Unmounted Kicker?

Tinman · 09-29-2009, 10:09 PM

Does anybody have any experience with a kicker that is stored aboard, and only mounted for emergency use?

I'd like to have a kicker on my 22 foot wooden dory, but I don't want it on the transom for a couple of reasons. One, the boat would no longer fit lengthwise in my garage (I back it in catty-corner). Two, I just don't want it cluttering my transom, especially for beach launches. I don't need it much for trolling, just for emergency use. I'm thinking a 9.9 or 15 hp old style 2 stroke, preferrably OMC to match my main motor.

Is there a way to store the kicker aboard and mount it only when needed? Is it practical to try to mount a 75 pound motor while bouncing in a chop? Would the kicker survive the constant pounding if I mounted it vertically on the front of my console? I've included some pics. Is this at all feasible, or do I just need to find a way to keep it on the transom?

cmb1998 · 09-30-2009, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tinman

Does anybody have any experience with a kicker that is stored aboard, and only mounted for emergency use?

I'd like to have a kicker on my 22 foot wooden dory, but I don't want it on the transom for a couple of reasons. One, the boat would no longer fit lengthwise in my garage (I back it in catty-corner). Two, I just don't want it cluttering my transom, especially for beach launches. I don't need it much for trolling, just for emergency use. I'm thinking a 9.9 or 15 hp old style 2 stroke, preferrably OMC to match my main motor.

Is there a way to store the kicker aboard and mount it only when needed? Is it practical to try to mount a 75 pound motor while bouncing in a chop? Would the kicker survive the constant pounding if I mounted it vertically on the front of my console? I've included some pics. Is this at all feasible, or do I just need to find a way to keep it on the transom?

I don't know if it's feasiable to try and mount a 75lb kicker in the chop, but I sure would like to try and fail before being stuck out on the river / ocean with now power...

You might also look at going with a little less power, and therefore a lighter motor. You can get a single cyl 8hp or 6hp that will weigh considerably less. My 15hp two stroke merc ls (1995) weighs in at about 90lbs, my new 4stroke 9.9 is over 120 lbs. Our 30ft sail boat was across the bar many times on a 7hp diesel. Your not going to push your boat on plane with a 15hp...

I would probably also look for a motor with the gas tank built into the motor. It would be ALOT easier than trying to plumb an aux line out of the main, plus who is to say that the reason your bobing in the surf with no power isn't because you have bad fuel. I would probably carry a 2.5 gallon can of gas and just fill the motor when you intent to use it.

chukar14 · 09-30-2009, 08:42 AM

I would mount it on the boat, and unmount it in your garage. It is is a good idea to always have a reliable kicker when out fishing the kicker has saved my butt a couple of times. That being said if you mount a kicker, run it for a little while on every trip you take your boat out, many people have an "emergency" kicker they never run at all until there main motor dies, and then they can't get the kicker to run, that would be a bad situation..

SOL · 10-03-2009, 10:25 PM

If you needed it, how would you safely mount it at sea?

Baxter · 10-04-2009, 04:00 PM

In my opinion, for the use you describe (which matches my own) a much smaller motor is sufficient. My 5hp Nissan, ~55lbs, pushes my 26Bt 4+ knots. I have had cause to run several miles against current and headwind (burnt impeller in the main) and still held my course and made better than 3 knots over ground. This is with a poorly matched prop; I believe I will do better with a lower pitched prop so I can reach max rpms.

I would think that on Evenstar even a 2.5 hp would give reasonable steerage and headway. It would be easy to lash to the console like you say, and the weight wouldn't be consequential. I'd predict better than 3 knots, which won't get you home from tuna town anytime soon but would be easy to store and mount, would keep you off the rocks, and keep the nose pointed the right way far from shore. Anyway, since you have a gas outboard main, you would have an essentially unlimited amount of fuel, so all you would need is time to get anywhere you wanted.

As far as hanging a motor on the transom in a seaway, the first step would be to clip on a tether in case it, uh, slips.

--Lee