How many run one outboard?

Bill Rogue V. · 05-23-2012, 06:14 AM

I got to thinking and realized I have had a single outboard on all my smaller boats over the years with never a mishap. Now that I have a Jetcraft, I felt some weird compulsion to add a kicker even though the Merc four-stroke 60 runs like a watch and trolls great. I've never even started the kicker. Now I'm thinking of taking it off and selling it.

SteelhdNut · 05-23-2012, 07:14 AM

I only run a Yamaha T50 on my sled. Built specifically with the intention of duplicating our Kenai boat. I personally love the performance on the Koffler 20X72 6DEG hull (which outperforms our Willie Classic in AK); it's a match made in Heaven.
The T50 is unique in that it was specifically designed and optimized for the Kenai fishery; with dial-down RPM's; power tilt & trim; high thrust hole shot and unreal fuel efficiency. I just never could justify the expense and head-ache of adding the weight and inconveinence of a kicker onto the boat, when the T50 does it all, and does it very well. Jumps up and planes 5 people and gear at an amazing 35mph; and with just me nears 40mph. Trolls down to 1.5mph in frog-water with a drift sock out; and in current without a sock, it is absolutely perfect - not to mention runs 3 days on 12 gallons of fuel !
It tows nicely behind a half-ton on a single axle trailer; and is easily launched and loaded by one person.
The trade-off; putting all your eggs into one basket and you have engine problems - may concern some and limit the range of the boat on larger bodies of water; however I have yet to have any issues with these motors when properly maintained; they simply are built to fish and fish hard !

Playtime · 05-23-2012, 01:04 PM

I think it really depends on where you fish. I have a jetcraft with a very reliable eTec but I opted for a kicker for three reasons --

Safety
Better trolling performance and gas consumption when trolling all day.
Minimize wear and tear on main motor

I fish everywhere - CR ( Bonne to lower river), Bouy 10, Willy , Tillamook Bay and Ocean, local and central Oregon lakes.

The kicker is an inexpensive tool and insurance policy when fishing CR, Bouy 10 and Ocean. My

.

Just not sure what an oar or two would do for me with a main motor out in these locations, especially with a strong tide movement.

Tinman · 05-23-2012, 01:13 PM

I intensely dislike kickers. They add weight, cost and complexity. They disrupt the clean visual lines of a boat. Kickers are a Northwest thing, mainly because of salmon trolling. Elsewhere in the country, including most coastal areas, kickers are far less common.

All that said, I reluctantly have a kicker on my dory. It is there to get me home in case the main breaks down at sea. But I ran for 4 years without a kicker, and did not feel it was irresponsible to do so. I ran with a buddy boat when far offshore.

The majority of commercial fishing boats and seagoing charter boats in Oregon have only one engine. Nobody considers them irresponsible. Indeed, it would be nearly impossible to fit a kicker to a 30 foot hull.

A kicker provides some safety, but is not nearly as important as: 1) all hands wearing life jackets on your boat at all times, 2) a VHF radio and the knowledge to use it, 3) an anchor and line, 4) not overloading your boat, 5) keeping your boat well-maintained and most of all being a safe and knowledgable captain.

I'd say it boils down to personal preference and temperament. There's no shame in a well-equipped, well-maintained single engine craft, piloted by a competent skipper.

flatman · 05-24-2012, 11:07 AM

i like the kicker as i move the boat around from the back where i am fishing without having to go forward all the time.

its essential if you troll often.

it is imperative if you go places that you may get stuck and have issues getting home or safety issues like around breakwaters.

Sobie2 · 05-24-2012, 01:57 PM

All my boats have kickers, that said one day (during the two-stroke days before 4-strokes were common) my kicker wouldn't stay running at trolling speed. So I trolled with the main and discovered that I caught more fish than ever on the main because I had been trolling to slow.

I have a few friends who have kickers and never started them up either. The four strokes are just that reliable.

If you are always buying and selling boats with hour meters on the main you should have a kicker and use that (kinda dumb I know).

I still use the heck out of mine. But on windy and rough water the main is a better bet but then again I am in AK. And her we troll a lot.

But I am seeing a lot of the skiff guys with 50-60 hp tiller motors not packing trolling motors anymore.

Sobie2

Woodenboater · 05-24-2012, 02:07 PM

Sure, I ran ocean salmon fishing once without a kicker. Head gasket blew and I got towed in to by the Coast Guard.

I don't run without a kicker anymore :thumbup:

Anchor Management · 05-31-2012, 11:58 AM

Not me.

I run a kicker for all the reasons mentioned above.

Bloom · 05-31-2012, 01:35 PM

My 2000 Arima has 2600 hrs on the main, a 130 Honda and 78 hrs on the 15hp Honda kicker. I installed it for peace of mind, not to save fuel or reduce running time on the main particularly. I run exclusively on the ocean and happened to notice a number of years ago that almost all the boats being towed were single engine craft.Hmmmmmmmm!

I have come in on the kicker three times, the last being day before yesterday when i pulled a rookie move and got many, many yards of braided lined wrapped on the prop. Being near the rocks and not wanting to take a chance on destroying a shaft seal by running it, i lowered the kicker, fired it up and headed back in. Trying to reach the prop from inside the boat is challenging for me.

On a previous trip,trolling for Salmon, the lower end gave up the ghost due to a failed bearing, but I continued fishing with the kicker and made it back safely.I don't recall ever seeing a kicker equipped boat being towed, but I suppose anyone could run out of gas(not that they should ever).

lilwhaler · 05-31-2012, 07:15 PM

17' whaler, 50 merc 4 stroke tiller. 4hp kicker merc 4 stroke kicker can go 4-5 knots and is only for emergencies, except for the time I forgot the key and could only use the 4 horse for kokanee.

dragonfly · 06-01-2012, 10:58 AM

I have a inboard jet and a yamaha kicker, i use for trolling and a piece of mind. it all boils down to how safe you feel and the faith that someone will be there if it fails, to bring you home . there are a lot of boats out there with one engine and do just fine on lakes but if i were on the ocean or the C.R. then I would want the ins. that a second would bring .in all my years of boating i have never needed the kicker to bring me in but as stated above i have towed many boats in with only one engine mostly from prop. damange.it's not if the engin runs but if you hit something with your out drive or tangle your prop. with someones rope you can at least make back to the dock

plhldrbus · 06-01-2012, 11:28 AM

kicker kept us off the north jetty(columbia)when we put a rod through the side of block on main and was security for a few gilligan moves over the years in the lower river

however,theres not as much to run into in the ocean and i regularly crew boats that are''singularly screwed''as one of the hillstrands put it.

Rawsk · 06-02-2012, 08:09 AM

I was at the rockpile got my halibut and was cruising in at 24kts for 30 minutes or so. as i was approaching the jetty at Newport I backed off a little and my inboard backfired and hydrolocked. Crossed the bar on my kicker and back to the docks. It was a nice day but the bar is not a place to lose your motor.

Thumper · 06-04-2012, 12:18 PM

After shearing off the whole danged sterndrive on my SeaRay 240 a long time ago I decided to always have 2 motors. Always will.

gregsalmon · 06-09-2012, 05:45 PM

Oars or a kicker, gotta have an alternative mode of propulsion.

1pump · 06-12-2012, 10:03 AM

Quote:

After shearing off the whole danged sterndrive on my SeaRay 240 a long time ago I decided to always have 2 motors. Always will.

Same thing happened to me on my Alumaweld. My kicker got me home.

Quote:

Kickers are a Northwest thing, mainly because of salmon trolling. Elsewhere in the country, including most coastal areas, kickers are far less common.

Everything about boats around here is a NW thing. East of the rockies people think aluminum is for cartoppers and cheap riveted boats. Trolling motors are electric and only seen on bass boats. And nobody has any idea what a rocker style anchor is and jet pumps are unheard of.