what size kicker for 15' Boston Whaler?
Eric Olson
I've got a 15' Boston Whaler Sport (1985) with a 1985 Johnson 70HP outboard.
I'm thinking that I'd like to have a small 4 cycle outboard, primarily for
trolling, but
also as an "insurance policy" against the 70HP failing to work one fine
afternoon.
Is anyone else out there crazy enough to have a kicker on a small boat like
this?
Price is a real consideration here, as is weight. I'd like to get something
tiny, like
a 2HP Honda 4-stroke, but I'm not certain how well it would move my boat.
Any gut reactions out there? (other than that I'm crazy)
Thanks,
Eric
Gainesville, FL
Louie Kokinis
move my batteries and extra tank (needed premix) to compensate for the extra
weight, but it wasn't that tricky. Your hull is more stable than the outrage
so the extra weight should be easier to balance. I currently have a 15
4stroke on my 22 whaler and it also required some balancing.
Louie
PS why don't you go with a 2 stroke and draw from the same tank?
Eric Olson <eol...@notes.cba.ufl.edu> wrote in message
news:8647og$24eg$1...@spnode25.nerdc.ufl.edu...
Eric Olson
Thanks, Louie.
I want 4-stroke kicker for "environmental reasons"...
1) a quieter fishing environment for me to enjoy
2) a less smoky environment on the boat
3) hopefully fewer emissions (EPA2006 compatible)
What kind of trolling speeds did you achieve with the 5HP on the 17 Outrage?
Eric
Louie Kokinis <kok...@attglobal.net> wrote in message
news:3885b...@news1.prserv.net...
kingfish
Long as we're on your dime-(Eric's dime, really, I guess...)-I am planning
to add a kicker to my 22, but have been aiming towards a 10 (+/-) hp
4-cycle, at least partially because I wanted to avoid the weight of a 15.
Having run your 15 for a while now, could you see any outrageous (1 point
;-) ) deficiencies with a 10 in it's place??
--
"Kingfish"
John C. Flook
to reply, remove <(nospam)> from reply-to
address
Louie Kokinis <kok...@attglobal.net> wrote in message
news:3885b...@news1.prserv.net...
> I had a 5hp on a 17 outrage which served me well for many years. I had to
(snip)
> 4stroke on my 22 whaler and it also required some balancing.
>
> Louie
>
> PS why don't you go with a 2 stroke and draw from the same tank?
>
> Eric Olson <eol...@notes.cba.ufl.edu> wrote in message
> news:8647og$24eg$1...@spnode25.nerdc.ufl.edu...
> >
> > I've got a 15' Boston Whaler Sport (1985) with a 1985 Johnson 70HP
(snip)
Louie Kokinis
>
> Thanks, Louie.
>
> I want 4-stroke kicker for "environmental reasons"...
> 1) a quieter fishing environment for me to enjoy
> 2) a less smoky environment on the boat
> 3) hopefully fewer emissions (EPA2006 compatible)
>
> What kind of trolling speeds did you achieve with the 5HP on the 17
Outrage?
The 5 took the 17 to hull speed. I troll between 0.7 and 9.0 - and would use
the kicker to 2.8 with no problems. I would tighten the tiller on the 5 and
steer with the main motor, on rare occasions (when I was cut-off) I would
grab the tiller, but 95% of the steering was done from the console. The guys
with 9.9's didn't get any better performance.
Louie
Louie Kokinis
for the 15 was a bit more headroom before hull speed (added security). The
15 bigfoot with the high thrust prop (when it works) gets the boat to hull
speed effortlessly - I had my pitch dropped by 2" because it was trolling
too fast.
Although the 15 hp works well, I'm not 100% satisfied with the Merc (same as
Yamaha) motor. The 15 has given me lots of little headaches. I've had loose
wiring, choke, idle and gearcase issues - do date I've almost flipped it 4
times. I've heard lots of excuses and my dealer is willing to change it, but
my boat is rigged for the extra weight and so the headaches of going back to
a 2 stroke seem bigger (for now).
If I change the motor, I will definitely stick to the 15 HP.
Louie
kingfish <king...@work.com> wrote in message
news:Cdqh4.1564$6f6.4...@ratbert.tds.net...
> Louie-
>
> Long as we're on your dime-(Eric's dime, really, I guess...)-I am planning
> to add a kicker to my 22, but have been aiming towards a 10 (+/-) hp
> 4-cycle, at least partially because I wanted to avoid the weight of a 15.
> Having run your 15 for a while now, could you see any outrageous (1 point
> ;-) ) deficiencies with a 10 in it's place??
> --
> "Kingfish"
> John C. Flook
>
> to reply, remove <(nospam)> from reply-to
> address
>
> Louie Kokinis <kok...@attglobal.net> wrote in message
> news:3885b...@news1.prserv.net...
> > I had a 5hp on a 17 outrage which served me well for many years. I had
to
> (snip)
> > 4stroke on my 22 whaler and it also required some balancing.
> >
> > Louie
> >
> > PS why don't you go with a 2 stroke and draw from the same tank?
> >
> > Eric Olson <eol...@notes.cba.ufl.edu> wrote in message
Glenn Engstrom
putting a kicker on my 23 ft center console. I have a single 225 but have
been thinking of 15hp kicker, today the marina proposed putting on a 25hp
bigfoot, is 25 too much?
- Glenn
"Louie Kokinis" <kok...@attglobal.net> wrote in message
news:38864...@news1.prserv.net...
Glenn Engstrom
special for fastening kickers on ( I do not have a whaler but they implied
that the design of the transom area was similar and they may have to do that
with mine - too bad my mind is shot and I do not remember the specifics).
- Glenn
"Scott J. McFadden" <sjm...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:01bf62e6$d02be140$1b7645cf@default...
>
> Whaler use to make a special bracket for this model (15' sport) to hang a
> small kicker off the transom. So, I guess they sold a few. I forget the
> reason they (whaler) thought it was needed. (Shape of transom maybe??)
>
> I believe the maximum they recommended for the bracket was 10HP.
>
> 2 HP seems a little puny.
>
> Eric Olson <eol...@notes.cba.ufl.edu> wrote in article
> <8647og$24eg$1...@spnode25.nerdc.ufl.edu>...
> >
> > I've got a 15' Boston Whaler Sport (1985) with a 1985 Johnson 70HP
> outboard.
> > I'm thinking that I'd like to have a small 4 cycle outboard, primarily
> for
> > trolling, but
> > also as an "insurance policy" against the 70HP failing to work one fine
> > afternoon.
> > Is anyone else out there crazy enough to have a kicker on a small boat
> like
> > this?
> >
> > Price is a real consideration here, as is weight. I'd like to get
> something
> > tiny, like
> > a 2HP Honda 4-stroke, but I'm not certain how well it would move my
boat.
> >
Scott J. McFadden
Louie Kokinis
put a sturdy bracket on the transom (I would suggest a fixed stainless vs
retractable) since the boat is made for single power. My old 5 HP broke 2
brackets designed for 25+ HP motors before I had one built. The motor will
probably have to stick out a ways to clear the trim tab, so balancing the
boat may also be tricky with the extra weight extended from the transom.
Another problem will be getting a steering bar from the main engine - I
have a Guardian (the old style 22 hull) so the 15 was mounted to the
transom, with the steering bar connected at the front of the motors. Your
boat will probably require an external bar because of the distance and
offset.
good luck
Glenn Engstrom <engs...@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:86614m$rpt$1...@bgtnsc01.worldnet.att.net...
> > > > Eric Olson <eol...@notes.cba.ufl.edu> wrote in message
> > > > news:8647og$24eg$1...@spnode25.nerdc.ufl.edu...
> > > > >
> > > > > I've got a 15' Boston Whaler Sport (1985) with a 1985 Johnson 70HP
> > > (snip)
> > > > > Any gut reactions out there? (other than that I'm crazy)
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks,
> > > > > Eric
> > > > > Gainesville, FL
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
Louie Kokinis
single power and did not have wood at the top of the transom (where the
kicker bracket is mounted) the new ones do. My old outrage was through
bolted with stainless a stainless backing plate inside the boat.
Louie
Glenn Engstrom <engs...@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:86614o$rpt$2...@bgtnsc01.worldnet.att.net...
> The local marina mentioned today that with whalers they had to do some
thing
> special for fastening kickers on ( I do not have a whaler but they implied
> that the design of the transom area was similar and they may have to do
that
> with mine - too bad my mind is shot and I do not remember the specifics).
>
> - Glenn
>
> "Scott J. McFadden" <sjm...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
> news:01bf62e6$d02be140$1b7645cf@default...
> >
> > Whaler use to make a special bracket for this model (15' sport) to hang
a
> > small kicker off the transom. So, I guess they sold a few. I forget the
> > reason they (whaler) thought it was needed. (Shape of transom maybe??)
> >
> > I believe the maximum they recommended for the bracket was 10HP.
> >
> > 2 HP seems a little puny.
> >
> > Eric Olson <eol...@notes.cba.ufl.edu> wrote in article
> > <8647og$24eg$1...@spnode25.nerdc.ufl.edu>...
> > >
> > > I've got a 15' Boston Whaler Sport (1985) with a 1985 Johnson 70HP
> > outboard.
> > > I'm thinking that I'd like to have a small 4 cycle outboard, primarily
> > for
> > > trolling, but
> > > also as an "insurance policy" against the 70HP failing to work one
fine
> > > afternoon.
> > > Is anyone else out there crazy enough to have a kicker on a small boat
> > like
> > > this?
> > >
> > > Price is a real consideration here, as is weight. I'd like to get
> > something
> > > tiny, like
> > > a 2HP Honda 4-stroke, but I'm not certain how well it would move my
> boat.
> > >
bmc...@ti.com
replace my 15 Mariner kicker. The weight difference between the 10 and 15
seemed to be about 7-8 lbs. The Yamaha was I think 91# for 10, 97# for 15.
Bill
kingfish <king...@work.com> wrote in message
news:Cdqh4.1564$6f6.4...@ratbert.tds.net...
> Louie-
>
> Long as we're on your dime-(Eric's dime, really, I guess...)-I am planning
> to add a kicker to my 22, but have been aiming towards a 10 (+/-) hp
> 4-cycle, at least partially because I wanted to avoid the weight of a 15.
> Having run your 15 for a while now, could you see any outrageous (1 point
> ;-) ) deficiencies with a 10 in it's place??
> --
> "Kingfish"
> John C. Flook
>
> to reply, remove <(nospam)> from reply-to
> address
>
> Louie Kokinis <kok...@attglobal.net> wrote in message
> news:3885b...@news1.prserv.net...
> > I had a 5hp on a 17 outrage which served me well for many years. I had
to
> (snip)
> > 4stroke on my 22 whaler and it also required some balancing.
> >
> > Louie
> >
> > PS why don't you go with a 2 stroke and draw from the same tank?
> >
> > Eric Olson <eol...@notes.cba.ufl.edu> wrote in message
> > news:8647og$24eg$1...@spnode25.nerdc.ufl.edu...
> > >
> > > I've got a 15' Boston Whaler Sport (1985) with a 1985 Johnson 70HP
> (snip)
> > > Any gut reactions out there? (other than that I'm crazy)
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Eric
> > > Gainesville, FL
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
Glenn Engstrom
transom for through bolting but (now I remember what was said) the lower
bolts for the bracket would many times have to be lag bolts and not through
bolted because of internal structural members and access.
- Glenn (Thanks anyhow!!)
"Louie Kokinis" <kok...@attglobal.net> wrote in message
news:38870...@news1.prserv.net...
> > > Eric Olson <eol...@notes.cba.ufl.edu> wrote in article
> > > <8647og$24eg$1...@spnode25.nerdc.ufl.edu>...
> > > >
> > > > I've got a 15' Boston Whaler Sport (1985) with a 1985 Johnson 70HP
> > > outboard.
> > > > I'm thinking that I'd like to have a small 4 cycle outboard,
primarily
> > > for
> > > > trolling, but
> > > > also as an "insurance policy" against the 70HP failing to work one
> fine
> > > > afternoon.
> > > > Is anyone else out there crazy enough to have a kicker on a small
boat
> > > like
> > > > this?
> > > >
> > > > Price is a real consideration here, as is weight. I'd like to get
> > > something
> > > > tiny, like
> > > > a 2HP Honda 4-stroke, but I'm not certain how well it would move my
> > boat.
> > > >
kingfish
Thanks for the data-those differences are almost negligable-certainly looks
to me that weight should not be a factor in deciding between the two.
--
"Kingfish"
John C. Flook
to reply, remove <(nospam)> from reply-to
address
bmckee...@ti.com <bmc...@ti.com> wrote in message
news:867gn6$pom$1...@tilde.csc.ti.com...
> At the San Francisco Boat show yesterday, I looked at the 4 strokes to
> replace my 15 Mariner kicker. The weight difference between the 10 and 15
> seemed to be about 7-8 lbs. The Yamaha was I think 91# for 10, 97# for
15.
> Bill
>
> kingfish <king...@work.com> wrote in message
> news:Cdqh4.1564$6f6.4...@ratbert.tds.net...
> > Louie-
> >
> > Long as we're on your dime-(Eric's dime, really, I guess...)-I am
planning
> > to add a kicker to my 22, but have been aiming towards a 10 (+/-) hp
> > 4-cycle, at least partially because I wanted to avoid the weight of a
15.
> > Having run your 15 for a while now, could you see any outrageous (1
point
> > ;-) ) deficiencies with a 10 in it's place??
> > --
> > "Kingfish"
> > John C. Flook
> >
> > to reply, remove <(nospam)> from reply-to
> > address
> >
> > Louie Kokinis <kok...@attglobal.net> wrote in message
> > news:3885b...@news1.prserv.net...
> > > I had a 5hp on a 17 outrage which served me well for many years. I had
> to
> > (snip)
> > > 4stroke on my 22 whaler and it also required some balancing.
> > >
> > > Louie
> > >
> > > PS why don't you go with a 2 stroke and draw from the same tank?
> > >
> > > Eric Olson <eol...@notes.cba.ufl.edu> wrote in message
> > > news:8647og$24eg$1...@spnode25.nerdc.ufl.edu...
> > > >
> > > > I've got a 15' Boston Whaler Sport (1985) with a 1985 Johnson 70HP
> > (snip)
> > > > Any gut reactions out there? (other than that I'm crazy)
> > > >
> > > > Thanks,
> > > > Eric
> > > > Gainesville, FL
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>