Kicker motor suggestions

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I would suggest a 4 stroke, 8hp this is a 2 cyclinder motor and runs smoother then a single cyclinder which you would get with anything less then an 8hp. But what I would consider the most important thing is... get an ELECTRIC START AND TILT. This is experience talking here trust me it's worth every extra dollar. If you can afford it, get it! Good luck
 
SuperD, right now I fish from my father's Boston Whaler, it's a 17' Montauk. Because of the jigging we do this boat works better than my 17' Silverline, except in foul weather. I used to use, and still love to fish from, a 10' Zodiac but I no longer have it. When in the Zodiac I used either a 9 1/2 Evinrude or a 9.8 Merc. It all depended on if I wanted to fish or to go really fast. The Evinrude wouldn't go as fast as the Merc but it trolled like a dream, and you didn't have to work like the devil just to get the thing to run. First or second pull versus 25 or 30, minumum. I'm thinking of trying to pick up a 4hp Evinrude for my pontoon boat because it is the smallest twin cylinder I know of, but I haven't ruled out the idea of a 2hp 4 stroke like my father uses. In spite of these things, the motors are still the same no matter the boat they are on. I was just asking about the newer 4 strokes if the 10hp and the 15hp are basically the same motor like they used to do with the 2 strokes. I think the 8's are great but once you go above that I'm not sure that I would stop until I hit 15. As long as the rpm at the prop at idle is the same, which it should be, the only other thing to correct would be the size and shape of the prop.
 
I have to put a plug in for my Yamaha. 2-stroke, two-cylinder, oil-injected, battery charging, down to .7 mph troll and 25 HP. I don't have another motor on the boat...I don't think my 15 footer would take an additional trolling motor unless it was electric. My second motor is a set of oars...
I haven't had trouble with it fouling any plugs either. The only modification I've made is to use a one-step down pitch prop for high-altitude use.
 
With the environmental impact the way it is today, and with the big oil spill thats going on in the gulf now, I'm really surprise that 2strokes haven't become outlawed. Some lakes don't allow 2strokes on them and there are lakes that don't allow any motors at all. The 4strokes burns alot cleaner leave no surface trail of residual of oil on the water or the smell & visual burning of oil/fuel mixtures. 4strokers are a heavier tiller but do the job. You have to size your motor according to your size boat. Whenever I go to boat shows, its amazing how they take a monster 300hp outboard 4stroke engine, installed on the back of a boat no longer than the one I pleasure around in(20ft), put a kicker 4stroke next to it and able to keep it afloat. If you can afford to buy a 4stroker, that would be the better route to go. Heavy fines and penalties for pollution, we can't afford that.
 
Bduck, they have already started to phase out the 2 stroke motors. I picked up one of the last ones at marine products. I have a merc 6 hp 2 stroke, it pushes my 20 boat just fine. Have you seen the new merc optimax, it claims to be more emmision free than the 4 strokes. As earlier stated about loading up a 2 stroke, that mainly only happens to larger motors when trying to run them at low rpm. with smaller kickers that isn't a problem when you match the right motor to the boat, plus the major advances in two strokes in the later years are phenomenal. I even get the most amazing gas milage from it. one full tank in the kicker can last me all year. one thing I don't think was mentioned, is that 4 strokes a considerably heavier than a two stroke. with a smaller boat that can make a difference. It's two bad about 2 strokes, I used to own a merc 150 and a old 140 tower of power and they were awesome. Comparing them to the 200 hp yamaha 4 stroke I own now, the yamaha just doesn't get up and go like them. though on the bonus side, those 4 stokes sure are quiet.
 
Thank you everyone for the great information! I have a lot to sift through now. In my situation now, I am going to have to pick up a older one for now. Heck, I am not supposed to even have a boat before I buy a house. But, my wife said this was too good to pass up. Thanks again!
 
I have always had Mercury kickers. 8, then 9.9 and then 15HP 2 strokes. The last 2 boats have had 9.9 4 strokes. I found the 4 strokes to be very cold blooded. On my last boat, a 22' V8 inboard jet, I had a 9.9 bigfoot. Wide open it would push the boat 5 mph. When I was looking for a new boat I test drove one very similar to my current boat that had a Yamaha T8. It pushed that bigger and MUCH heavier boat 5 MPH and was MUCH easier to start. I bought a T8 and I'm glad I did. Also, FWIW, the Mercury kickers are made by Tohatsu, not Mercury.
 
Mark McWillis said:
I have always had Mercury kickers. 8, then 9.9 and then 15HP 2 strokes. The last 2 boats have had 9.9 4 strokes. I found the 4 strokes to be very cold blooded. On my last boat, a 22' V8 inboard jet, I had a 9.9 bigfoot. Wide open it would push the boat 5 mph. When I was looking for a new boat I test drove one very similar to my current boat that had a Yamaha T8. It pushed that bigger and MUCH heavier boat 5 MPH and was MUCH easier to start. I bought a T8 and I'm glad I did. Also, FWIW, the Mercury kickers are made by Tohatsu, not Mercury.
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That is a very nice looking boat! Thanks for the input!
 
If I understand correctly, the Merc's, Nissan's, Suzuki's and Tohatsu's are all the same motors, all made by Tohatsu. It's nice to hear that Merc's worked well for someone. I've always had the worst luck with them but I've never tried a new one either.
 
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kicker motors

I started out working for a Johnson dealer in Mich. I liked the way the 2cyl. johnsons ran.
I have worked for a Merc. dealer for the last 22 years. The first Merc for strokes were made by Yamaha. the new ones are made by Tohatsu. Both motors have Merc lower ends. The new motors are 30 lbs. lighter. Also if you follow the starting instructions on the cowl decal, the start easy. also I would add if you push the neutral only button in on the starboart side, you can fast idle in neutral, or pump the acceleraton pump to give it an extra shot of fuel. This is the motor I use (9.9 Merc four stroke ), and the only problem starting it has been when I forgot to check the saftey switch.
 

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