Posts: 3514
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
I personally will always advocate for a kicker motor, most notably for when going out on big water where if something happens to the main motor, you have a way to get back to camp or the launch. Much of that comes from being on waters where the nearest town is 17 miles (by boat) and rocks are not marked. I have seen on more than one occasion...more like 10 to 12 where one boat had to spend part of a week fishing using only a 6 or 8hp motor because the big one no longer had a functioning lower unit, or in one instance....no lower unit.
I once was about 10 miles from camp on the clearwater/pipestone chain when I tore out a lower unit on my 50hp. I was very glad I had a 6hp kicker along. 2 hours later, I was back home safe.
If I read the original post correctly, the boat is a 2005, which will be the wide beam, so there is plenty of room to put a kicker. I have an 8hp 4 stroke for mine, and can run both off of the main tank by installing a fuel/water separator which had 3 different usable fuel outlets. Made it nice so I didn't need to carry an extra gas tank just for the kicker. With the right kicker and prop, you can get down to right around or just below 1mph...very nice for walleyes or slow trolling spinner baits...
In my humble opinion...a kicker is priceless. Not needed on some waters depending on where or how you are fishing, but the bigger stuff....it's like they say with an american express card...don't leave home without it.
Steve |
