Kicker motors suggestions

I am looking at getting a smaller kicker motor. I have looked on many sights and am up in the air. My boat is 16.5 foot Alumicraft 90hp Honda. What size would you guys recommend? Are there brands out there that you guys like. I will probably get a used motor. I have seen Evenrude & Johnsons seem to be populare in 5-10hp range. I also have seen adds for 5hp briggs and strat. If anyone out there has a motor that is in good shape and is under $400 pm me.

Thanks for listening, Dean

Just bought a 5hp merc 4 stoke. Cant wait until I can get it on my boat now.

you could put an 80lb thrust bow mount or bigger on if your just walleye trolling my buddy runs an 80lb bow mount on a 165 smoker craft and he gets 3 to 5 hours of tolling out of the battery's

I have a T8 on a 17ft Mr. Pike and love it. Although the price is right on the 5hp Briggs you will not be happy with the air cooled engine. From first hand experience this is not a motor you will be pleased with. It would be okay as the main motor on 12ft boat but not used as a kicker.

good luck GF

hi, i have a 97 yamahha 6 hp 2 stroke that i have been trolling with on the big lake for the last 12 years, its the best motor i have ever owned. no problems atall. startes on the 1st or 2nd pull and idles all day with no sputter. beleive it or not it still on the orginal plugs. don,t fixit if it ain,t broke. i would buy another one if i needed one. have a new 50 merc and its a dog. hard starting and don,t run worth a dam. poor investment in my eyes. wished i would of bought the 4 stroke. tight lines ducore

I have a Lund 175 Grand Tyee and was using a Johnson 6hp 2 stroke from the mid 1980s for a kicker. I just bought a 4 stroke Suzuki 9.9hp last week. The Johnson 6hp was enough hp for walleye trolling. It would be just idleing to troll at .9mph. I went to a four stroke because 2 strokes don't like to idle and the rpms would go up and down on it's own. I believe it is caused by oil fouling the plugs. I even went to a 100:1 gas mixture and it was still rough. I hope my new Suzuki 9.9 will work out better.

The reason for the kicker is to save hours on my big motor, since I have been spending alot of time trolling on michigan. I have a 3hp 2-stroke that works, easy to take on and off, but stinks and noisy. I also want to go with a 4 stoke, so I can splice into my main fuel tank. I looked at the t8 and it weighs 102lbs, which is way to heavy for the back of my boat Thanks

Yamaha T8,agree with the others.

darrink, I think you would not gain much in a kicker. A 50 four stroke should troll slow enough for crank baits. I would put a Minn Kota engine mount on. A engine mount would slow you down for spinners.

I have a 16ft smokercraft 161 with a 50 hp 4 stroke motor. My question is I can get a 9.9 kicker 4 stroke for a pretty good price, but my concern is it might be to much weight for the back of the boat. The 50hp weighs around 250 dry weight and the 9.9 weighs 85lbs.

I am wondering if I should wait for a 5hp 4 stroke, since it only weighs 55lbs.

What do you guys think Darrin

I think yamaha makes a 2 cylinder 6 hp... I've seen them around. I agree, one cyl. is not only tougher to dial in, but louder and shakes more... $400 may mean you have to be a little less choosey... but I'm sure you can find something.

I would strongly suggest the Yamaha T-8 four stroke motor. I've got one on my Lund Tyee 1850. It has the most torque of any 8 hp kicker available. Torque is a big deal especially with my boat which is a bit heavier than yours. Which ever one you decide, The four stroke kickers are the way to go. Watch the big auction site and the trading post section here on LL for some good deals (ie. better than at a dealer) on used motors.

Stay away from brigss and straton unless you like fishing in a cloud.

I have a yamaha T-8 and love it, but to get less HP than 8 you have to go with the portable series. I think you can get down to a 4 hp in that line.