Need Help Choosing A Kicker

[FinFever]

Great forum, I recently found this site and can't believe the amount of information available.<br /><br />I was hoping I could get some input about choosing a kicker motor for my boat. I own a 20' SeaHunt CC<br />with a 130 Johnson and I wanted to add a kicker. I recently bought a used OMC bracket and the max weight<br />is 88 lbs so I'm trying to stay under that limit and I'd like to stay in the $1200 range for the new( or used) motor.<br /><br />Two options I have been mulling over are a 8 HP 2 stroke or a 6 HP 4 Stroke. Both fall below my weight restriction<br />for the bracket and fit my price range. My dilemma is with the 2 stroke I will have to carry a tank of pre mixed gas <br />(since my 130 is oil injected) and I don't know if a 6 HP 4 stroke will be able to push my boat.<br />The dry weight on my boat is around 1700 lbs plus motor and gear.<br /><br /> Any advice would be greatly appreciated<br /><br />Thanks <br />Paul

 

[Forktail]

Re: Need Help Choosing A Kicker

Tough one. You're really limited with that weight and price range.<br /><br />The 6 hp would be marginal considering the size of the boat. It would push it, but not very well. The 8 hp is available from Yamaha in a 4-stroke at 83 lbs. It would be a better choice.<br /><br />Yamaha's 4-stroke 8 weighs in a 83 lbs. Their 2-stroke 15 on down all weigh less than 79 lbs.<br /><br />Honda's 4-stroke 9.9 and 8 hp come in right at 87 lbs for the 20" shaft and 89 lbs for the 25" shaft. Both are considered "high-thrust" motors. Probably your best choice...if you can find a used one for $1200.<br /><br />The only thing Suzuki offers under 88 lbs is a 6 hp 2-stoke which would be very inadequate.<br /><br />I'd get a better bracket and a bigger motor.

 

[62_Kiwi]

Re: Need Help Choosing A Kicker

Hi FinFever<br /><br />On a boat your size you'd want at least 8hp - I know because I just added an 8hp kicker to a CC boat slightly smaller than yours (19'). It does about 5 knots at full throttle - which is OK but not fantastic.<br /><br />Most of the time the kicker is just dead weight, so you should try to get the lightest motor possible - and also a reliable one, of course.<br /><br />I would recommend the Tohatsu 8hp 2 stroke (what I'm using) since it's the lightest in it's class (just under 60 lbs) and very reliable. Nissan is the same motor.<br /><br />I stress the point that a heavy kicker is not a good idea. Just my 2 cents...