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| Hey guys,
Looking for a little help here. I just bought a boat that I'm rigging for trolling exclusively. It's a 20' Starcraft (big ol' fiberglass boat...real high sides) and it has a 115 Johnson on the back. The boat and motor are quite old, 1970, but it's in great shape. The Johnson only has approx. 200 hours on it.
My question is, how bad is this old outboard going to be for trolling??
If I get a kicker to use for trolling, should I go with a four stroke or two stroke?? How big of a kicker??
I've never done much trolling, but want to now. Are the lower HP 4-strokes any good?? Should I look at a Honda 10HP 4 stroke or should I be looking at a 25HP 4 stroke, or what??
Or, as a last option, should I get rid of the old Johnson outboard, and just get me a 90--130HP Honda 4-stroke and run that as I troll?? | |
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| Trying to post a pic of the boat.
Can't ever seem to get pics to load, but here is a webpage of a boat that looks like the one I'm speaking about:
http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/3/2/34655532.htm
This just gives you an idea of what the hull looks like. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
[img]http://muskie.outdoorsfirst.com/files/00188104908.jpg[/img] | |
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| I found out the picture is usually there you just can't get to it. If you edit your topic and put this string into the text. Delete the X in the brackets and put in your file name that you used without the () and it should appear.
[imgX]http://muskie.outdoorsfirst.com/files/(file name here)[/imgX]
The 115hp might not be able to idle slow enough for some trolling speeds but the best bet is to try it out and see how slow she'll go. | |
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| Steve,
Get yourself a 15hp 4 stroke, you wont be disappointed.
The 4 stroke is quiet and you will save on gas.
I have a 9.9hp 4 stroke on my boat only because I fish a few lakes that are a 9.9 limit, if not for that I would have a 15hp. You know what my boat looks like, 18 1/2' with a 95" beam, the 9.9 can get me up to 6 mph "FULLY" loaded with two guy's and a ton of gear. | |
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| Steve,
I had an older 115 Johnson...can't remember the year but it was mid/late 70's. Good reliable motor, not the most friendly on economy but gas was cheap back then.
The newer 9.9 or 15hp 4 stroke are the way to go, you can troll that big rig all day for probably 2 gals. of fuel. And you don't have that 2-stroke exhaust smell and smoke to deal with.
Guess if it were me I would look for a kicker...that way if the big motor ever takes a dump you have a back-up to get you home.
One thing to consider:
You will want to install a separate portable fuel tank or separate fuel pickup in your inboard tank. Puting a "T" in the line is not a good way to plumb the kicker.
What can happen is when your kicker is tilted and not in use the needle will not be seated in the carburator. When your big motor is running hard it can pull air back through the carburator and fuel line. Too much air in the line can cause a scored/burnt cylinder in the big motor. If you simply disconnect the line from the kicker it can still pull air back through that little check-ball.
This information was given to me by two different mechanics who rig boats, one of the guys rigs pro-team boats for the Ranger guys so I'm think'n it's realiable info.
Good luck
Mark | |
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| Thanks for the advice guys.
Next question, anyone know where I can get a used 4 stroke, 15-->20 HP?? | |
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Questions about Kickers???