Hi guys,

I am hopefully working my way to getting a bass boat here soon, and was curious....is it possible to put a kicker motor on them??  there is one lake here that i love to fish that doesn't even allow for a motor bigger than 10HP to be put in the water.  As the boat I'm looking at has a 200HP, that poses a bit of a problem for me.  

So does anybody know how to do that?  Even better....does anybody have any pictures of one mounted???   I currently have a 9.8 HP Merc 110 that I would be hoping to use.  

Thanks!

I think a lot of walleye fisherman have a small engine next to their main motor for trolling, so their is a lot of people that have a small 9-15HP next to their 150+hp.  I think they do it because the bigger engines aren't good to be running slow, they are made to go fast.  

So I guess you should be able to mount the smaller engine next to your main engine.

Ah yeah.  Sorry, I should have been more clear.  

I have seen kickers on aluminum deep vee's plenty of times, but never on a 'glass boat that has a low profile like a bass boat does.  Also, the aluminum that most of the walleye guys use is a bit more condusive to mounting a secondary motor.

So what I'm wondering is, do the fiberglass bass boats have a way that you can easily mount a kicker on them, or is that pretty much stricktly for deep vee's?

What kind of boat are you planning on getting?

Well, there is a guy on a snowmobile forum that I am also on that listed his boat for trade for a sled. So I am hoping that he will take my sled + cash for his boat.

Its a 1988 Hydra-Sports DV200 FF w\ a 200HP Suzuki Exante

It may not work out, but I SURE hope it will!!!!!

Measure the vertical space on the transom to the left of the motor and see if it is wide enough to hold a removable commercial kicker bracket. If it is, and if you are satisfied that the transom is strong enough in that area, mount it. I have seen a few older, and smaller Stratos' with kicker plates. Another route is to have a custom mount made that bolts onto the rear deck. I knew someone who had a similar bracket made for his Astro. If you know some one who can fabricate metal that might be the best way to go.

The other option, depending on how big the lake is, sell the 10hp and upgrade to a 36 volt trolling motor, which, in the long run, might be the best alternative, especially if you have to upgrade the trolling motor on an older boat.

One other thing to consider, where you put the fuel tank for the kicker?  The Suzuki will have different fittings than the Mercury, and will probably have oil injection.

Hummm...well, its already got a newer 101# 36v minn kota, so that should probably do it, eh?  How fast do you suppose that will get the boat moving?  4-5 mph?

thats a good call about the fuel tank for the kicker.  I hadn't thought of that!  

Wow 101 pounder's going to push that boat about as fast as your 10 horse. I've never seen a kicker on a glass boat, and living 5 minutes from St. Clair I see alot of boats. It may very well be possible but the extra weight might not be acceptable on fiberglass.

very good.  sounds like i will just stick with the trolilng motor!

thanks for all the input guys!  

Are they going to let you on the lake with a 200hp if you promise not to start it?  

I got $20 that the 101 lb thrust is nowhere near 10 hp. 10 hp is much, much, much stronger.  Unfortunately there is no direct conversion between the two as HP is speed dependent, but I would say for this scenario the 101 is producing roughly 0.2HP give or take 0.5HP

http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/propulsion/q0195.shtml

If both motors take the same gas / oil mix then put a Y in the existing fuel line and have it feed both motors.

Hummm...well, its already got a newer 101# 36v minn kota, so that should probably do it, eh?  How fast do you suppose that will get the boat moving?  4-5 mph?

I would guess 2.5mph as 5mph is a tough speed for electric only john boats to achieve when rigged with a 101

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1204247201/7#7

On one local reservoir that is electric only I've seen a few bass rigs with 2 transom mounted trolling motors.  They kept their big engine out of the water, they didn't exactly cruise but if your lake is small enough it might be an option?

hummmm......well its not terribly big...but not terribly small either.    its around 900 acres.

yeah, they let in bigger boats, they just can't lower the motor.  if they see it in the water, you can get a ticket.  though, i think they do let you load and unload with the main motor.

Surfer, that seems a bit low to me...granted i am by far no expert!!!    Me and my buddy use a 74 lb on his 18' Tracker Targa Deep Vee and get 3-3.4mph gps.  does the hull type effect the top speed at all?  it was only based on that that i was guessing 4-5.

those transom mount motors do look pretty sweet.....I'm not sure i can swing that cost though.   :-/

I very well could be off on that. I just remember that 5mph is difficult to achieve.  Aluminum hulls are faster only because they weigh less.

ah yeah...that makes sense....

so really...bottom line here...the trolling motor will get me there, it will just take me about 4 years to do it?   ;D

I fish a 500 acre lake.  Its .9 miles across and fairly round. In a 10 ft john with a 40 lb thrust it takes me about 15 minute to cross the lake.  Depending on the shape of your lake 20 minutes could get you anywhere you need to be.  I would try it with just the trolling motor before putting time/ money into attaching the 10 HP.  It just depends how important that 20 minutes is to you.

just fish it.  

I regularly fish club tournaments on electric only lakes over 500 acres, and getting around is not a problem.  I am running a 14 ft Gruman with a 36 lp Minn Kota.  Remember, you're not going to be going faster than 10mph with the kicker, so you're not talking 20mins, you're talking a difference of 5 or 10min.  The only problem with adding electric motors is that they will use up your batteries.  My only worry on eletric only lakes is running out of battery far away from the launch.  You can buy a transom mount (not motor mount)24 volt 70 or 80 lb thrust  trolling motor, but I would only run it if I had 2 extra batteries.

Your 36 volt system should be more than adequate, and if your worried about losing fishing time, troll a crankbait from spot to spot, never know what you might catch.

101 lb. electric trolling motor as good as a 10hp motor? MmmMmm! Not even close! That 101 electric motor would be lucky if it was even 1/2 hp on it's best day.

There are many, many ways to mount a kicker motor. I can't post you a direct link, cuz my post number is too low, but you just Google "Garelick Motor Bracket", and that could be a start for you, but you can even put separate jack plates with backings on your boat, or you could even get creative and fabricate some bracket of your own.

I'm actually going to put one on my boat this year, and I am going with a Garelick bracket for mine,because of it's simplicity to install, and I like how it lifts the kicker up and out of the water so easily with the counterweight springs, but as I said, there are many other ways of mounting it.

You could even Google "Outboard motor mounting bracket" for even more choices.

Scott,thats the problem with living in central Illinois..Seems every other body of water has a differant HP limit...10hp limit on 1 body of water and a 40hp limit down the road with the same size lake..

Right now I'm wanting a new bass boat to fish some bigger power-plant lakes but I like to fish the 10hp limit lakes also...

I'm looking at deep-v's so I can add a kicker but I do not like the lower front decks...its getting frustrated

I know the lakes down that way have bass tournaments so I might swing down and see what those guys are using

If your looking for just a simple/cheap mount that doesn't move up and down to get it up out of the water look at Garelicks fixed mounts. Two models bolt to the transom, thethird mounts on the deck. Their website should list dimensions to see if it will on your unused area of the transom. I seen the jackplate on your picture you could make a plate from say about 5/8" minimum thickness aluminum plate that would bolt between the big engine and the jackplate that extends out to whichever side that would best suit your kickers tiller, fuel line etc. It would be wise to attach some wood to the appropriate areas if the kicker clamps on. It might be possible to also make an arm to hook it to the big engine so you can steer with the wheel. If a kicker is locked straight ahead the boat will steer fairly well just turning the big engine as long as the big engine doesn't hit the prop on the kicker. You'll likely need longer bolts to "sandwich" this all together. I would NOT use my bow mount to move long distances at full speed, it will greatly shorten it's life.  

You'd better get something that is adjustable, and will move your kicker up and out of the way, cuz I guarantee you down the road, you'll be using the 200hp to get out on the bigger lakes at about 50-60mph, then dropping down the kicker to slow-troll for 'eyes or musky.

Just my opinion.

Scott,thats the problem with living in central Illinois..Seems every other body of water has a differant HP limit...10hp limit on 1 body of water and a 40hp limit down the road with the same size lake..

Right now I'm wanting a new bass boat to fish some bigger power-plant lakes but I like to fish the 10hp limit lakes also...

I'm looking at deep-v's so I can add a kicker but I do not like the lower front decks...its getting frustrated

I know the lakes down that way have bass tournaments so I might swing down and see what those guys are using

LOL...are you talking specifically about the lakes down there?  Cause Evergreen is 10HP and Lake Bloomington (LITERALLY 5 miles away!) is 40hp!  If not, you must be clairvoyant! ;D  

Thats actually what i see a lot of guys with here.  16' or so deep vee or mod-v with a 40 hp console steer and a 10hp kicker.

So pretty much it sounds like there are some options for me if'n I end up with this 'glass boat, it'll just take a bit of creativity...

Really do appreciate all the input, guys!

:-?

;D I couldn't resist.