Kicker Horsepower

[Blue_Runner]

1975 9.9hp Johnson here. *Has more spunk than I thought. *Can get her up to around 7mph with that little booger! *Very economical and runs super shallow draft!

Would be nice to have a 15hp, but I think it would be a pregnant doggie to raise out of the water. *It kinda hard to pull the little 9.9 out of the water from the deck.

About shaft length - I think 20" is necessary rather than 15" to keep the foot in the water in any type of seas. *I can tell that my little motor was converted from 15" to 20" because the mid-section has paint that does not match the upper or lower sections. *

Weight - you don't want the motor to be too heavy or the boat will list to that side. *IMHO I would think a 25hp 4 stroke would be way too heavy, but I really have not idea about that. *Just seems that way.

Kicker fuel - I use a 6 gallon tank that fits in my motor well. * I also keep some outboard motor oil on the boat in case I'm stranded. *If I run out of mixed gas in my 6 gallon tank, all I have to do is unhook ahead of the primer ball on my main tank, then use the primer to refill the 6 gallon, mix the oil, hook the gas line back up and ready to go for another 6 gallons.

This allows me to use mix in the little motor and puts my total capacity up to 66 gallons. *I also have a 12 gallon tank that I can take as well, which puts me close to 80 gallons.

I have a feeling this little kicker is going to save some big $$ this summer! *Might make up the diff. in these ridiculous gas prices! *If you're planning on putting around at 5 mph, why not save gas and use the little motor? *It makes sense.

P.S. Guy I bought the boat from paid $400 for the 9.9hp Johnson kicker on eBay.

My $.02
Blue