For those asking i have something similar to this: https://trollmasters.com/wired/trollmaster-pro/
I’ve never been to a lake with those regs. Are they more remote lakes?One of the issues I see with the 2 stroke as a kicker, a lot of the smaller lakes up north won't allow 2 strokes on the water.
Have you evidence of this @Windy Point ?a lot of the smaller lakes up north won't allow 2 strokes on the water.
Have you tried this? My understanding is you don't get much charging done at low revs unless you have a special alternator. I think just running out and back for 30 minutes each way would keep the main charged, but it's worth looking into. You can't have too many options for charging!you can get a rectifier kit for your house battery, even without electric start. It’s only around $125 for the parts. Well worth it to charge your battery while trolling
I was in a similar situation last year looking for a kicker as a back up motor to get me in and also as a trolling motor. I have a 19 foot fibreglass. I went with a 2002 mercury 9.9hp long shaft. It has manual start and capability to charge (havent hooked it up). My only complaint over a 2 stroke is the weight difference. My motor is 112lbs. It seems like its going to break my transom. Having a 4 stroke and being able to tie it into my main fuel tank is also a huge plus, and probably the only reason im not using a 2 stroke. The steering linkage to the main drive is a must in my opinion. As for setting speed, i dont have much of an issue setting or maintaining speeds while trolling. If it was an emergency situation id just set it higher throttle but not max speed. Im not sure how many electronics you run but i have my VHF and my Lowrance elite fs 9 running all day (6+ hours) and have never had them drain my battery enough that i couldn't start my inboard engine. I do also keep 2 batteries on board incase for some reason one does go flat.Have you tried this? My understanding is you don't get much charging done at low revs unless you have a special alternator. I think just running out and back for 30 minutes each way would keep the main charged, but it's worth looking into. You can't have too many options for charging!
Do you have any speed control on your kicker? Is the steering tied into your mains steering?
thanks for the reply
mike
No but my marine mechanic says it will do the job pretty well over the course of 4-6 hours of trolling. I’ll be adding one, he’s never steered me wrong before. I no longer have a tie bar as my new boat is a 60hp tiller. I used to have the tie bar on my old windshield boat and that’s the way I’d go for sure if you have a console. It makes things easy. Don’t get the one that connects at the back, they are a huge pain. As for speed control it’s my hand. The tohatsus, Mercs, Suzukis generally have a knob you can lock down your speed. It would be nice to have a speed controller but I just deal with what I’ve got.Have you tried this? My understanding is you don't get much charging done at low revs unless you have a special alternator. I think just running out and back for 30 minutes each way would keep the main charged, but it's worth looking into. You can't have too many options for charging!
Do you have any speed control on your kicker? Is the steering tied into your mains steering?
thanks for the reply
mike
What do you mean? Don't they all connect at the back with the main steering? I've never done this so I'm asking all kinds of questions.Don’t get the one that connects at the back, they are a huge pain.
My guess is they are referring to an ez steer system vs one that would go in where a steering rod would attach at the front of the motor.What do you mean? Don't they all connect at the back with the main steering? I've never done this so I'm asking all kinds of questions.
Good for you Mike.Well I've made a decision with help from everyone here who replied.
I'm buying a brand new Suzuki 6 HP manual weighing just 55lbs. I'm going to tie it into my mains for steering and because iTroll & Trollmaster don't make anything for Suzuki under 9.9HP I'm going to make my own speed controller. Hopefully I'll end up with what I want. Next project, maybe next year, steering control on the kicker so I can follow a bearing. Pretty sure I can make something. I'll post about it.
thanks All
mike
This has my interests as well.What do you mean? Don't they all connect at the back with the main steering? I've never done this so I'm asking all kinds of questions.
Trick to the EZ steer is putting a pool noodle on them so they dont sink. But agreed they do suck. Unfortunately for the inboard/outboard guys we don't have much choice.You want the front kind, not the back kind. EZ steers suck. I watched my buddy deep six his tie bar over 300 FOW on lake O. First one is good, second pic bad. Great choice on the Suzuki btw. I have a 2017 15hp zuke on my 16 foot tin boat at our place up north and my last boat sported the DF140, and it was an excellent motor. If at any point I dislike my new rides motor, I’m repowering with a DF75.
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