Kicker Motor/Bracket Set Up-gctid340385

[Patrevan]

Hi folks. So I am just about to buy a 1987 Honda 9.9 4 stroke. Appears to run well, good shape with low hours. Long Shaft (measures 23.5" from underside of bracket to top of the cavitation plate). I have had a bracket fabricated. The set up I am attempting to copy is the Ron Steele version - one of the threads in the archives. My questions and concerns are 'shaft length'. I have attaced several photos to hopefully make my point. It seems from reading most posts, the closer to centerline, the better. I must go to port, but even if I go max port, I still won't get all of the prop below the hull, which, if I understand from most folks, is ideal. And I know the further port I go, the more list I'll get, plus this diminishes comfort/ease of use while trolling, as I will be using an extended tiller handle for control. I'd appreciate any advice/input. Thanks

Attached files [img]/media/kunena/attachments/vb/642932=23188-Honda Outboard.jpg[/img] [img]/media/kunena/attachments/vb/642932=23186-Kicker Bracket 1a.jpg[/img] [img]/media/kunena/attachments/vb/642932=23187-Kicker Bracket 2a.jpg[/img]

[Guest]

I mounted a kicker on my swimstep and just couldn't get the kicker low enough in the water to make it work well. I don't think getting you kicker prop lower than the bottom of the hull is the big issue. The big issue is can you get it deep enough in the water to get a good bite in choppy water and when you crank the throttle so it won't cavitate. How high off of the water does your swimstep sit? Mine was just too high. As to the list you can try shifting weight around to balance out the motor. I see you have trim tabs so you can always make trim adjustments to level out your boat while on plane.

[Patrevan]

The top of this swimplatform to the water is probably a foot, plus or minus. As you can see, the top of my bracket will add 5 inches to that. If I understand you correctly, the prop on your kicker is not below the hull? Thanks for response.

[Guest]

It is about even with the hull.

[Guest]

I had one of those hondas and had nothing but problems I hope you dont, but you are going to have to get an XL shaft 25" to fit that bracket.

[Patrevan]

Ok, thanks guys. I'll have to consider my options here. Clearly, there is a lot to consider and I don't want to drilling holes, etc etc and end up with something I won't be happy with.

[Guest]

Patrevan wrote:
Ok, thanks guys. I'll have to consider my options here. Clearly, there is a lot to consider and I don't want to drilling holes, etc etc and end up with something I won't be happy with.

I know what you mean. This was my third bracket before I finally got it right. The holes weren't too bad to fill.

[bhawes]

You may want to have the motor gone over by a mechanic. It is, after all 25 years old. A lot of the 9.9 Hondas were used on sail boats, and actually have some hard hours on them. I also agree with the XL shaft when you have to mount it that high above the water.

[Guest]

You will want to offset the kicker to one side of the boat so if the outdrive is raised when near the full turn position closest to the kicker that it won't make contact. Also having the shaft length of the kicker long enough to get the thrust under the hull of your boat is a must if you want reverse thrust to work. When mooching for salmon I'm constantly using reverse thrust to slow the drift of the boat. It's also nice to have reverse thrust to help dock the boat should the big engine quit and you have to return using the kicker.

[dktool]

How is the shaft length reference measured ? From the underside of the clamp bracket to the cavitation plate, the prop shaft or ??

[Guest]

Yep underside of clamp bracket to cav plate.

[Patrevan]

Again, thanks for all the input here. I guess of all my searching of the archived threads on this topic, I see there are a number of set-ups where guys are using the long shafts, as opposed to the extra-long - but admittedly, I can't find my exact boat, which is why I started this thread.

[Guest]

Can you temporarily clamp down your bracket to the swimstep and test it to see if you get the performance you are looking for from your kicker? You may be able to use some old carpet so you don't scratch your swimstep. Kind of a wild idea, but it might work. You may be able to try it out in several locations along the swimstep.

Might want to tie a line around your kicker in case it comes loose.

[Patrevan]

That's not a bad idea. Couple of issues though....there is about 3 feet if ice on the lake where I boat, so actually doing that won't happen until at least mid-May, and I haven't actually bought this motor yet. It's for sale locally, privately.

[FISHIN00]

looks like you will need to move the motor bracket farther away from your drive. When you do that, measure from the top of the bracket to the bottom of the hull, then measure the motor from the inside of the mount to the bottom of the skeg. you the should have a pretty good idea of the length you need