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| Next season, I want to upgrade my kicker motor. Currently have a 15 hp Suzuki 4stroke, with carb., with electric start. Does not have power tilt and trim. That is the biggest reason for change. I will be 74 when next season starts and while in good shape, I feel less and less comfortable stepping on the transom, bending over and pulling that motor up at the end of a trolling session. In particular if waves are bouncing. (not the weight, but balance that concerns me)
Besides power trim and tilt, electric and pull start, anything I should look to get? Also, the 15hp motor was on the Lund Pro V 18ft tiller when I bought it. I am thinking a 9.9 should be fine?
Appreciate any suggestions you may have. As I get older, trolling becomes a more appealing option to throwing lures all day. |
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Posts: 1722
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | The merc pro kicker efi motors are the same block if 9.9, 15, or 20 so the 15 will probably have minimal gains other than the output current over the 9.9.
I would opt for the merc as it has the highest current output of the kickers to keep gear charged. This means it could be used to start the main motor faster to get back sooner if needed which I value as a safety feature if my jump box also didn’t have the gusto to start my 300.
My 15 moves my 621 at 7.9 mph at WOT and about 5.5 at half. Power trim and electric start are musts in my book.it does have the pull start built in and is super easy to start, provided you remember to turn the key first (found that out playing around on the lake after about 10 pulls). If sticking with a tiller, the centering straps are very nice on the mercs. |
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| Thanks for the input. And yes, while it currently has a 15hp kicker, given the weigh of the aluminum 18ft tiller, I would think 9.9 would be plenty. Fish by myself most of the time, although I do have a neighbor who thinks this trolling thing is kind of nice (he has a really bad shoulder).
Something that someone in my boat asked about a while back was rpm control. Is that something to look for? Not sure what benefits of that would be. |
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Posts: 1288
| The rpm thing is more for walleye fishing. The ability to tick up or down just a tad, can make a difference when you are going .5 mph with live bait. Not so much a thing when you are going a couple mph or higher with musky baits. |
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| TCESOX - 12/13/2024 5:22 PM
The rpm thing is more for walleye fishing. The ability to tick up or down just a tad, can make a difference when you are going .5 mph with live bait. Not so much a thing when you are going a couple mph or higher with musky baits.
Thanks. Makes sense, thinking back. Guy that mentioned it is a walleye guy. |
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Posts: 398
Location: SW Ohio | The little 8 hp Honda I currently have pushes my Skeeter about 5 mph at WOT. Upgrading to the Merc 9.9 EFI Pro Kicker today (pick it up in about an hour). I flipped back and forth about the added cost for PT&T but, like you, I'm not getting any younger. The electric start and PT&T should be extremely helpful. I fish solo 99% of the time and don't particularly like leaning over the back to the boat. |
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| OH Musky - 12/14/2024 7:51 AM
The little 8 hp Honda I currently have pushes my Skeeter about 5 mph at WOT. Upgrading to the Merc 9.9 EFI Pro Kicker today (pick it up in about an hour). I flipped back and forth about the added cost for PT&T but, like you, I'm not getting any younger. The electric start and PT&T should be extremely helpful. I fish solo 99% of the time and don't particularly like leaning over the back to the boat.
I lift weight three times a week and that helps with strength required to lift motor, but my balance is just not what it was and while I have tried exercises that are supposed to help with that, my confidence is not there. In calm water, not bad, but a lot of times the reason I am trolling is because it is windy. |
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Posts: 398
Location: SW Ohio | I need to get back to using my bowflex. Been lazy lately but it definitely helps. |
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Posts: 644
Location: Duluth | North of 8 - 12/13/2024 2:25 PM
Next season, I want to upgrade my kicker motor. Currently have a 15 hp Suzuki 4stroke, with carb., with electric start. Does not have power tilt and trim. That is the biggest reason for change. I will be 74 when next season starts and while in good shape, I feel less and less comfortable stepping on the transom, bending over and pulling that motor up at the end of a trolling session. In particular if waves are bouncing. (not the weight, but balance that concerns me)
Besides power trim and tilt, electric and pull start, anything I should look to get? Also, the 15hp motor was on the Lund Pro V 18ft tiller when I bought it. I am thinking a 9.9 should be fine?
Appreciate any suggestions you may have. As I get older, trolling becomes a more appealing option to throwing lures all day.
PM sent, actually sent you another one on a different topic that still sitting in the Outbox also.
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