Kicker Motors

Hi All,

Wondering about alternatives when you are relying on a 50 year old motor. Since we will be boating some of the time on Puget Sound, should we have a kicker for a 16' runabout? If yes, any suggestions? Ideas on cost?

Or is it better to join some sort of boating AAA (what would that be called?).

For now I have a paddle but would feel more secure with something else....

[Steve_Kiesel]

Nobody has chimed in, so I'll take a stab at the kicker question.

Paddling a 16ft boat, been there done that. It's not fun, and I was on the river with the tide still going out. Still a very slow process.

There is a rescue service for the Puget Sound waters. I've never used it, nor know the name of the service. Chuck use to use it, so he may be able to speak to that.

A small kicker in the 5hp to 8hp range will work for a 16ft boat. Two strokes on Craigslist can range anywhere from around $200 to $500 for a decent older running motor. Some less, some more.

Some folks leave the kicker on the transom full time, others carry a light motor stowed away on deck somewhere. That's personal preference. I have a two stroke Merc for a kicker, but it's heavy. I'm looking for something lighter that I can stow away, and mount when needed. (Hopefully never)

Hope this helps.

[BellBoyBob]

I agree, a kicker motor on open water like Lake Ontario or your sound and bay (and ocean!!) is a necessity. I found a Merc 110 (9.8 hp) on Craigs list for $65. It is a '62, so pretty close to my 404's model year of 1960. I had my mechanic go through it for $200 (impeller, water pump kit, spark plugs and wires, new kill switch) I then repainted it and found a site that made vintage decals and emblems for this motor year. It is a two cylinder and idles down very smoothly. It pushes my BB at 5 mph and it is 19' !!

Thanks, I now agree 100%. I posted this message this morning and took the Whitehouse out for a second voyage this afternoon. Beautiful glassy water on Holmes Harbor, nice easy launch. The plan, like yesterday, was to stay close to shore and continue to familiarize ourselves with this boat.

Wouldn't you know it, one of the steering cables came loose and the other one became all wound up on the pulley causing the boat to spin in circles. We turned off the motor, tried to trouble shoot, and came up against a fix that was over our heads.

Out came the paddles. Row row row your boat back to the dock. Thank goodness we were not farther out in the harbor, although if we had been the paddles worked really well. Don't worry, we are not planning on leaving the safety of this harbor anytime soon :eek:.

Now about that cable...guess I'll post a question about how to fix that under "restoration"...

And yes, the kicker is now a must have in my book.

[Helmar]

One thing I really don't like is the look of a kicker bracket hanging on the back of the boat, But, if your going to boat Alone, its a must to put one on and have a kicker. Or flairs and whatever it takes to get the attention of some other boater in your area.

On the smaller boats you pretty much need like what was suggested as you don't need to be up on plain, just moving.

On our 20 Skagit offshore, I have a 15hp Gamefisher ( built by Chrysler for Sears that year) and I was really surprised by how fast it pushed her into the wind.

For the most part, I stick with the club events were we all take care of each other. I have been towed in and have towed others in.
With all the events we have, no reason for me to go dragging myself out on my own.

[BillF]

"Get home" motor

Both as a "get home" motor and as a trolling motor on my 19-ft Glasspar Cutlas, I use a 9.5-hp Evinrude that I bought new in 1967. It also still functions as the main propulsion for my 14-ft aluminum 1967 Mirrocraft. My backup on the smaller boat is a system called rowing. This little Evinrude has always run very well. Once after sitting for seven years, then having a new impeller installed and an oil change, it started on the second pull.

[Lootas1]

Had quite a bit of experience with kickers last year. My 17 foot Sea Lion has a 1965 Merc 65 hp. outboard. Last summer it died with no spark. Put on a 5 hp Buccanneer and broke the pull cord and couldn't get the top off to yank. Had an electric trolling motor that I put on and got home (about a mile) on the starter battery for the big motor. Made about 2 mph with it. It isn't made for saltwater use so don't know what damage I did to it.
Tried putting my 9.9 Evinrude on the outboard bracket at the dock and couldn't manage the switch and dropped it in the saltchuck. Had it on a rope and pulled it right out and it is still working but expect the electric start on it to fail.
I'm kind of leaning toward a large electric (still light enough to put on the bracket when you break down at sea.) Couldn't leave a motor on the bracket as it gets buried in the wake when you gun the boat to get it up on plane.

[Skagitguy]

I have Vessel Assist. Last summer we had a problem over by Bainbridge Island and need a tow to Edmonds. A couple of the clubs members said they would tow us across but i did not want them to break up there fun time ( you can see them in one of the pictures taking off to go around the last part of Bainbridge after VA came and got us. Thanks guys ! ) doing that since we had VA. Being our boat would only go along at 8 knots , and that would have been across the shipping lanes to Edmonds, Vessel Assist calls the Coast Guard and lets them know we are out there so the BIG ship would keep a lookout for us ! If we did not have Vessel Assist, it would have cost $575.00 ! The membership is about $116.00. They will even bring you gas or jump your battery within 30 miles at no charge ! Plus they have a trailer program. Say you are at Friday Harbor and needed a tow back to Anacortes ...no charge. It's like AAA of boating. Best, Chuck

Couldn't leave a motor on the bracket as it gets buried in the wake when you gun the boat to get it up on plane.

Hmmm...so on a small 16' foot boat, if you don't leave the kicker on the bracket, where do you store it on the boat? Does it need to be on a stand?

Thanks

I have Vessel Assist. Last summer we had a problem over by Bainbridge Island and need a tow to Edmonds. Being our boat would only go along at 8 knots , and that would have been across the shipping lanes to Edmonds, Vessel Assist calls the Coast Guard and lets them know we are out there so the BIG ship would keep a outlook for us ! If we did not have Vessel Asssist, it would have cost $575.00 ! The membership was about $116.00 . They will even bring you gas or Jump your battery within 30 miles at no charge from where you launch your boat! Say you are at Friday Harbor and needed a tow back to Anacortes ...no charge. It's like AAA of boating. Best, Chuck

Thanks Chuck. I found it on line. http://www.vessel-assist-nw.com/ Complete with the theme to Gilligans Island...nice touch!

[Skagitguy]

Thanks Chuck. I found it on line. http://www.vessel-assist-nw.com/ Complete with the theme to Gilligans Island...nice touch!

Lauryn, It's a yearly fee. I used it three time in one year a ways back..no problem you would need to ask them about that. You can get it at West Marine.Make sure you have all the Coast Guard equipment and a set of flares Best, Chuck