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I'm gonna be adding a small kicker to the boat soon and was wondering what the advantages were of using one? Is it just so you can raise the engine without tilting it or is there another reason that so many people use them?

Joe

jale6666 wrote:I'm gonna be adding a small kicker to the boat soon and was wondering what the advantages were of using one? Is it just so you can raise the engine without tilting it or is there another reason that so many people use them?

Joe

Joe,
Motor brackets are made for boats with high transoms like sail boats. I find the pounding of running big waves when walleye fishing really beats up on the kicker and transom. I would recommend bolting the kicker directly to your transom to prevent it from acidently falling off or bouncing around on the bracket. Measure the height of your transom and see if you need a Long Shaft or Extra Long Shaft kicker.

If you can only find a regular length outboard then you will need a bracket to get it down below the bottom of your transom for appropriate thrust. If you do go this route I would recommend a bracket made for walleye boats. Panther makes some very sturdy units that can take the pounding and allow you to bolt the motor to the bracket.

All the best on your kicker purchase...

-Sheldon

aka

Yeah I believe the main idea behind kicker brackets is really to allow the motor to get enough of the prop into the water at a decent depth to give the proper thrust. With many of the deep hulls of today... sometimes the transoms are so deep it won't allow a kicker to be placed low enough merely hanging off the top to provide this thrust and get some actual bite into the water.

As well some of the new 4 stroke motor cowlings are so large that the kicker bracket allows you to place it out of the way and a little below the large plastic cowling.

If you're hooking up a kicker you may want to spend a lttle more money and get some type of EZ steer setup to allow you to steer off the main motor. (well worth the money and in rough water you'll be glad ya did) If you're not familiar it's basically a rod with a couple of air chuck fittings connecting the kicker to your main.

RBR

If you can't put you're kicker directly to the transom you better buy something very sturdy and easy to use.
I use a EZ-Steer rod to connect both motors and a CMC electric tilt & trim to rais and tilt. A Panther is also a excellent choice.
Another point to consider is to get a kicker with a electric starter and alternator so you can charge you're main batterie when trolling for those big walleyes or salmon.



CMC Tilt & Trim: