you should have more than one means of propulsion.

Any motor can malfunction at anytime without warning, even if it is brand new. If you are in the strong current in the lower Columbia you can be in serious trouble very quickly.

I have a 23 foot sportfishing boat with a 200 horse Yamaha Outboard and a 15 horse 4 stroke kicker. I spun the prop on the big motor, either wore out or hit some flotsom in a strong outgoing tide just down from Hammond. If I didn't have the kicker I could have tossed out the anchor and call the Coasties. That sure would have been an embarrasment. I was able to slowly make my way upstream with the kicker to return safely to port.

I wouldn't fish the lower Columbia without one.

[ 07-04-2003, 02:48 PM: Message edited by: gofishoregon ]

Mr. Carp

07-04-2003, 12:39 AM

I personally would rather save the hassle and embarassment of calling the coasties and just buy a kicker for safety. The coasties can get real mad I hear if you waste their time and I don't blame them if they do. Just a rumor I heard.

glowball

07-04-2003, 06:08 AM

If I didn't have one on tuesday when my boat motor took a crap on me I would have been screwed. You ever heard the saying up a creek without a paddle. You don't want to be that guy. Don't put yourself or your friends and family in danger by being cheap. Their lives are worth way more than $1500 for a kicker.(not saying you don't think they aren't)

[ 07-04-2003, 06:10 AM: Message edited by: Pete ]

FishinMission

07-04-2003, 07:37 AM

I think the prime reason we have trolling motors is for trolling...secondary reason is for back-up in case the bigger one fails. They also come in handy holding your boat in position if the wind is blowing upriver.

I'm still in awe a question like that was asked...but oh well...

Mark

freespool

07-04-2003, 08:00 AM

Another good reason to have a good kicker is the fact that large outboards don't like to idle all day, they tend to foul plugs etc. Better to lug the little guy. Besides safety first.

lost_sailor

07-04-2003, 08:58 AM

The big OLD Merc, she does not like the SLOW.

"Alternate means of propulsion", hear, hear! When the time comes, you know it's a good thing.

brshooter

07-04-2003, 09:12 AM

I wouldn't be out on the Columbia (or any big water) without a kicker. Strong current or tidal influence, commercial traffic, lose power. Not a good situation. Sure it is there for trolling, but also for safety. I'd stick to lakes if I didn't have a kicker.

Fish Hawg

07-04-2003, 09:29 AM

Another good reason to have a good kicker is the fact that large outboards don't like to idle all day, they tend to foul plugs etc. get a 200hp Yamaha :grin: it will idle all day long wont foul up, we use it at neah bay when we are rock fishing close to the big rock clifs. A freind has two merc 200 optimax salt water series and they wont idle at all, that is a must in IMO we also do alot of trolling w/ our 200hp yamaha the 8hp is mostly for safety :cheers:

David Johnson

07-04-2003, 10:27 AM

I would rather fish of the bank than go without a trolling moter. There are some things a big motor can't do.

Fish Hawg

07-04-2003, 01:39 PM

That is very true David graemlins/applause.gif :cheers:

wambam

07-04-2003, 05:46 PM

i know it's hard to comprehend to some portland area people, but sometimes when i am fishing on a central or. lake during the winter sometimes you are the only nut case on the lake,which happened to me last year on billy chinook, main motor overheated, kicker to the rescue, 14 miles is a long way but it is better than. :cheers: sol.

AnglersRental

07-06-2003, 07:20 PM

Besides going slower, you have a lot more control when trolling with the kicker. You couldnt turn my center console hydraulic steering big motor fast enough to keep a straight line at low speed with current and wind factored in.

UG

BrionLutz

07-06-2003, 08:45 PM

UG,

Pete Fredrick says the big motor/hydraulic steering version of the TR1 can work the big engines for trolling as well as the small kicker.

I've been toying with the idea of going twin 115 prop, figuring the Nautamatic/1 engine combo would work as well as the kicker/TRI combo.

See if Pete spots this thread and can add some info.

Brion

Bait O' Eggs

07-07-2003, 10:29 AM

"Do I need a trolling motor?" YES,

Yesterday when packing camp across the bay, I had my main motor die and freeze up on me in a blink. :whazzup:

I was dead adrift with a motor that failed me the first time in 8 years. I got back to dock with the trolling motor and tore the pump apart trying to figure out why it stopped turning. I found a bolt head that broke off just above the impellor. I have no idea what made it break off, but it broke off and fell down into the impellor wedging itself causing the motor to stop.

Looks like a simple fix as long as the busted bolt comes out. I was glad I had a second motor to get me home, calling the coast guard for a tow would have been a pain.

peter frederick

07-07-2003, 02:18 PM

I would say Brion, if you find you can troll down as slow as we need to fish with a 115, we can autopilot that motor at any speed, I can run both of the 115 motors, or just one on autopilot. So in a sence you will have a spare motor, But hears the catch, what if there was an electrical problem on your boat and neither 115 would even turn over, I believe in what the rest of the ifiher's are saying. Having a kicker is the way to go.

Pete

BrionLutz

07-07-2003, 06:24 PM

Pete,

I think twin engines provide a good level of redundancy.

If both motors died, bad fuel would be the most likely cause though dead batteries would do it too (you can hand start a kicker...not a 115HP), then I'd toss the anchor and call SeaTow.

Being ready to quickly toss the anchor should be everybody's first line of defense. If it was bad fuel, I carry a small tank for the kicker but it would take a few minutes to get that out and connected and the bad fuel cleaned out of the engine. I could be on the rocks or the beach in that case, so first thing, out goes the anchor.

Good thing for fishermen is we are all pretty much setup to toss an anchor and 300' of line out.

As long as the Nautomatic Gladiator could handle the motor control for trolling, I'd be fine.

I checked out a 24' Pursuit with twin 115's and they said it would troll down to 1mph with one engine.

Brion

Green Machine

07-07-2003, 07:13 PM

Why would anyone want to put thousands of hours on a $10,000 motor when they can do the same with a $1,500 kicker motor? Kickers are cheap and very effective. Plus it's nice to troll and steer right by your rod. (Unless you have TR1) :depressed:

Green Machine

Re:Play

07-07-2003, 07:17 PM

In addition to the safety factor--I came in across the Columbia Bar a couple years ago at high slack on my trolling motor cause I ran my batteries down with my downrigger! The other reason, when the west wind blows on the Columbia and you try to anchor and sturgeon fish, you can put the kicker in reverse and hold exactly where you want to be. We did that last nite at the Fishery below Bonneville. :smile:

peter frederick

07-07-2003, 09:00 PM

Brion,

When you are ready for the TR-1 Gladiator, Give me a call, even with twin 115 on that boat there is still room for a kicker.

Lets do it!

Pete/TR-1

tramp

07-07-2003, 09:06 PM

don't leave home without one

BrionLutz

07-07-2003, 10:46 PM

Pete,

It will be twins (Gladiator) or one big and one kicker (TR1).

A lot of the glass boats don't have an integral kicker setup so you have to go with those unsightly brackets (looking good is everything <grin>).

One of the reasons for the twins is that if one motor or prop goes out, you have enough power to really get home. That's why you see that setup in a lot of saltwater boats.

Brion

Keta

07-08-2003, 12:31 AM

How well do you row? A kicker will get you home or keep you out of the rocks if the main breaks down.

GutshotApe

07-08-2003, 09:03 AM

I have a 15hp kicker on my 17' inboard jetboat...for all the reasons listed above. But I go one step beyond...my boat has oarlocks and a set of 9 foot oars in case both the big motor and the kicker crap out simultaneously. Hasn't happened yet but if it does I'll be able to at least maintain some headway and if swept out over the bar I will hit the breakers head on :shocked: instead of sideways.

When I run the upper Willamette I usually don't hang the kicker on the boat...and once, when the boat was new and I hadn't figured out the gas guage reads 1/4 when it is really empty, I used the oars to keep the boat off the rocks and in deep water as I drifted 3 miles back down to the ramp.

peter frederick

07-08-2003, 10:02 AM

Brion,

If you go with one main, and a kicker, we will put the Gladiator on, and run the kicker off that autopilot as well. You will really like to make a short or a long run on autopilot.

Thanks Pete

chummer

07-08-2003, 10:28 AM

I probably use mine more in reverse while on anchor than trolling. Alotta times sea anchors just are'nt enough to keep the west wind from blowing you back upriver.

Troller

07-08-2003, 10:54 AM

I was beginging to wonder if anyone would add cheaper till green machine chimed in a lot cheaper to replace the kicker than the main motor. Less gas and cheaper maintanance. Slower troll rate and saftey.I have had my boat for just over a year and have about 60 hours on the big engine. The kicker has around 230 hours. It is quiter when running and charges my batteries so the electronics and downriggers dont drain them dead. An electric would drain a battery unless you want to add another battery just for that purpose. I wouldnt be without one??

BrionLutz

07-08-2003, 03:00 PM

Mr. Carp,

Best insurance you can buy and then you don't have to call the Coast Guard and hassle them. Just to stay up to the current law. You don't call the CG if you motor conks out unless you are in immediate, life threatening danger.

The CG will not tow you and, in fact, are forbidden to tow you unless you are in danger. And that does not include running out of beer <grin>.

You call a commercial tow (or a friend) unless you are in immediate danger.

Best insurance you can buy is SeaTow or similar. I got SeaTow because I see them just about everywhere I fish.

Brion

BrionLutz

07-08-2003, 03:04 PM

Pete,

At this point, it looks like the Whaler Ventura 21 with a 225 and 15HP kicker which would mean the Gladiator if you say that will work running the troller via the hydraulic steering.

Waiting on two things.

1. Need the new throttle control that Merc is supposed to be coming out with that uses the throttle twist for speed and fwd/rev. This is necessary to operate the kicker manually, it sits way back there on the Whaler transom.

2. Not necessary but nice...the 250HP four cycle.

Brion

Sore Back

07-08-2003, 07:40 PM

If cost is a factor, you may want to consider an electeic. It can save you a lot of money.

Mr. Carp

07-09-2003, 12:15 AM

I was told that even if you can pull start you big motor(which can be done if you eat your wheaties), some of these new fuel injected motors have to have power to run that system unlike the older carb motors. Don't know for certain, but I have heard that.

Just get a kicker. Best insurance you can buy and then you don't have to call the Coast Guard and hassle them.

peter frederick

07-09-2003, 08:51 AM

Brion,

You can set the Merc up to be a remote model, that would allow you to start, shift, and run the throttle from the drivers seat. when does the 250hp come out, also merc. does have a power tilt available, when you are ready I will make a trip up to see you, we can look over the hole aplication, and figure out just what TR-1 we will use, mabie both, that would be really cool.

Thanks Pete/TR-1

crabbait

07-09-2003, 09:25 AM

Brion - I don't think Sea Tow is available anywhere in Oregon or Washington outside the Seattle area. Bet it's expensive when they have to come from San Francisco!

night stocker

07-09-2003, 09:39 AM

Brion,yes you can pull start a 115.i have done it on my 115 yamaha a few times when the batery went dead.i always keep a pull rope on board.this only works if the big motor has been started for the day.tried this stunt when i had a bad batery at the boat ramp and it was cold and hadn't been run for a while,wore myself out trying to start that thing. graemlins/stupid.gif graemlins/dork.gif NS

Elwix

07-09-2003, 10:04 AM

crabbait
I met the couple who run Seatow for the Portland Vancouver area at a boating safety class I took. Seem like nice folks.
Here's a link:
http://www.seatowpdx.com/

BrionLutz

07-09-2003, 01:43 PM

Crabbait,

SeaTow is in Portland and he runs from Longview to Bonneville to Oregon City.

It's $100 a year for free tow, pull off the rocks, rope tangled in prop or out of gas.

Now lets see...$3K for kicker...divided by $100...hmm...breakeven point is 2034 <grin>.

Nightstocker: Thanks on the info hand cranking the 115HP...I didn't think it could be done but I guess if I was desperate enough nice to know it's possible.

Brion

Brion

BrionLutz

07-09-2003, 01:51 PM

Pete,

Easy there big fella!

The only pressure I'm under on the new boat is how many fillings I lose on the CR this year.

I'll probably make the switch to glass/prop when the stars align.

For the Whaler.

1. The Merc 250 4 cycle is out.
2. The Merc 15 has the tiller speed/shift in one.

or

3. GradyWhite lets me put twin 115s on the Tournment 225.

The reason the remote steering wouldn't work is that with a fish on, you need to work the motor from the back of the boat...particularly taking the motor of out of gear.

Of course with the twins, I'd have to figure something out...maybe a 2nd control at the transom like the big sport fish do.

I'm sure I'm in your mo' future biz category though...two TR1's and counting.

Brion

Lured In

07-09-2003, 01:56 PM

Why have a kicker? What else I am going to put on my kicker bracket? :tongue: :grin:

Ditto on the above. I will say that my next boat/kicker combo will have a 15 hp instead of the 8hp I have on my 19' NR. It trolls great, but will only make about 9-12mph at full throttle. I would also be sure to get a 4 stroke kicketr (just in case you were wondering which way to go). :wink:

Mr. Carp

07-09-2003, 06:20 PM

Could this be Brion while he is waiting for SeaTow?????? Looks kinda like him. :wink:

http://www.ifish.net/uploads/550618189.jpg

Originally posted by BrionLutz
Crabbait,

SeaTow is in Portland and he runs from Longview to Bonneville to Oregon City.

It's $100 a year for free tow, pull off the rocks, rope tangled in prop or out of gas.

Now lets see...$3K for kicker...divided by $100...hmm...breakeven point is 2034 <grin>.

Brion
As far as the rules go Brion, I am fully aware of the rules regarding getting a tow. What I and others are trying to say is that what happens when your boat dies when you're crossing the channel or something similar or being washed up on the rocks or jetty.

Hmmmmm.... Here comes a barge. Make the phone call. SeaTow is on the way. Be there in 30 minutes. When there is commercial traffic on the way, you don't have any time. The time you have is to get the kicker started and get the heck out of the way.

Hmmmm.... $3,000 for a kicker or $30,000 for a new boat and $10,000 for doctors bills because you got ran over or washed up on the rocks. That's not considering the worse case scenario. :hoboy:

To me the kicker sounds like the best bet both for money and for safety. :wink:

Green Machine

07-09-2003, 09:24 PM

:grin: :grin: :grin:

I had an Evinscrewed 88 special that for no apparent reason would conk out on me and leave me helpless. With my kicker I could always make it back to the launch. I think if I had signed up for SeaTow and had no kicker, they would have bought me a kicker and said "Don't call us anymore!!"

Green Machine

Mr. Carp

07-09-2003, 09:28 PM

Green Machine: That is Classic!! :laugh:

BrionLutz

07-09-2003, 11:34 PM

Mr. Carp,

As far as the rules go Brion, I am fully aware of the rules regarding getting a tow.Glad to hear it. You were worried about the "embarrasment" of calling the CG when your motor failed. I didn't want folks to get the wrong impression.

The CG doesn't respond to "embarrassing" situations only to life threatening situations. For the embarrassing stuff, running out of fuel, dead engine, dead battery, running aground, rope around the prop, etc., for that you need to call a commercial tow.

What I and others are trying to say is that what happens when your boat dies when you're crossing the channel or something similar or being washed up on the rocks or jetty.If the situation is life threatening, you should contact the CG and the Sheriff immediately. If they cannot get to you quickly, they will issue a call for assistance to other boaters. That has the added advantage in the case of barges, they will be monitoring that channel and will know that you there well in advance.

You should always consider that your kicker will not work either (bad fuel will kill both engines and is a very common cause of engine failure) and have a plan.

SeaTow is good insurance. He can get to you PDQ.

Brion

Tilla

07-11-2003, 07:54 AM

OK, so there is this guy I know :rolleyes: ,who yesterday was going out of Chinook landing about 1/4 of a mile when his 200 Merc starts stuttering and smoking and shuts down. Turns out when he was trading batteries around the prior weekend the +/- cables were switched! :shocked: Fried the wiring harness and some other stuff. He was able to cool it off but managed to continue his trip with his 8 hp kicker to an anchor spot and his buddy (rhymes with Fishalot :rolleyes: ) manages to get a keeper Sturgeon.They head back to Chinook landing (after waving Hi to Fishin Mission) and just before he gets to the dock the kicker dies and he goes to pull the starter cord to restart and it breaks. :shocked: It so happens this really cool vessel has a 3rd motor, an Minnkota electric. This motor is eventually used to get the boat to the trailer.
So if your asking me, I mean my friend, about how necessary a kicker is, well let me tell , I mean let my friend tell you, it's pretty darn important! :wink:

[ 07-11-2003, 07:56 AM: Message edited by: Tilla ]

nerta

07-11-2003, 08:24 AM

IMHO not having a kicker motor is like not having a spare rod and reel with you. :shocked:
I also have the tri motor group on my boat big,small and electric. I've never needed one in an emergency but they are there if needed. :grin:

Lured In

07-11-2003, 08:46 AM

Tilla...sorry to hear about your woes (I mean your friend's woes.) :tongue: :grin:

Glad to hear it wasn't a total bust. Just a little reminder. Red wire goes to the terminal with the + on it and the black wire goes to the terminal with the - on it. Feel free to pass that on to your friend. :wink: :grin:

Pitch Pocket

07-11-2003, 09:27 AM

Don't let the fact that a 115 will idle down to a trolling speed fool you. You WILL foul plugs idling for extended periods of time. Heck, you'll foul plugs in a 2 cycle kicker trolling around slowly. It is way cheaper to replace a single spark plug than 12 of em.

Running up hours on the main is not a good idea when it comes re-sale time either. You are probably saving money by not buying a new kicker, but you will pay when you have 600 hours on your hour meter after 2 years. If somebody tried to tell me that the bulk of the 600 hours in 2 years were from trolling, I'd find another boat. Saving money now to only pay it back later in spades is false economy.

Doesn't sound like you are planning many ocean trips, so I question the validity of the twin mains anyway. I see it a lot in ocean players boats, but the redundency for in river fishing is expensive to buy and doubly expensive to repair. A little overkill in my opinion.

I'd stick with the kicker for economics and comfort. Idling a big 2 cycle is noisy and stinky. The 115 sits so high that with 2 of them, you'd have a wall of voodoo to fish through at the back of the boat. A nice low profile 4 cycle main and a quiet 4 cycle 9.9 whispering along and just sipping gas while you are trolling is a more enjoyable experience.

Whatever you do, good luck.

peter frederick

07-13-2003, 04:06 PM

A kicker is for sure a must have on any boat, my only problem I see over and over is sitting at the back of your boat steering it, while all your friends are upfront having fun, to steer a kicker, fish tie lines, relax enjoy youself, there is truely only one awnser. TR-1 Autopilot.

Pete

BrionLutz

07-13-2003, 06:27 PM

PitchPocket,

I was the one with twin main engine scenario. That is a legit choice for trolling and for propulsion. You see it frequently on salt water rigs like Whalers, GradyWhites, Makos etc.

There's an extra safety level in that you can get home at speed if one engine fails.

Most folks who have dual engines troll all day on one engine or the other other. Typically you are burning an hour back to the dock which tends to clean it out if it's two-cycle. With four cycles it's not really an issue.

Only issue with salmon fishing is being single handed, in that case, being able to work the small kicker while working the fish is an advantage.

Even that is doable if you go for one of the big water center consoles with dual engines.

If you have a tiller boat with a 4 cycle prop engine, I think you'd be fine without a kicker if you tended to fish Columbia and Willamette area. Up on the Sandy or Clackamas type fishing, the need to for a pump would make the prop kicker a must.

Sounded like Gottafish was going with a 4 cycle 70 hp prop engine so I think he'd be fine with trolling plate.

Assuming his fishing Willamette/Columbia, that's $2-3K he wouldn't have to spend. If he's worried about getting stuck, the $100 for SeaTow is pretty cheap vs the kicker.

He could try it with just the main engine and then get the kicker later if he thinks it fits his fishing.

Brion

peter frederick

07-15-2003, 10:19 PM

Ok, if you have fished the east coast, think .Florida, there is no such thing as a kicker, yes the trolling speed is greater than ours, but the new four strokes, or any at that matter(outboard) will not bother the engine at all. Yes a v8 is differant, if you spec. out the new four strokes the say, ya no problem. We do not troll all day, we move from fishing hole to fishing spot, so give the 115 a little throttle and go, then return to idle and toss a line!!!

Mr. Carp

07-15-2003, 11:55 PM

Originally posted by BrionLutz:

The CG doesn't respond to "embarrassing" situations only to life threatening situations. For the embarrassing stuff, running out of fuel, dead engine, dead battery, running aground, rope around the prop, etc., for that you need to call a commercial tow.

If the situation is life threatening, you should contact the CG and the Sheriff immediately. If they cannot get to you quickly, they will issue a call for assistance to other boaters. That has the added advantage in the case of barges, they will be monitoring that channel and will know that you there well in advance.

I don't know about in the Hudson River or where ever you fished before, but on the Columbia, most of the problems you listed can be life threatening. Getting an anchor rope in the motor while doing your double pull thing at Bonneville can get you in trouble real fast.

Some people don't run their kicker off of one tank for the very reason you mentioned. That way you have two different sources of fuel if need be.

As far as the Coast Guard is concerned, I have seen them tow people who were not in immediate danger several times down in the estuary.

The big motors are getting better, but I'd rather save $10000 on not buying a second big motor and using it for a kicker.

BUY A KICKER!!!!

BrionLutz

07-16-2003, 12:11 AM

Mr. Carp,

I don't know about in the Hudson River or where ever you fished before...It's called the Atlantic Ocean.

CG rules are the same nationwide.

It was a few years ago when the CG rules were changed and they were instructed to no longer provide tows for disabled boats except for those in life threatening situation.

The CG will call a commercial tow for you.

Didn't want folks on the board to think that if their motor conked out, the CG would come get them. That is not the case.

If you don't have SeaTow or other prepaid service, it can get expensive if you need to call a commercial tow.

I'm a quadruple redundancy kind of person, main, kicker, electric and SeaTow.

A twin engine installation is as redundant as a main/kicker installation. In fact, it offers a slightly higher level of safety in that one has "get home power" in the 2nd engine.

However Gottafish's original questions concerned why have a kicker. The main reason most folks have kickers is for trolling, not as a back up engine.

If he was looking at buying a boat for fishing he'd want to look at a trolling kicker.

Brion

Mr. Carp

07-16-2003, 12:33 AM

Originally posted by BrionLutz:

CG rules are the same nationwide.

It was a few years ago when the CG rules were changed and they were instructed to no longer provide tows for disabled boats except for those in life threatening situation. I am sure the rules are the same Brion, but what I am saying is that I have seen several times the Coast Guard towing in boats that were not in danger and this was only last year. i am not saying to rely on these people, so buy a kicker and don't worry about it. Maybe they bend the rules a little???? Nahhhhh :wink: I suppose an orange and white boat that says Coast Guard towing a boat that has just called in because they were out of gas, but threw out the anchor and were no "immediate" danger being towed in to Hammond didn't happen... :wink: :grin: :wink: Try Again Brion

However Gottafish's original questions concerned why have a kicker. The main reason most folks have kickers is for trolling, not as a back up engine.
I don't know what source you got that from, but I disagree with that statement. That is your opinion Brion and not the word of all members at Ifish because I have not seen a survey done <grin>. Our kicker is used for safety first and sometimes for trolling. Like I said earlier though, each person will have a different say in how they use their engine.....

BrionLutz

07-16-2003, 11:13 AM

Mr. Carp,

Getting back to Gottafish's question, with a 4 cycle such as the 70HP he was talking about, equipped with a trolling plate, that would be a legit choice for fishing. I see quite a few boats with trolling plate and they seem to troll just fine.

A kicker as a insurance engine is fine but expensive insurance if a cheaper alterative like SeaTow is available.

In Gottafish's case, I'd save $2K and go with the trolling plate and SeaTow. You can always spend the extra money later if you find it doesn't work in your application.

Bottomline is do not count on or call the US Coast Guard for non-life threatening problems.

It is not only not their job, they are required to refer you to commercial tow.

...what I am saying is that I have seen several times the Coast Guard towing in boats that were not in danger and this was only last year. You don't really know what you saw...they could have been taking on water, someone was hurt, getting towed out of danger and dropped off for a commercial tow, etc.

All we know for sure is that Coast Guard rules are no tows for disabled boats unless it is a life threatening situation. Even then, the CG is responsible for getting you out of the life threatening situation.

You really want to have a plan for getting home if something happens. If there is a commercial tow service insurance in your area, it is wise to get it.

Brion

blast and cast

07-16-2003, 11:20 AM

I do not know what the law states about the CG towing people in but I have been towed in (last year) by the CG from 6 mile out. No danger, no life issues, just a dead motor. I know that Pilar was towed in this year from 20+ miles out, no danger, etc. So if the law states that they are not to tow, they still do.

Mr. Carp

07-16-2003, 11:36 AM

Brion,

A kicker as a insurance engine is fine but expensive insurance if a cheaper alterative like SeaTow is available.

In Gottafish's case, I'd save $2K and go with the trolling plate and SeaTow. You can always spend the extra money later if you find it doesn't work in your application. Fine, don't get a kicker. I don't care. All most of us were saying here I believe (And not trying to speak for everyone) is that a kicker works the easiest for trolling because they are more designed to do so and it doesn't put costly hours on a large motor.

You don't really know what you saw...they could have been taking on water, someone was hurt, getting towed out of danger and dropped off for a commercial tow, etc.Brion, this is getting off the subject, but like it has been stated before, don't flap your jaws unless you know what your talking about Mr. know-it-all comnputer wizard. :hoboy:

In this instanst I know exactly what the situation was. We were fishing not more than 300 yds from the boat that called in. I heard every word they said because I always run P.Scan on our VHF when down there. They stated that their engine wouldn not start, but they were in no danger because they were anchored. The Coast Guard said they would send a boat over and didn't make a call out for other boats in the area to help. Besides, the boat was too big for us to do much good. They came and towed them to shore.

Not sinking.... Not drowning....... Not going out to sea...... Not washing up on jagged rocks..... Just anchored!

I am not advocating calling the Coast Guard when not in danger, which is why I recommend a kicker. I am just saying that you (Brion) need to know what they are talking about before trying to sarcastically insult anyone who has disagreed with you in the past. <big grin>