Kicker question

[gradyVT]

Hello

Anyone have any thoughts or experience with a kicker on a gulfstream with yamaha 250.
I was all set to put on a yami 9.9 high thrust but the dealer said another guy with a 23 whaler wished he had a 15hp as he had to wind the motor out whenever there was any type of weather. He is a merc dealer so maybe he is just trying to get me into a merc as yamaha does not make a 15 high thrust.

Thanks for your thoughts

Brian

 

[Finatic]

I had a Yamaha 9.9 high thrust on the back of my 222. I put it on a safety feature for when I went fishing offshore. I could only get 5.5-6 knots out of the kicker and it was running wide open. I tried to use it trolling a few times and it was fine as long as it was a calm day, any significant wind or waves and it could really only keep the bow into the wind. If your looking for a trolling engine it may be fine but if safety is your concern SeaTow or Tow Boat will be a better idea.

 

[gradyVT]

Finatic

Yes its main purpose is for trolling. I mostly will be fishing for salmon in lake Champlain and lake Ontario. Speeds are alot slower 2-3 MPH than I think most of you guys fish for.
Thanks for the info

Anyone else have a kicker?

Brian

 

[uncljohn]

I ditched mine for the reason finatic said. On the Chesapeake, during trolling season, its rarely flat calm, and in any cross-wind or waves, the kicker would barely keep the bow straight, much less making any headway.

If you're offshore any distance, with any current,forget about using a kicker to get home. I got Sea Tow instead.

 

[bc282]

the cost of a kicker is not cheap and has some disadvantages.
Pros: save hours and fuel burn on the main engine, limp home insurance
Cons: expensive, must steer from the transom or invest in a remote steer system that can be good (expensive) to decent (ez steer), likely upset the balance and require the boat to have trim tabs, more maintenance, doesn't work well in rough conditions

If you are intent on a kicker, go with a remote, elec start, power tilt on a fixed bracket.

$2500+ kicker buys you a lot of gas IMO, perhaps spend that money on an autopilot if you don't already have one, it's the absolute bomb when it come to trolling too.
I've had my pilot now for a full season and it's the best investment i've made to the boat, would do it again in a heart beat.

 

[upmuddy]

I fished the great lakes trolling with a 2001 Adventure 208 with a Yam T8 High Thrust.

Motor was mounted on permanent bracket but had power tilt on motor to get it out of water. Motor steered off of main motor when trolling with a steering arm attachment (may have been a panther). This motor trolled VERY nicely and kept a good steady speed with this kicker. Minor adjustments needed every once in a while, but not worth the 400 option of the troll speed gizmo sold in my opinion. Would I buy the speed control if I had the cash burning a hole in my pocket? Yes, but never had the cash.

This setup was absolutely PERFECT for this boat, but I did have to move the small swim platform to the opposite side of boat to balance (batts on 1 side, kicker on other).
I fished in 3 footers with a chop without problem. 5 footers had to troll with and into sea. Fishing gets old in 5 footers anyway. No problem getting in with just the kicker.

T8 SIPPED gas and NEVER any 2 stroke smell or the added hrs on a high dollar motor. I plumbed the gas line into the main fuel filter, so NEVER had to worry about extra tanks floating around.

I love the kicker option and would be looking for a 9.9 HT for a Gulfstream.

 

[Hoghunter]

I have a Yami 9.9 on my 305 Express. Troll for salmon here in the Northwest with it all the time. Usual troll speed for me is around 2.5 to 3 kts. Will run all day like that. I have a nozzle on it which helps to improve the thrust even more. I easily troll in wind up to 10-12 knots and can make turns as well. It's a little hard making port turns in 10 kts due to the kicker being mounted in the port corner. However, it will still make them. Anything over 12 knots I'm on the big motor. I also steer it with the TR-1 Gold autopilot. Great setup in my opinion. I can troll all day on a gallon of gas. Fish with it in the Puget Sound and the ocean no problem.

 

[gradyVT]

Thanks guys for the input.

I feel a lot better about ordering the 9.9 high thrust now.

I am also going to check into the garmin auto pilot, looks like it would be awesome just need to find an extra 2k kicking around.

Thanks