Gas kicker motor for trolling

foremost1 · #1 06-05-2020, 07:29 PM

I have an older 18.5 foot reinell boat I use for fishing and am looking at getting a gas trolling motor so I dont wear out my 4.3L Inboard. Does anybody have experience with using a 3hp motor? wondering if it would be big enough for strictly trolling not as a kicker for getting around.

spoiledsaskhunter · #2 06-05-2020, 07:50 PM

i've got a 4.5 hp on my 16 ft fiberglass/open bow. it will go ok in a straight line, but if the wind blows it doesn't have enough to turn it. i have to start the big motor to swing it around. having said that, it is really economical/reliable, and it isn't such a big deal to start the big motor once in awhile.

i'm not sure you would like the 3 hp though. i'd think it's a little small for your 18.5. maybe 7.5 or 9.9?

roper1 · #3 06-05-2020, 07:51 PM

Fairly small motor for that size of boat. Any wind & you're way underpowered I would think. I run a bit bigger boat than that but a 15 HO. Like the flexibility. Good luck!

deschambault · #4 06-05-2020, 07:54 PM

I have a 9.9 on my 18 ft crestliner and wouldn't want anything less if the wind was blowing (although that almost never happens in southern Alberta).

Bushleague · #5 06-05-2020, 08:06 PM

I run a 2 stroke 3.5 hp on a 16.5' Lund Rebel, it gets the job done. At 31 lbs full of fuel its pretty handy for pushing around smaller boats as well, I've even run it on my 16' canoe with a side mount on occasion.

Mine says Johnson on it, but Tohatsu currently makes a kicker that looks awfully similar.

foremost1 · #6 06-05-2020, 08:20 PM

Thanks for the replys I found a good deal on a 3 hp but am also looking at a 10hp, will probably just go with the 10 if i can get it for the right price.

Catman1 · #7 06-05-2020, 08:33 PM

I would think a 6hp would be your minimum. That’s what I use a on heavy 20 ft. Works good

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EZM · #8 06-05-2020, 10:38 PM

I run a 9.9 on my Lund (18' Tyee) and that is about perfect. Even so, if it's windy that little 9.9 struggles to keep me in control of the boat - so I'd say a 9.9 would be right - anything less and you might be disappointed.

A 3hp might chug along and work on a flat calm day with a glass surface - but it will do nothing even in very slight breeze and a little wave action - you won't be going anywhere except in circles.

Your boat is most likely heavier than mine. Trust me on this one - get the 9.9.

Coiloil37 · #9 06-06-2020, 01:52 AM

I ran a 9.9 on my 17.5’ Lund and it was the smallest I would suggest for reasons already listed. I had a decent alternator and electric start but I would have a 15 hp with all of what I had plus power trim if I had to buy another one.

liar · #10 06-06-2020, 07:31 AM

I dont know how much trolling you do but i quit packing my trolling motor years ago . The main engine burns a bit more fuel but at idle it isnt very much and the batteries are always topped up with the main engine running . As far as wearing out your engine , i'm no expert but in alberta where we have 5 months of summer I doubt you need to worry about that .

barbless · #11 06-06-2020, 10:42 AM

I run a 6hp Yamaha kicker beside my 150 2 stroke on my 17 Ft. Sylvan. It serves me well. Still works good in the wind but you have to pay attention as a good wind will catch the front and turn you. Just need to give a little more throttle and all good. As was mentioned that 3HP will be too small for control. An 8 or a 9.9 should do you just fine.

old dog · #12 06-06-2020, 12:14 PM

I have a 6 hp on a 17 foot. Wouldn’t go any smaller

Dean2 · #13 06-06-2020, 12:37 PM

No matter the size of the kicker, control at slow speed in the wind is tough when you have a large boat. I recently sold my Warrior 19' deep V that had very high sides. The wind would really catch it so I tied my kicker to the large outboard for steering so that I can use the steering wheel to control both. It has the added advantage that in wind I can put the big motor down and have far better steering control just due to the large rudder effect of the big motor's lower unit even when the big motor isn't running. Given the size of your boat I would suggest nothing less than an 8 horse.

Jayhad · #14 06-06-2020, 12:54 PM

I'd go with the 9.9 myself and the Mercurys are inexpensive at BPS.. I was just looking at them $2400 new.

-JR- · #15 06-06-2020, 01:24 PM

You might want to hunt for a 2 stroke 9.9 kicker ,as I had a 19 ft inboard and had a 4 stroke kicker. It was very hard to keep the nose down because a 4 stroke weights just over 100 lbs. Nose would only come up when taking off with the main engine . my kicker also was mounted 12 inches behind the boat on a kicker support mount, which made it even worse .
Boats that have a outboard engines can mount kickers on the same transom ,which makes it a little better.

barbless · #16 06-06-2020, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean2

No matter the size of the kicker, control at slow speed in the wind is tough when you have a large boat. I recently sold my Warrior 19' deep V that had very high sides. The wind would really catch it so I tied my kicker to the large outboard for steering so that I can use the steering wheel to control both. It has the added advantage that in wind I can put the big motor down and have far better steering control just due to the large rudder effect of the big motor's lower unit even when the big motor isn't running. Given the size of your boat I would suggest nothing less than an 8 horse.

Totally agree with tie it to the main. I did and makes a big difference being able to steer from the main. A lot of times I have my full top up and the 6 works for me even in the wind. Will get me back to land and launch if the big girl decides she had it. Hope that never happens. Also short or long shaft on your kicker. If the prop is not under your boat and just behind makes a big difference with control. No expert on that but think it does make a difference. My set up works for me

Coiloil37 · #17 06-06-2020, 05:59 PM

I tied mine together with a pair of heim joints and a piece of all thread. Popped the heim off the main when I wasn’t using the kicker. As I didn’t have power trim I had to walk back there anyway so I would trim it up and lock it turned away from the main.

It wasn’t fancy but it was cheap and worked fine.

roper1 · #18 06-07-2020, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coiloil37

I tied mine together with a pair of heim joints and a piece of all thread. Popped the heim off the main when I wasn’t using the kicker. As I didn’t have power trim I had to walk back there anyway so I would trim it up and lock it turned away from the main.

It wasn’t fancy but it was cheap and worked fine.

WTH kind of water creature is that ? Poisonous ? My kicker has the power trim, very nice feature for sure. It was on the boat, I bought it used but really like it.

Coiloil37 · #19 06-07-2020, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roper1

WTH kind of water creature is that ? Poisonous ? My kicker has the power trim, very nice feature for sure. It was on the boat, I bought it used but really like it.

Nothing to mysterious but my son wasn’t happy about catching it either. This was from candle lake in sask.

I’ll show you some ugly ones though from last month.