My vote is for any of the dedicated 9.9HP kicker motors. Mercury, Yamaha, BRP, they're all good. The Merc Pro Kicker is a great option.
I know it's quite a bit more money up front, but the convenience of electric start and power trim/tilt is worth every penny in my opinion. The dedicated kickers also have the lower gear case ratios and bigger diameter props that make them much more efficient for trolling with larger boats.
I'd go with the 9.9 over the 15 primarily due to weight. The 15 is quite a bit heavier which is a factor on an 18ft boat, and it's really not needed in terms of power. In my opinion the small increase in alternator output will be of less value to you in the majority of situations.
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