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| Has anyone used a 6hp as a kicker on a 18.5 foot walleye boat? Any input would be welcome. Will this be to small? |
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Location: Rhinelander | A 6 HP will push an 18' boat for trolling, but will have to work much harder than a 9.9. If you are after speeds of 1.7 to 3 MPH, the motor will be capable of that; an 8 or a 9.9 would be much better. |
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Member
Posts: 68
Location: Suamico, Wisconsin | I have a 6 hp. on my 1850 Skeeter and it pushes it along very well. I generally troll with the wind when working open water fish, so power isn't a real big conern. If I'm working the top of a reef or a shoreline break, and can't work it with the wind, it still keeps me in position just fine. If I was to buy a new motor I would probably opt for a 9.9, but if I had access to a 6 hp. or came across a great deal on one, I'd go for it. |
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| Thanks for the input. |
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Member
Posts: 2393
Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | Mr. Sworrall, write this date down. This is the first time that I can remember that we do not agree.
I'd say yes, it'll work and be enough motor. I believe that most people do not need the 9.9 horse power. Most walleye guys do not troll that fast. I see most guys trolling at very low rpm's for very long extended periods which is never good for motors including four strokes. The advantage of a 6 is that you'll keep it at higher rpm's thus having a cleaner running engine with fewer problems with spark plugs fowling. The downside will be that it'll be louder, even with it being a four stroke. |
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Location: Rhinelander | I think I said it will work for trolling speeds like 1.7 to 3 MPH just fine, but will be working harder than an 8 or a 9.9. Of course, under those speeds it'll work well under most conditions.
Is a 6 HP ideal for an 18' Walleye rig as a kicker? I think it's OK, but I see mostly 9.9 hp. kickers out there because they have a greater power curve and top end range and are built these days to take the beating a Walleye angler is likely to hand out. For Muskies, a 6hp. wouldn't work as well, not enough oomph IMHO.
We actually kind of agree, but I DID write that down!  |
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Posts: 340
Location: McFarland, WI | The downside to the 6 is that if your big motor goes out, you may have trouble getting home. We never plan on this of course but it has happened to me once on Lake Sharpe with a lower unit blow out, once on the bay with a broken reed value, and once on LBDN in high winds with a stuck solinoid. My 9.9 big foot got me home and none to soon. Maybe I'm unlucky but over the years and with several rigs, I've come home on the kickers many times.
Larry Strelow
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Posts: 744
| I had an undersize kicker on my previous boat (4hp on a 16.5'). It worked fine for most applications, but in rough water I had a hard time maintaining a steady speed either with or against the the waves. The 6 hp will have enough power, but it will have a lot more "recovery time". By recovery time, I mean the time it takes to get back to speed after either getting hit by a solid one going into larger waves, or sliding back down the backside if going with them. You will get much more variation in your speed in rough water than you would with a 8 or 9.9.
Dave S
Edited by thumper 3/6/2007 6:29 AM
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Member
Posts: 20
Location: Campbellsport WI | The 9.9 is a much smoother running engine. The 6hp sounds like you have a lawnmower on the back of the boat. Just one more thing to consider. As far as power goes, I don't think you'll have a problem.
The other thing to think about is how that 6hp is going to tilt up and support itself when your cruising across the lake in 4 footers. The 9.9 has way stronger brackets for that, especially the pro kicker. |
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Member
Posts: 2445
Location: Fremont, Wisconsin | The things about a 6hp motor that everyone said are true. Now from the dealers stand point.
There is a 6hp manual start long shaft mercury and a 8hp manual start long shaft mercury. The 6hp is single cylinder and the 8 is twin cylinder. There is a whopping 150.00 price difference. This one is a no brainer. Take the twin and it will be smoother, more powerful, and have a larger, stronger mounting bracket than the 6hp. Also, it is shaped just like a pro-kicker, so even if you don't have a pro-kicker, it will look like it at a glance. |
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