Back up power

[id. painter]

I have a small back up motor . 10 hp.
I can make about 7-8 MPH with the little motor at full throttle.
Ive always figured that if I loose the main motor I can still manuver the craft to take rough water , or keep myself off the breakers or rocks .
question for the Dogs.

On a scale of 1-10 ,one being not needed as safty exuiptment and ten being very highly important to saftly running an ocean going vessel.

Im interested to see the level of importance as viewed by the most experienced ..Please respond.
Thanks for the input .

id. p.

[sturgn]

I have run on my backup motor on more than one occasion. Once while at teh ranch I busted the pin that holds the gear on the distributor shaft, we ran on the kicker for 6 hours while waiting for the coastgaurd(I think we when 10 miles towards shore). I wont go without some backup power. On a scale 1-10 its a 10 in my book.

[BigWaterBigFish]

9 or 10 ...
I am clearing up an electrical issue right now but I have a "trickle charger" on the kicker as well so that when I am trolling with it, I am not draining the batteries to keep the fishfinder, gps, vhf on. so it serves two purposes out there, keeping the batteries up so the big motor will start up and giving me optional way to hold position, stay off rocks, make my way toward safety, control the boat (keep into the waves rather than sideways) if the big motor goes down.
The other thought is "a friend in need makes a friend in deed" ... if someone is wallowing with no way in and I can't tow, might be able to help them by handing over kicker to get them safe.

[id. painter]

Thanks Strg.
40 other hits and no opinions
You only have to post the # .
Its easy .... :grin:
id. p.

[Boatdog]

For me persoanlly, it's part of the "redundant systems" theory. But I wouldn't rely on it by itself without at least one VHF to call for help, and an anchor to deploy (if necessary) as well.
I can't remember ever going out without a backup mode of propulsion, so I'll rate it a 9 for 'sportsfishers'.

[rojo]

After I went from a boat with twins to one with a single, it only took one problem for me to go get a back-up motor. won't push the boat vry fast but to keep me out of trouble...Roger

[Bendman]

I would say back up motor would be a 9. An anchor would be a 10

[DriftR]

Yup, I have backup. A Yamaha 8 hp hi Thrust, electric start, tilt and remote steering in case my VP I/O konks out. May not be the fastest way home but will keep me from hitting rocks and other areas I just as soon stay away from.
I am planning on buying one of those battery booster/jumper carry on units that has a compressor, light, kitchen sink, 4x4, gazillion amps of power so on so forth. Never have to much backup anything. That's one of the reasons I purchased a bigger boat and trailer. To haul more stuff.

[bajadan2000]

Depends on the type of fishing you do. If you are fishing near shore and rocks, or buoy 10 then I would rate it a 10.

I fish off shore for Halibut and Tuna most of the time so I would rate it an 6-8. Last year I ran without the kicker and had Sea Tow as a backup plan. Put my boat money into the items that I felt were more important. This year I am getting a kicker.

I would rate things like life jackets, gps, radio, and flares a 10. Anchor, radar, and sounder a 9.

[Mark Mc]

To piggy-back on what Dan just said..... In terms of the "numbers game" (i.e. where most people get in trouble), the most critical time to have a kicker is when you are close to shore. Meaning....when you are going in & out of the harbor / jetty, and when you are fishing / crabbing close to the shore.

When you are away from the shore, if your engine simply dies and you are not otherwise in danger (i.e. boat is sinking, you were about to capsize), then you have some time to deal with the situation. And if you have to wait for a tow, so be it.

[tomictime]

rate it a 9 it gets a ten when you have redundant and seperate fuel system inc tankage for it.

Radar will not buck river current to get you safely to a moorage. (on the off chance you are thinking of selling the kicker to fund radar AND convention - hah!)

This from a guy w 2 VHF, GPS, storm anchor w 30' of chain, BIG Danforth "lunch hook" and a bunch of other safety gear. I have made a few treks w kicker.

My $.02

Jim

[PismoGary]

I wish I had a kicker. I have to use my 5.0 V8 to troll with. Not good to idle the V8 for prolong periods. Besides, at idle speeds, there's barely enough rpm to keep the alternator putting out optimum voltage to keep the battery up. But most important like many have said, it's the safety thing knowing you have propulsion if the big motor goes down. I give it a 9

[id. painter]

I have my kicker on seperate fuel , I want a trickle charger on it ..




Ill keep that one under my hat till after the convention ,
id. p.

[OceanBlue]

But Mark, what about directional control? Wouldn't a kicker mean the difference between being able to keep it pointy end into it vs. taking it over the side or stern & possibly getting swamped while waiting for help?

[skein]

I agree with OceanBlue, the kicker does more than just putt you back home; especially the steerage issue.

I simply wouldn't go out there without one. I also start mine as part of my safety talk while still in the bay. I don't want to suddenly need it and wonder if it's going to start. I know it works before I head out. It's hooked into the main tank, but I also carry an extra, separate fuel tank for it. One more thing; it's got electric start so that in case something happens to me, Janis won't have to lean over the transom and pull on the starting rope.

And don't buy the one from the Red Rooster! Remember that guy pulling and pulling and pulling while they were trying to follow and fight that big tuna? I want to stay out of that little polka.

Skein

[Nalu]

Good question! I've run from 20 miles out back to the beach in Alaska when my main motor blew up. Took me 3 hours, but as there is no Coast Guard close by, I was glad for the kicker.

As I have twins, with primary and secondary fuel tanks, the kicker really isnt needed. I did have one on last year, and sold it this fall. Replacing for next summer? Not sure yet.

Operating in close to rocks for bottomfishing, or fishing on a bar aux power is pretty important in my opinion.

Keeping directional control as OceanBlue mentioned is key, but one need not have power to do this. A correctly sized sea anchor will also accomplish this, at a lower cost, and with no chance of mechanical breakdown. (electrical failure, fuel contamination, etc.) As Tomictime mentioned, adequate anchor and rode for emergency anchorage is also important.

Now, I would also say that you think twice about your bar crossing with a kicker if there is any question. Say outgoing tide from Yaquina with a little bit of swell. I would quite seriously consider contacting the Coast Guard and having an escort at a minumum. I've entered Depoe Bay only using 1 of my twin 200's and was astonished by how substantially less the control of the boat was. Enough to give me pause about even thinking about entering Depoe Bay on a kicker with some swell.

[Mark Mc]

Dearest Jen, read my post.... I said:

if your engine simply dies and you are not otherwise in danger

And like Mike says....that's what sea anchors are for.

[Triple C]

I have 15HP Yam and it pushes my boat to 6-7mph WOT
it also has an altenator to keep the batteries up to
full charge with all the electronics on. I would'nt
like to leave port without it. It might take hours to
motor home but it beats swiming home

[bajadan2000]

Good debate.

The question I have to ask myself is.... if my main motor goes and it becomes a life and death situation if I do not have a kicker, than what am I doing here?

Yes there are times, such as bar crossings, that having a kicker is a very good idea. Also, the conditions mother nature serves up here in the NW are much more challenging than most other areas of the world. Just look at the boats used on the East Coast. Few have kickers and they run a long ways out to fish.

Having a kicker on a boat should not give someone false security to take chances they would not take without a kicker.

[Nalu]

Having a kicker on a boat should not give someone false security to take chances they would not take without a kicker.

Great point! Kickers are better than nothing. For aux power to get off the rocks when shallow water bottom fishing, and for making your way in if the main motor dies on a nice day, they're great. They are a nice warm fuzzy.

Offshore, in chop or swell that is big enough to cause potential problems to the boat, that's another matter. I've salmon fished to the point where I couldn't even make headway with my 15 hp into the chop. At that point it became almost impossible to control. And this was on a day that I still felt safe!

[Mr. Fisherman]

Chris, It's a 10. I cancelled my Tuna trip last Summer when you were here because I could not get my kicker bracket installed and would not leave the beach without it. The very first trip on the Columbia my main motor had problems and my kicker got me back. Then a year and a half later my main motor died in building seas in the fog. Yes, Sea anchors are a great idea and I carry one but give me a kicker anyday. A sea anchor would not have helped me when I was drifting down the Columbia and I wouldn't want to anchor in the channel because freightors can not stop or turn and you would be in their way... but I digress. (yes I know the difference between a Sea Anchor and an Anchor, I have both)
When my main motor died and I was on my own to get back to the Depoe Bay Buoy to meet the Coast Guard I found that the same kicker that would push my boat 7 to 8 MPH in the river would only make 3 MPH WOT in those seas. I found that having a second functional hand held VHF will save your bacon and I found out that not everything shows up on radar as the Black Rocket and I kept catching visual glimpses but neither targeted well on radar for each other. I learned that it is a very good idea to let the Coast Guard know what yor situation is ESPECIALLY if you are going to try to come in in the kicker. They will let you know what the conditions are, if the bar is open and they may offer you a tow in.
I am really wanting a bigger kicker after having this experience behind me but I just can't afford it. I fondly refer to my kicker as my little Honda Hero because it has brought me back alive several times. It dosen't matter how well you take care of your equipment, stuff happens. Be prepared and live to pass on the lessons learned.

[id. painter]

Nice work gentleman,,, right into the next logical topic.
Kicker size ? Anchor deployment ? Sea vs regular CR rocker ?
Keep the opinions comming it helps. Thanks to all.
id. p.

[tomictime]

Mr Fisherman has a prudent well thought out post - several layers of protection and redundancy are needed to overcome the specific situation.

MF: You might try a workboat type prop for your existing kicker, may limit your wot top end speed a bit but also give you better speed / steerage bucking waves / currents. Workboat props are sold for moving heavy loads not for planing, so your kicker mfg may not sell one suited for that.

JD

[tomictime]

Nice work gentleman,,, right into the next logical topic.
Kicker size ? Anchor deployment ? Sea vs regular CR rocker ?
Keep the opinions comming it helps. Thanks to all.
id. p.

I like my T-8, swings a BIG prop will move my 24' Hardtop in serious slop about 5 Knts. I replaced a 25 HP Johnson 2-stroke w workboat prop. T-8 also put out decent Volts / amps off idle...perfect for powering the radar (note the cross linked safety argument: gee the kicker needs a trickle charger so the radar will not run the batt down and strand us..so far from the convention... :smile: I am on your side, really I am...)

Jim

[Mr. Fisherman]

Yea, same as a "Sail boat" prop I am told.
I haven't looked into the availability for my 8HP Honda but I should. At the very least my outfit is "proven"

[Nalu]

Kicker size--- Surprisingly, a big kicker isn't necessarily going to give you a whole lot more UMPH. In fact, if I do put another kicker on, I will probably go with a 9.9 hi thrust versus the 15 hp regular that I had the last 2 years. That's a 9.9 Hi Thrust on a 27 foot deep vee that has a wet weight of over 8000 lbs.

Again, the issue is back to ventilation and cavitation. You can get as big a kicker as you want, but that little prop is only going to do so much.

Sea Anchor- id.painter, hopefully you're following on this, but to be clear to others, a "sea anchor" is basically a parachute deployed in the water for your boat. In adverse conditions, a sea anchor will keep the boat facing into the wind/swell and prevent wallowing in a trough. A TRUE sea anchor is fairly large, not the little ones that people use to keep boats straight while on anchor in the river.

A CR rocking chair anchor is not typically recommended for the ocean. I remove mine in the spring, and connect the Danforth style that is mounted year round in the anchor locker. Spade design, plough, force, and other similar styles are different types. Danforth style is inexpensive, and works faily well for a variety of ocean floor conditions. IMHO investing in proper length and style of rode is the more important consideration. A great, expensive anchor won't hold squat if you don't have enough rode out.

[Mr. Fisherman]

0

[Nalu]

Ray- I'm curious about why you don't trust Danforths. With you I would expect it would be for good reason!

I've found my Danforth to hold suitable in some pretty nasty conditions from sand/mud to rock. I have to admite that most of the anchoring I've done with it has allowed me to visually inspect the hold it has. (SCUBA Diving) I was pleased to find the anchor held in 4-6 foot chop when I retuned from a dive. (Although I did leave someone aboard the boat just in case) :smile:

[tomictime]

MF:
Agree..mostly..Danforth has it's place. My lunchhook Danforth is rated for the boat, w 10' of chain and 200' of 3/8" (if memory serves). The storm hook, which I hope never to drag out of the bildge..is a Davis - like a CQR but no hinge..is 2X rec size. There I have 30' chain and 300' of 1/2"....I also hope never to deploy it in the Ocean. I have worked thru the logistics of getting the tub I keep it in and the line tub thru the cuddy and out the front hatch to the cleat. I would NOT like to do this in a heavy seaway.

I set the lunch hook frequently - gives me & my team practice and I get a good idea of scope and holding in various tupes of bottom.

this is good discussion :smile: esp timely as several of the dogs have been pondering safety, wondering how to spend the Christmas boat bucs and with boat and sportsmans show sales upon us :smile: !!!

[Tinman]

I carried a kicker on my old 15 foot aluminum boat for 16 years, putting almost 2000 hours on the boat, mostly on the ocean. My main engine never failed, except once in the 16th year. So is it worth the hassle of carrying a kicker?

I am struggling with that question for my new 22 foot Pacific City dory. Very few dories carry kickers because they are so cumbersome for surf launching.

Like most dories, I carry a serious set of oars for use in case the motor fails during a surf launch. The oars keep the bow to the waves, and can be deployed faster than a kicker.

I also carry a 15# danforth and 300 feet of line.

All that being said, I still think I want a kicker, just in case.

[OceanBlue]

I carried a kicker on my old 15 foot aluminum boat for 16 years, putting almost 2000 hours on the boat, mostly on the ocean. My main engine never failed, except once in the 16th year. So is it worth the hassle of carrying a kicker?

Murphy's law says it will fail the one time you don't have the kicker... don't ask me how I know this

[Mr. Fisherman]

How do you know this?
We all learn from each others trials, lets hear yours...

[Mr. Fisherman]

Ray- I'm curious about why you don't trust Danforths. With you I would expect it would be for good reason!

I had a danforth slip several times in mud, sand and rock. This was early into my anchoring experience and I am older and wiser now but I did have a good amount of chain and it slipped when I least wanted it to (after finally finding THE fishing spot). This was in fairly gentle water with an 18' boat. I have never had my rocker fail in the same areas even with my bigger boat.
I would recommend that anyone considering an anchor do some homework and insure that they have the right anchor set up the right way and that they are using the right amount of scope, hence my reference to Chapmans.
I hope this helps. I am not bad mouthing danforths as a whole, I am just saying I don't trust them. It is kind of like petting a strange dog... Once bitten I may not trust that dog again but to someone else it may be just fine .

[edsr]

Back up motor -10 - Seperate fuel supply if possible.

Anchor -10 - In the river a rocking chair type, appropiate size for your boat, w/chain & plenty of rope(200-300'). On the ocean depends on the bottom ,again, appropiate size for your boat w/chain and plenty of rope,(enough to keep you out of the breakers - 200'-300'?), Danforth, Navy, Plow,etc. I carry a Danforth.

Two GPS' -10

Two VHF's -10

edsr

[Lip Rip'r]

Kicker to keep you pointed in the right direction or to get you back to base.. 10

Kicker for trolling swimbaits (or for salmon) 10++

LR_

[Hoghunter]

A kicker motor is a must have for anyone that seriously wants to fish, rather than relying on a big motor for slower saltwater trolling. For years when I had a Volvo I/O, I never left the dock without a working kicker. The thought being if my big motor broke at least I would have steerage back to port on the kicker. However, I would quantify that by saying that only applies to realatively calm situations w/o a lot of wind, waves and heavy current. I too have been in water that was too much for my kicker to steer the boat. I wouldn't even consider taking a boat across one of the coastal bars on my kicker unless it was flat calm. I have a Grady with two big outboards now plus the kicker. I have ran it on one motor just to get a feel for what I'm dealing with. I was amazed at the difference it made in the boats handling, planing and steerage. It would take good compensating with trim and some damn good steering to cross a rough bar with one big outboard, if the other is down. So I guess my rating on the kicker would be a 9 on relatively calm days and 0 in real rough weather. I would be more confident in a sea anchor than trying to steer in heavy seas with a small kicker.

[Coastalfisherman]

I would never cross the bar without a kicker. I mostly fish near shore and hope that I never have to use it. I have fished within 100 yards of the surfline in the summer and would not trust an anchor alone to keep me away from the surf. I rely on my T-8.

[OuterLimits]

I rate it a 10. Won't leave home without one. Have had to use it 2 twice. Great back up plan!!

[Ducks4jimm]

Nalu, from reading your posts, it sounds as though a sea anchor should be a standard on the "must carry" equipment list. I've thought about it, but don't have one - yet. Sounds like it's on the new-year list of things to have onboard?

[Nalu]

Ducks4jimm-- That's a tough one. I don't carry a TRUE sea anchor with me. I have several drogues the largest of which is 36 inches in diameter. They would do better than nothing, but are not the same as a true parachute type.

A true sea anchor, 9 foot in diameter you can get for about $300-$400. To this point with 2 200's with isolated batteries, and and the ability to isolate fuel, then an aux kicker, I haven't felt that I have needed it. Combine this with distance off shore, the proximity of help, redundant communication, and "makeshift" sea anchors by using multiple drogues, and for me there have been other things in front of this purchase. Examples being EPIRB and I.B.A.

I guess the point I was better trying to make was that if you're depending on a small aux motor to see you through any type of building slop, you may be kidding yourself. Fortunately, I've yet to lose both main motors in rough weather. If I only had a single main motor, it would probably creep higher on my list.

Since Rods "rant" post is still in my memory, I guess it makes sense to mention...A sea anchor is not mandatory to be safe. A kicker is probably a better, more useful alternative for most conditions. Going offshore with a single motor also isn't taboo. Lots of people do it, and are fine all the time. :grin:

[Mr. Fisherman]

O.K., I gotta admit I haven't kicked down for the real deal sea anchor either. I have 2 large "socks" but they do put my bow where I need it to be. Since we are discussing sea anchors I will say that I have heard stories of them tearing off cleats and causing problems in big seas and would caution that they should be sized correctly. I would likely "fuse" mine when and if I get one to hopefully avoid this. I was thinking about using the same device I do for anchoring. It is an adjustable plastic friction coupling. The one I have can be set so I can easily pull off with my kicker and set hard enough to allow me to pull my big anchor without a problem. I feel much safer anchoring in the river with it as if a root wad or an inexperienced boater slid down on me while I was anchored the fuse would give way and I would float free so I could assess the situation and recover. I think that this device along with highly visible flotation on the rode would give me the extra safety factor I think I need. The way I rig this setup there is no way the tag line can get into my prop after I break away. I really like it and anchoring in my cabin boat is a pleasure.
I talked to a commercial fisherman who uses this setup (sea Anchor)and spends the night Tuna fishing. He reports only drifting 3 miles and not having a problem. I AM NOT RECOMMENDING THIS. Being on the ocean after the sun goes down is a completely different animal and you CAN NOT see where the waves or the swell is coming from. In addition there are too many dangers to list here. People can tell you this until the are blue in the face but to see it first hand is to really understand sensory deprovation. The water absolutly absorbs all light. It is darker than the inside of a dark place with the lights off. Let me tell you that it is dark. The only place I have been that was darker was at the bottom of a mine when I turned off the flashlight and I think the Ocean was darker than that.

Anyway, if you are going to invest in a proper sea anchor just make darn sure you size it appropriately for your boat (length AND weight) and that it is secured properly. In addition get ued to using it in good conditions so you know what to expect should you ever need to deploy it.

Another caution is that using multiple smaller drouges or socks can be risky as they have a tendency to become tangled then currents or tides shift. Be aware of this should you need to deploy multiple smaller devices. Think about what you would do in that situation.

I hope this helps and dosen't sound like a rant.

[elron]

I'm an ex coastie of ten years, I never travel without a plan b, its a 10.

[Reel Creel]

10 !!!

[bajadan2000]

Over the years I have been on several boats that lost a main engine out in the ocean. Never was it more than an inconvenience, because we never placed ourselves in a dangerous position.. Heck, we even caught fish while drifting and waiting for a tow, or for someone on board to fix the problem.

However, I have been caught in my last fog bank without radar. Never would leave port without it in working order. Same with radios, gps, EPIRB, and bilge pumps.

Other things I would not leave port without include a box of spare parts and tools.

That being said. If the unthinkable happened, and my boat was sinking. What would I take in the water with me? The kicker? Box of spare parts and tools? No, I would grab the ditch bag with handheld radio, flares and EPIRB.

That is why I agree with Nalu on his statement.......

"Examples being EPIRB and I.B.A."

Do I feel safer with a kicker? You bet I like having it as plan b or c all the way to plan z.

[Paddler]

It's pretty uncommon for a motor to just stop while it's running. More likely, you won't be able to start it. That's happen to me twice, once it was a fuse in the starter circuit, the other time the starter gear would not engage the flywheel.

That being the case, a main motor failure should not put you in harms way in terms of crossing a bar. If your main won't start at the dock it's an inconvenience. If it won't start out at sea, it's an expensive inconvenience. I don't think a kicker will help much in either case, and I wouldn't want to cross a bar on a kicker alone.

If fishing close to shore, a kicker could help a lot in the event of a main failure, but I rarely fish close to shore. The only reason I will get a kicker is to more precisely control trolling speed and save gas/wear on my main motor. Otherwise, I'll put that money towards other safety gear.

[OceanBlue]

Dearest Jen, read my post.... I said:

And like Mike says....that's what sea anchors are for.

So learn me something then, Mark, (after you remove the boot from my backside :grin - I obviously have a hole in my "skipper training." I've seen sea anchors and drogues used, but apparently not effectively enough to make me feel confident that it would provide enough directional control to compensate for not having power, especially with opposing wind and currents. He'p, me.. he'p me...

Mr. F - I was referring to the day we left the kicker on the beach at Depoe, figuring we didn't need the extra weight on board, headed out without a wing-man (both bad suggestions on my part) and ended up being rescued by Sparky and crew when the (new!) starter decided to take a dump. The day the freighter captain was apparently asleep at the wheel and no one seemed to be monitoring the radio and we about got run down while bobbing around waiting for the coasties. (Who were running for us as fast as they could, by the way). Relatively nice ocean day, but for that dang city block of steel headed right at us! - That day...

Key learnings? Don't leave the kicker on the beach, never fly without a wingman, and thank God for the Coast Guard!

[Mr. Fisherman]

A flare across his bow might have gotten somebodys attention... I am glad you are both still here to tell the tale.

[id. painter]

My experience was on the CR bar .
The main motor had water settled in the bottom of the tank . It would run fine until you got into rougher water . The fuel and water would adgitate and then start to kill the main.
This was going on while crossing a rough bar on an ebb .
The main motor crapped out just about dead center of the bar in a nice 10-12 ft swell with a ripping ebb.
The small motor we had was not enough to make head way agent the ebb but we could keep off the south jetty which was about 100 yards away with nice breakers smashing it .
With both motors running (main motor sputtering ) we crossed the channel and limped into Illwaco .

Thanks to all for the input and info ...id. p.

[flapbreaker]

I feel safer with a kicker motor so It's pretty high on my list.

It was explained to me that a bigger kicker wouldn't necessarily gain much in speed depending on the boat if it can't get you on plane then your just trying to push more water so it's not worth the extra money/weight.

[tomictime]

I will pony up too, drift sock and a big-a one onboard but not a true sea ancor...

Good thread, more stuff for the boat :smile:

JD

[Arima Billy]

A kicker is very important, even in the bay while crabbing..How many times have you got a line in the screw of the main motor? I have, it is nice to have a kicker to save you from being carried across a breaking bar on an ebb tide of off the rocks while you are clearing your main motor.

[flapbreaker]

A kicker is very important, even in the bay while crabbing..How many times have you got a line in the screw of the main motor? I have, it is nice to have a kicker to save you from being carried across a breaking bar on an ebb tide of off the rocks while you are clearing your main motor.

It's funny you should mention that. I was at Netarts when my main shut down at a not soo good moment on an outgoing tide. It was quicker to start the kicke than to trouble shooting the main. The funny thing is that it was the handle on the kicker that had somehow nocked the fuel line off the main so maybe it didn't help. :grin:

[Tinman]

Ed, how did you mount a kicker on your dory? Did you use a retractable bracket? I am trying to figure out the best way for my dory, so any advice is much appreciated. Thanks.

[Mr. Fisherman]

Tinman, whay style dory do you have?

The challenge with the C-Dory is the 6% slope at the transom. There are good plans on the C-Brat site for building a kicker bracket that will compensate for the angle on the C-Dory.
I hope this helps...

[Tinman]

Mr. Fisherman: Thanks for the heads-up on the C-brat site. I will check it out. My boat is a Pacific City dory, 21'3", marine plywood with chopper glass on the outside, transom-mount outboard (Johnson 88 hp 2 stroke) built by Terry Learned in Cloverdale. It is specifically designed for beach launching.
Beach launching involves standing behind the transom, and slowly walking the boat out into thigh-deep water, then jumping aboard and rushing to the console to start the motor and power out through the surf. A kicker on a bracket can get in the way. Any ideas?

[San Anita]

Id say the need for a kicker was a 10+. It will keep you posisitioned right for rough seas and I would rather take 6 hours to get back from the ranch than be towed. Not to metion it helps sooo much to slow or control your drift.

Bill

[Mr. Fisherman]

0

[tracker]

I have had the main motor go out on me on the fly. Broke a rod. The only reAL DANGER i WAS IN WAS FROM HOMELAND SECURITY. They seemed to be upset that I was drifting into a restricted area. They kept threatening to shoot me! Anyway the kicker steering also crapped out. Had to steer to a port by hand on the kicker with wife running the throttle. All worked out.

On one of my overnight trips this year we had out the sea anchor to keep us into the swell (there just about was no swell)but the current and such made it so that the anchor was running back under the boat? Kept us into the swell but not sure how? I do think I need a bigger anchor as I want to do somemore overnight trips this coming year. Really a good way to go as far a fuel goes. Is it dark? You bet! That is unless the moon and aliens are out! :grin: Is sure errie though when those longline bouys go floating past the stern of the boat. Both times we drifted about eight miles during the night.

[Big Billy]

I am a little confused here, are you asking how important it is to have back up power period or is your kicker motor enough back up power? I have a 15 horse kicker that will only push my boat at 7 mph under ideal conditions, it would be a long trip anywhere against the wind with this as my only source of power.

[EZLoader]

I was fishing a windy and choppy Buoy 10 one time when my main motor quit for some reason (plugs, fuel,???). I changed spark plugs but my battery finally died after many failed restart attempts. Thank goodness the tide had changed to incoming and that my 7.5 hp Merc worked.

We finally got back to Hammond after a long, hard, full throttle run in. My biggest concern was my kicker's small fuel tank which only held 3 gallons of gas. It was just about empty by the time we landed safely at the dock.

You should plumb your main fuel tank so you can plug your kicker motor into it (or at least transfer fuel) as well.