Posted 2/8/2013 8:51 AM (#615842) Subject: lightest 4 stroke kicker
Posts: 358
I am in the market for a new kicker for my Ranger 692. Had a johnson 9.9 on there that pucked so I ran it a bit without and the boat seemed to really like not having that xtra weight on the back. I feel as though I need a kicker for some walleye trolling and backup power but want to stay as light as possible. I was thinking 4 stroke but might even go 2 again as boat is rigged for that.
Weight is #1, must be able to troll 2.5 ish, any ideas?
Posted 2/8/2013 9:25 AM (#615848 - in reply to #615842) Subject: RE: lightest 4 stroke kicker
Posts: 358
I just looked at Merc and Evinrude and they have 20" 6hp 4 strokes with alt outputs at right about 60 lbs. Manual trim, Manual start. They are single cyl so i wonder how smooth and quiet they would be.
Posted 2/8/2013 9:48 AM (#615858 - in reply to #615842) Subject: Re: lightest 4 stroke kicker
Posts: 32930
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin
6 horse probably won't give you the speed you are looking for and the manual lift is a pain. The brackets are not designed for the abuse a big rig will hand out, either.
Posted 2/12/2013 11:47 AM (#616944 - in reply to #615842) Subject: Re: lightest 4 stroke kicker
Posts: 2097
I have a 8hp merc on the back of my boat. It is electric start with manual tilt. I have no issues with lowering it manualy. It was between the 8hp and the 9.9 pro kicker and I decided on the 8hp with electric start cause it was roughly a thousand dollars cheaper when I bought it last spring and could not be happier.
Posted 2/14/2013 1:50 PM (#617529 - in reply to #616944) Subject: Re: lightest 4 stroke kicker
Posts: 5874
cave run legend - 2/12/2013 11:47 AM
I have a 8hp merc on the back of my boat. It is electric start with manual tilt. I have no issues with lowering it manualy. It was between the 8hp and the 9.9 pro kicker and I decided on the 8hp with electric start cause it was roughly a thousand dollars cheaper when I bought it last spring and could not be happier.
Until the weak motor mount bracket breaks, or the sheet steel tilt lock bends and finally breaks. Not a question of if, but when. The real kickers are designed with this in mind, and are much beefier and worth the extra cost for these features and more.
lightest 4 stroke kicker