Buying kicker for new fishing boat - need opinions!

[bertschb]

My wife and I are taking up fishing for retirement and need to buy a kicker motor for trolling the mountain lakes near our house (4,500' elevation). The new boat we are buying is a 16' Hewes Craft Sportsman with a 90HP Honda. My dealer is strongly recommending the Yamaha T8 over the equivelent Honda 8HP for the trolling motor. He said everybody in our area (PNW) uses the T8 and it's THE trolling motor.

I'm a huge Honda small engine fan and would like to stick with Honda if possible but I don't want to buy the Honda if it's clearly not as nice as the Yamaha T8. Is the Honda BF8 a good trolling motor? Which would you choose if you were in my situation?

Thanks!

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Buying kicker for new fishing boat - need opinions!

I'm betting your dealer sells Yamahas, is what I'm betting. And that's not a bad thing. Having a local dealer who sells the brand you buy is a good thing.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Buying kicker for new fishing boat - need opinions!

Another opinion from the PNW.

Honda kickers are very good, Yamaha T8s are fantastic.

From the looks of it on the water around here it appears there are more T8s sold than all other brands combined.

 

[DJ]

Re: Buying kicker for new fishing boat - need opinions!

The GENERAL rule for kickers is 10% of the large engine HP. An eight HP is NOT 10%. Plus, your elevation puts you further behind the 8 ball.

I'd be looking at a 15. At least a 9.9.

I have always found any makers 8's as a bit weak.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Buying kicker for new fishing boat - need opinions!

The GENERAL rule for kickers is 10% of the large engine HP. An eight HP is NOT 10%. Plus, your elevation puts you further behind the 8 ball.

I'd be looking at a 15. At least a 9.9.

I have always found any makers 8's as a bit weak.

DJ, have you ever used a T8? Don't confuse a T8 with a standard 8HP 2 stroke, there is no comparison. They have a large gearcase that turns an oversized 4 bladed prop and the thrust is much greater.

Like I've said before, every boat around here has a kicker for trolling, its a huge market (I have 4) and T8's are by far the most popular. They get used on boats up to around 26ft, not because they cost less than the 9.9 or 15, its because they work that well.

Heck, on his 16' aluminum boat a 6hp 2 stroke would work fine.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Buying kicker for new fishing boat - need opinions!

on a 16' aluminum an electric trolling motor seems like a good option.

 

[bob johnson]

Re: Buying kicker for new fishing boat - need opinions!

I'm betting your dealer sells Yamahas, is what I'm betting. And that's not a bad thing. Having a local dealer who sells the brand you buy is a good thing.

I am thinking the dealer is also selling them the 16 ft new boat with the HONDA on it....


thus making the recomendation even more strong!!!

bob

 

[ebry710]

Re: Buying kicker for new fishing boat - need opinions!

Honda kicker with a Honda main seems to be a great combination.

 

[bertschb]

Re: Buying kicker for new fishing boat - need opinions!

Thanks for all the feedback guys. My dealer sells both Honda and Yamaha and had a lot of inventory of all models. The Honda 8HP is actually a bit more expensive than the Yamaha (similar models). In the end I decided to get the Honda because I've had such great luck with small Honda 4 stroke motors over the last 30 years. I'm very loyal to them for that reason.

The Yamaha T8's do totally dominate the local market here but I'm not a die-hard fisherman and the Honda is still very reliable (plus it matches my primary motor). I was worried that the Honda might not have been a reliable motor as compared to the Yamaha but from what I've read, the Honda seems to run just fine. The Yamaha is just better suited for hard core trolling duties.

Anyway, thanks again for your feedback!

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Buying kicker for new fishing boat - need opinions!

Its a very good choice, it wasn't a pick between good and bad, just very good and a little better for a specific application.