will this pusher motor work on my boat

A

adk_vfr

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 12, 2011
Messages
47
Hey guys I recently purchased a 1994 spectrum sport 18 18 ft boat and I am trying to decide on a kicker motor for trolling with my downriggers. I already have a 14hp sea horse motor but Im thinking I dont want to put that much extra weight on the transom. A buddy of mine has a really nice little honda 2hp 4 stroke that is air cooled and doesnt even need water to run that he's willing to part with cheap im just wondering if anyone has any experience with these for trolling or otherwise and if you guys think it will push the boat for trolling. this is an aluminum boat and weighs a little over 1000 pounds i think not sure if that with or without the main engine. Thanks
 
smokeonthewater

smokeonthewater

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Messages
9,838
Re: will this pusher motor work on my boat

No way... 5 hp would be the absolute minimum
i have a 7.5 on my 20 and I consider it to be minimal for it

i have a 1.5 hp outboard and it is almost too small for an 8' plastic pond boat
 
A

adk_vfr

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 12, 2011
Messages
47
Re: will this pusher motor work on my boat

Another guy I know has a older mercury 9.9 which he says just needs carb work and he'd take 150 for it I have a pic of it but can't see how to attach here
 
thumpar

thumpar

Admiral
Joined
Jun 21, 2007
Messages
6,138
Re: will this pusher motor work on my boat

A lot of times when people say just needs carb work it is compression. Check it before buying.
 
A

adk_vfr

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 12, 2011
Messages
47
Re: will this pusher motor work on my boat

what should one of those old nine point nine horse mercs have generally for compression that is
 
Last edited:
MH Hawker

MH Hawker

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 13, 2011
Messages
5,516
Re: will this pusher motor work on my boat

I would use the 14 hp.
 
M

mr 88

Commander
Joined
Nov 3, 2010
Messages
2,224
Re: will this pusher motor work on my boat

Agree with go with the 14. Your transom will have no problem with the extra weight. What is the max rated HP for this boat vs whats on it? Putting a smaller engine like a two means you will have it WOT all the time just to move against the current,wind,waves and riggers. Now take into account your trolling speed,aint gonna happen.Then you have to figure out how to hook up some sort of steering and throttle controls. The 14 will just hum along and is already set up to handle remote controls and steering attachments.Probably have to lower the pitch on the 14 as you do not to kill it to death by the constant lugging of the engine with a stock prop and it will help your control of the boat as well.
 
Last edited:
A

airshot

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
5,464
Re: will this pusher motor work on my boat

Being air cooled and running hard to push your boat means that little motor will not last long...... By the way I have a 9.9 evinrude on my 22' alum and it works great, will actually push at 12 mph if I had to get back in with it.
 
NYBo

NYBo

Admiral
Joined
Oct 23, 2008
Messages
7,107
Re: will this pusher motor work on my boat

You could use it mix up a heck of a big batch of margaritas. Moving the boat at a usable speed, not so much.
 
A

adk_vfr

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 12, 2011
Messages
47
Re: will this pusher motor work on my boat

The boat is rated for 120 and has a 120
 
Last edited:
greenbush future

greenbush future

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Aug 28, 2009
Messages
1,814
Re: will this pusher motor work on my boat

I own a 1996 Spectrum, and it's rigged for salmon on the great lakes, my main outboard is a 90 merc. While a kicker is nice, we use the main motor for our trolling, for a couple reasons. Downriggers take up space in back, adding the kicker will eat some of that space up, as you know when landing salmon, steelhead or lakers, you need space in back to net the fish too. I have a 15 Johnson outboard too, we don't use it for the above reasons. The gas savings will be minimal and unless ya need a back up motor, I would consider using what you have, if you even use it at all. The Honda wont work, ya need 9 hp min to keep that boat straight, when trolling. It has a tall profile on the water if it's the same model as mine(Pro Angler). I would think twice about even adding the kicker, I also use a bow mounted 24 volt electric trolling motor for other types of fishing, so I have triple redundancy I guess. But my Spectrum trolls down great for big silver fish running the main motor. Ya might need to run the snot out of her, after a few hours at idle while trolling, they tend to build up (2 strokes)a bit when just running at idle or close. Hope this helps ya a bit, been there, done that kinda stuff.
 
A

adk_vfr

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 12, 2011
Messages
47
Re: will this pusher motor work on my boat

I forgot to add I do have a brand new 24v bow mount 75 pound thrust trolling motor and it is even wireless with a fob to control it. I guess I could see if this does the job I could swear it from the back of the boat while trolling.
 
blackhawk180

blackhawk180

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 14, 2012
Messages
367
Re: will this pusher motor work on my boat

adk_vfr said:
I forgot to add I do have a brand new 24v bow mount 75 pound thrust trolling motor and it is even wireless with a fob to control it. I guess I could see if this does the job I could swear it from the back of the boat while trolling.
Click to expand...
I think I'd start there adk_vfr. Try what you have and see how it works for the kind of fish you target. I have a couple fishing buddies and with 20' aluminum boats and both have bow mounted electrics with about the same thrust as yours. However, both run 9.9 kickers but not all the time. With light to no wind, the bow mount seems to run all day and the silence is golden at lower trolling speeds. When the wind kicks up, it's nice to use the gas kicker for propulsion and the bow mount to steer with.
I don't have a bow mount electric (yet) on my 20' aluminum, just a 115 main and a 9.9 kicker. For 95% of my fishing, it's perfect. The other 5% is when wind effects steering and that bow mount would be very nice for steering. Just need to find some $ laying around and I'll add it.
 
ondarvr

ondarvr

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
11,527
Re: will this pusher motor work on my boat

adk_vfr said:
Hey guys I recently purchased a 1994 spectrum sport 18 18 ft boat and I am trying to decide on a kicker motor for trolling with my downriggers. I already have a 14hp sea horse motor but Im thinking I dont want to put that much extra weight on the transom. A buddy of mine has a really nice little honda 2hp 4 stroke that is air cooled and doesnt even need water to run that he's willing to part with cheap im just wondering if anyone has any experience with these for trolling or otherwise and if you guys think it will push the boat for trolling. this is an aluminum boat and weighs a little over 1000 pounds i think not sure if that with or without the main engine. Thanks
Click to expand...

You really didn't provide enough info to say what might work. My fishing varies from .5MPH to 8MPH, three downriggers or none, rivers, small inland protected flat water, to offshore. Each may require a different setup, or combination.

Where do you live?

What bodies of water will you be on?

What are you fishing for?


The small 2 HP Honda could work in many locations, although I don't like any of the small single cylinder motors because they tend to be loud and vibrate.

For some locations and fish, the bow mount may work fine. Mine is an i-pilot, so it has auto pilot, just set the course and it's hands free. This works with 3 three downriggers very well in the slower fisheries.

In other conditions we may use the bow mount for its auto pilot feature and the kicker to supply extra thrust in wind and waves, this extends the run time on the electric too.

In some types of fishing I use only the 8hp kicker and don't even bring the electric.

And then for other types of fishing (trolling) it's only the main motor that is used.
 
ondarvr

ondarvr

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
11,527
Re: will this pusher motor work on my boat

Since we don't know where he lives this may or may not be the case. It is not a federal regulation, only local, and enforced in different ways.
 
NYBo

NYBo

Admiral
Joined
Oct 23, 2008
Messages
7,107
Re: will this pusher motor work on my boat

ondarvr said:
Since we don't know where he lives this may or may not be the case. It is not a federal regulation, only local, and enforced in different ways.
Click to expand...
Nope. USCG regs, so unless he lives in another country, it applies.
 
thumpar

thumpar

Admiral
Joined
Jun 21, 2007
Messages
6,138
Re: will this pusher motor work on my boat

NYBo said:
Nope. USCG regs, so unless he lives in another country, it applies.
Click to expand...

This was discussed not too long ago. USCG rates it but the local authority regulates it.
 
NYBo

NYBo

Admiral
Joined
Oct 23, 2008
Messages
7,107
Re: will this pusher motor work on my boat

thumpar said:
This was discussed not too long ago. USCG rates it but the local authority regulates it.
Click to expand...
It is enforceable by the CG. How likely they would be to do so, I have no idea. Such a boat WOULD definitely fail a VSC.
 
ondarvr

ondarvr

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
11,527
Re: will this pusher motor work on my boat

NYBo said:
It is enforceable by the CG. How likely they would be to do so, I have no idea. Such a boat WOULD definitely fail a VSC.
Click to expand...

The CG has nothing to do with enforcing it because it isn't a law, only a recommendation.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top