Do I need a kicker motor?

roffey

roffey

Junior Member
Do I need a kicker motor? I don't fish that much or if I do it's mostly just casting. The waters I plan on boating on are quite long, about 250 miles long but do have boat traffic. My boat is big enough that I would not be able paddle it. I have a single I/O. I was thinking of a 9.9 or 20 hp just to get me off the water if I smoked my motor but am thinking do I really need it?​
 
You never need anything until you need it. Being that far north I'd take as many safety precautions as possible. So, from where I sit, yes, having a kicker is a good idea.
 
That’s what I was thinking,. My boat is not huge but big enough it can’t be paddled to shore and if ,, out of gas or broken down… it would be a live saver and I think I can get a decent motor for a reasonable price. Thanks for the reply….
 
If out of gas what you going to use for the kicker?? I always thought of getting one but never did, was always near traffic and got towed the 2 times I needed to. But its always a good idea!
 
macojoe said:
If out of gas what you going to use for the kicker?? I always thought of getting one but never did, was always near traffic and got towed the 2 times I needed to. But its always a good idea!
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LOL, and if out of gas how would I start the kicker... I guess I ment if I had motor problems,,
 
Here in the NW--I run the lakes without my kicker quite often--but on the saltwater--the kicker is always on the boat with fresh gas and ready to go, just to get me in if needed--and it will happen sooner or later--I have used it several times over 35 years of boating---Crap happens.
 
Genie Aye said:
Here in the NW--I run the lakes without my kicker quite often--but on the saltwater--the kicker is always on the boat with fresh gas and ready to go, just to get me in if needed--and it will happen sooner or later--I have used it several times over 35 years of boating---Crap happens.
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I think I can get a 20 hp for $1500. Is that to much? I can wait until next fall when the deals are on...
 
You can buy an annual SeaTow or Towboat US membership for $150 per year. I wouldn't want anything to do with a kicker. Just an expensive accessory you'll never use. Face it... You're not pushing your boat 25 miles up river with a 9.9.
 
Is the boat you are using the one in your avatar? A 20 hp is probably more than you need--it is just a back up--a 9.9 would probably do the job, after all it sounds like a back up and it is just a back up that will get you in to somewhere safe.

If you do not want a back up/repatition on board your boat and you want to count on sea tow or whoever when you get in trouble--then that is up to you---but if she is going to break down--it will be at the most inopportune time--and waiting for a tow boat may not save you or your boat---but do as you may:haha:
 
Genie Aye said:
Here in the NW--I run the lakes without my kicker quite often--but on the saltwater--the kicker is always on the boat with fresh gas and ready to go, just to get me in if needed--and it will happen sooner or later--I have used it several times over 35 years of boating---Crap happens.
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Ok everyone get out of the way - this boat has a 200 HO on it !!!
 
Genie Aye said:
Is the boat you are using the one in your avatar? A 20 hp is probably more than you need--it is just a back up--a 9.9 would probably do the job, after all it sounds like a back up and it is just a back up that will get you in to somewhere safe.

If you do not want a back up/repatition on board your boat and you want to count on sea tow or whoever when you get in trouble--then that is up to you---but if she is going to break down--it will be at the most inopportune time--and waiting for a tow boat may not save you or your boat---but do as you may:haha:
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yup that's my girl. I do agree all I want is to get off the water if in trouble. Never having had a boat this big I was not sure how big a motor I need.
 
roffey said:
yup that's my girl. I do agree all I want is to get off the water if in trouble. Never having had a boat this big I was not sure how big a motor I need.
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A 9.9 will move her--a 20 would work as well--but bigger and harder to store or mount on the boat. The difference in speed would probabley be negligble between the 2 engines--
 
Just remember that since you will not be getting up on plane with an engine that small, your boat will act like a displacement hull. Meaning that the more hp you add at the stern, the more resistance you will have at the bow. So the difference in speed between a 9.9 and a 20 or even a 40 hp kicker are really not that great. There is some, but not really what you would expect.
 
.. and that was the information I was looking for. I agree the boat will never get up on the water with a outboard motor. A 9.9 is most likely my best value or maybe I should get one of those new 8 cylinder 5.7 liter outboards. What are they, 400 plus hp, LOL.​
 
Destroer--exactly was I was trying to say--you said it much clearer.

Maybe you need the 6.2 turbo charged outboard--rated at 557HP---that will move her for ya.
 
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