Kicker motor - Questions

[Skipper]

I am thinking about adding a kicker motor to my (new to me) 2019 Marlin 300 to avoid trolling with the main motors and putting excess hours on them. The mains are Yamaha 300's (x2), with Helm Master. I fish around Vancouver island and on my old boat when running at trolling speeds the kicker sometimes didn't have enough power to bring the bow around and turn into the wind (too much windage). I am considering adding a Yamaha high thrust T25XWTC to the Marlin. Does anybody have some experience running this boat with a kicker? Is it enough power for size/weight of the boat? Can I still use Helm Master and do I still have full functionality if just the kicker is running? I don't see much sense in doing this if I have to keep the mains running to use the Helm Master features. While a kicker might give me some fuel savings and avoid hours on the mains, if I can't use the Helm Master features it seems to me a bit of a waste as the cost of the kicker and install outweigh fuel costs.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

 

[Ted's Toy]

I am thinking about adding a kicker motor to my (new to me) 2019 Marlin 300 to avoid trolling with the main motors and putting excess hours on them. The mains are Yamaha 300's (x2), with Helm Master. I fish around Vancouver island and on my old boat when running at trolling speeds the kicker sometimes didn't have enough power to bring the bow around and turn into the wind (too much windage). I am considering adding a Yamaha high thrust T25XWTC to the Marlin. Does anybody have some experience running this boat with a kicker? Is it enough power for size/weight of the boat? Can I still use Helm Master and do I still have full functionality if just the kicker is running? I don't see much sense in doing this if I have to keep the mains running to use the Helm Master features. While a kicker might give me some fuel savings and avoid hours on the mains, if I can't use the Helm Master features it seems to me a bit of a waste as the cost of the kicker and install outweigh fuel costs.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Hi Skipper, I have the same boat/year. I'm going to add a kicker, my friend has the same boat and has the 9.9 Yamaha High Thrust with the Garmin Reactor and works well, except on really windy days. I asked my local dealer in Washington State and they said that a 9.9 High Thrust would fit, not a 25h.p. I talked to another friend who said he seen a new 25h.p. High Thrust mounted on the Marlin 300? A little confused and still researching. I did speak to Boathouse Parksville and theysaid they could mount a 25h.p.; but they have never done one?

 

[Fishtales]

I wouldn't be worried about the hours to be honest. It likely will be time more than hours that will take it's toll on the outboards. I alternate them on my Marlin while trolling. How many hours are you putting on each year?

 

[PointedRose]

Hi Skipper, I have the same boat/year. I'm going to add a kicker, my friend has the same boat and has the 9.9 Yamaha High Thrust with the Garmin Reactor and works well, except on really windy days. I asked my local dealer in Washington State and they said that a 9.9 High Thrust would fit, not a 25h.p. I talked to another friend who said he seen a new 25h.p. High Thrust mounted on the Marlin 300? A little confused and still researching. I did speak to Boathouse Parksville and theysaid they could mount a 25h.p.; but they have never done one?

25 hp doesn’t improve for this heavy of a boat. 9.9 is adequate and more appropriate really I think. A kicker will never get a heavy boat up on plane, so it’s pushing a displacement hull and pushing water out of the way, but even if you rev higher, the boat won’t push water faster. IMO 25hp is too heavy without added benefit with the hp. 8hp-15hp max for a kicker. Some kicker engines can be rigged to charge your battery too.

 

[Ted's Toy]

Really appreciate everyone's input. I will run about 80-100hrs a year on the twin 300's while cruising. The new kicker will be used for trolling for Salmon, and those hours are about 250hrs a year. I was thinking I would go with the 25h.p. mainly for the larger alternator output. Just seeing if anyone has ever mount a 25h.p. on a Marlin 300 for trolling. Thanks, Ted

 

[PointedRose]

Really appreciate everyone's input. I will run about 80-100hrs a year on the twin 300's while cruising. The new kicker will be used for trolling for Salmon, and those hours are about 250hrs a year. I was thinking I would go with the 25h.p. mainly for the larger alternator output. Just seeing if anyone has ever mount a 25h.p. on a Marlin 300 for trolling. Thanks, Ted

anyone using 20-30hp kicker motor

www.ifish.net

 

[Fishtales]

Did not mount and never saw a kicker on a Marlin.

 

[Skipper]

Hi Skipper, I have the same boat/year. I'm going to add a kicker, my friend has the same boat and has the 9.9 Yamaha High Thrust with the Garmin Reactor and works well, except on really windy days. I asked my local dealer in Washington State and they said that a 9.9 High Thrust would fit, not a 25h.p. I talked to another friend who said he seen a new 25h.p. High Thrust mounted on the Marlin 300? A little confused and still researching. I did speak to Boathouse Parksville and theysaid they could mount a 25h.p.; but they have never done one?

Thanks Ted. I did a bit more research too. Spoke with dealer in Abbotsford (Riverside). They say 25 hp with the longer leg does fit (I think they may add a bracket on the port side). As for the Helm Master; nope, doesn’t work with just kicker.

 

[Ted's Toy]

Thanks Ted. I did a bit more research too. Spoke with dealer in Abbotsford (Riverside). They say 25 hp with the longer leg does fit (I think they may add a bracket on the port side). As for the Helm Master; nope, doesn’t work with just kicker.

Thank You for the update, I will give them a call. Thank You