Kicker motor

Things that are of general interest.
JEB
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Kicker motor

Post by JEB »

Just wondering whats involved and how practical it is to possibly install a kicker motor on the swim platform.
If a big enough motor would fit would it be good for cruising longer distances saving fuel and wear on the V8 motors?
If it could get up to 6 to 8 knots or so running at low enough rpm that might be a nice option to extend cruising range.
I seem to remember a post years ago where someone was going to beef up the swim platform and install two outboards and do away with the stock motors altogether. I wonder if that ever came to fruition.....
My boat is a 1987 32" FB
TinLizzy
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Location: Lake Superior-Michigan's U.P.

Re: Kicker motor

Post by TinLizzy »

You would need a 20-25 hp kicker to be able to move the boat 6-8 mph. It would use less fuel than the v8's, but that little motor would be screaming away and probably get annoying after a little bit.
Rodney
1975 28 Express-Twin 350 Chevy's, SOLD
1990 32 Express--Twin Mercruiser 454 with Bravo I outdrives
Portage Canal Waterway-Upper Peninsula,Lake Superior
Fastjeff
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Re: Kicker motor

Post by Fastjeff »

Someone converted their big M to outboards, but they had to massively beef up the transom.

Not sure an outboard would deliver superior mpg with those two props dragging in the water. Seriously; and it'd have to be a 4 stroke OB at the very least.

Jeff
"We live at the bottom of an ocean of air, not at the top." General Marvage Slatington
JEB
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Re: Kicker motor

Post by JEB »

I wonder what the performance with a couple 35 horsepower outboards that were slightly over propped would give you if the V8 motors and props were removed. Certainly would be a lot lighter.....
Just thinking/wondering at this point....never gonna happen to my boat in reality.....ive got 2 good motors and kinda like going fast sometimes...
It would be interesting to see what would give 8 to 10 knots and long distance cruising ability without going deisel
honestcharlie56
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Re: Kicker motor

Post by honestcharlie56 »

Mercury does have outboard diesels btw. Not sure they are any good though.
1990 Marinette 32 Sedan Flybridge "Hubba" Lake Charles, LA
Twin Chrysler 318's
DougDoty
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Location: Madison In.

Re: Kicker motor

Post by DougDoty »

It have often wondered what a pair of Honda 50 FS outboards would do in a great loop setup with a huge center fuel tank for long range.
1984 39 Marinette Sedan, " LIBERTY ONE " Warsaw KY, 440 chryslers, Westerbeke 9.0 kw , 1 3/8" shafts 93 1/4" long and 19x22 dyna quads or, 19x20 DQX's 38.5 MPH GPS best.
ris
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Re: Kicker motor

Post by ris »

We have a Honda 60 on a MacGregor sailboat with no mast, which is 26' long and 7.5' wide and weighs about 3500 lbs loaded. At 3000 rpm it pushes the boat 8 mph. It has a 14 inch X 9 pitch prop. Max speed empty with 2 people is 20 mph, loaded max speed is 12 mph. At 8 mph it uses 1 gph at max loaded speed of 12 mph it uses 5 gph. We did the great loop in 2016 on the MacGregor. Hope this is helpful with your question.

Richard
jralbert
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Re: Kicker motor

Post by jralbert »

Sailboat speeds are very much governed by hill design - not by motor power alone
-joel-
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Chesapeake Bay
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Potomac MD
barkleydave
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Re: Kicker motor

Post by barkleydave »

Mercury Diesel Outboards are not offered in the US market due to EPA regulations.
1987 Marinette 29 FB Sedan
Retired Boat Accident UL and USCG trained investigator
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Maestro
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Re: Kicker motor

Post by Maestro »

One of the guys on the Marinette Facebook page posted this video awhile back. It's a 9.9 hp outboard mounted to the swim platform for fishing/trolling. He got about 2 mph out of it.

https://www.facebook.com/bryan.oetting/ ... =2&theater

Not sure if the video will open properly if you are not a member of that particular FB page. Seems to be a nice setup though.

I am considering one day adding a 25hp kicker as a "get home" motor since I have a single engine boat.

There's also this link to a post from an BigM owner who repowered with a 200hp Yamaha. I remember him reporting that it performed very well. Click the link and scroll down a little bit for a picture.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=221&p=3890&hilit=ou ... ower#p3890
Maestro
1986 32' Sedan
Chrysler 360s
1.5:1 Gears, 16x16 props

1970 28' Express
Single Chrysler 440
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Green Bay, WI
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