Controlling two motors...

JSGOLD

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 22, 2009
Messages
609
We made the plunge and bought our first boat 2 days ago, a 76 Starcraft 16' with 55hp motor, in pretty nice shape. While the 55hp motor is fine for when we go to larger lakes we frequent a smaller lake a lot that has a 10hp limit on it. I am in the process of locating a kicker motor and found one that while small (5.5hp) should do nicely. This motor will come with contol cables and control assembly for shifting F/R and speed but I will need to connect the two motors to make them steer together. Is there a simple kit you can buy to mate these two motors or do you have to have special cables etc? Both are Evinrude.
 

ezmobee

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 26, 2007
Messages
23,767
Re: Controlling two motors...

The link QC posted is exactly what you want. You will find that to connect the two motors together, you'll want the kicker on the port side. The 5.5 will push your boat fine. I have a 4HP for mine and it gets the job done. That's awesome that you got controls and everything for it. Sometimes it can be hard to find anything less than a 9.9 with controls. I don't have them for mine so I really haven't figured out what I'm going to do throttle-wise from the helm. I also had to mount my motor on the starboard side due to where my swim ladder was mounted. That made rigging up the ez-steer a royal pain and lessen it's effectiveness.
 

JSGOLD

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 22, 2009
Messages
609
Re: Controlling two motors...

Thanks to you both for your quick responses! Unfortunatley I don't have the kicker motor yet, as it is on Ebay and I will have to go 100 miles to get it if I am lucky to win it....but, the seller told me about the controls (free) if I win it so that gives me added reason to buy it now. Even if I don't win it I will have to add a kicker motor, we just spend a lot of time at the local lake and while we could get along with the electric motor I would much prefer this kind of setup. Plus, from what I see it is best to have a backup, just in case. I will purchase one of these after we get the motor, and again thanks!:)
 

ezmobee

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 26, 2007
Messages
23,767
Re: Controlling two motors...

JS, my 16' Starcraft actually has enough room on the transom to just hang the kicker right on there. No mount needed. You may want to investigate that before buying a mount.
 

JSGOLD

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 22, 2009
Messages
609
Re: Controlling two motors...

Will do. Looks to be room enough for the other one, will post a pic when I get it. Will be nice to have the abilty to steer and control these things from the drivers seat. We are hoping to take the boat out for it's first trip this Sunday...will just use the trolling motor for now I guess, have to learn to use it too. We need the practice of putting it in a few times too so we will know what we are doing this spring.
 
Top