Slow troll with merc 9.9 prokicker vs. 15 prokicker

[drbrand]

I found a dealer with a last years leftover Mercury 15hp prokicker. They both have the same gear ratio. I have a Tracker Targa 2000 20' boat. Would I be able to troll as slow with the 15 prokicker vs. a 9.9hp prokicker? Would the 15hp have any disadvantages for me over the 9.9?

[Hot Runr Guy]

The Mercury website show the 15 ProKicker to have a 2.15:1 lower unit, the 9.9 ProKicker has a 2.42:1 ratio. Are you sure he's not talking about the older 15hp BigFoot, which does not have the power tilt/trim?
http://www.mercurymarine.com/engines/outboards/fourstrokes/enginesetfour_specs.php?ID=73
HRG

[drbrand]

That is a typo. I had that discussion with Mercury Marine prior to posting my question and they admitted that was a typo. All 9.9 and 15hp bigfoot and prokickers have the 2:42to1 gear ratio.

And the motor is a 15hp prokicker with power trim

The Mercury website show the 15 ProKicker to have a 2.15:1 lower unit, the 9.9 ProKicker has a 2.42:1 ratio. Are you sure he's not talking about the older 15hp BigFoot, which does not have the power tilt/trim?
http://www.mercurymarine.com/engines/outboards/fourstrokes/enginesetfour_specs.php?ID=73
HRG

[perchjerker]

The Mercury website show the 15 ProKicker to have a 2.15:1 lower unit, the 9.9 ProKicker has a 2.42:1 ratio. Are you sure he's not talking about the older 15hp BigFoot, which does not have the power tilt/trim?
http://www.mercurymarine.com/engines/outboards/fourstrokes/enginesetfour_specs.php?ID=73
HRG

I dont know what you mean by "older bigfoot" but my 1999 Bigfoot 15 hp has power tilt/trim and elec start as well

[Hot Runr Guy]

I dont know what you mean by "older bigfoot" but my 1999 Bigfoot 15 hp has power tilt/trim and elec start as well
My apologies guys. I couldn't see where the 15 was offered in a "ProKicker" version prior to the 2008 release, nor that the 15hp BigFoot came with PT&T.
HRG

[mrbreeze]

I think that the bigfoots did not have an "integrated" tilt/trim like the prokickers. At least mine did not. If you wanted that, you had to buy a panther, or I think that Merc did offer a factory lift system as well, but you still needed a bracket.

For what it's worth, I had a 15 bigfoot on my 619 and I could troll down slow no problem. New 620 has a 9.9 pro and that works fine too. I really cannot tell much difference, and I think that the main difference in speed has a lot to do with the prop.

[Shep]

They should idle down to the same RPM's, so the trolling speed should be the same.

As for the power tilt on pre-ProKicker motors. You could get it, but it was dealer installed option or you could buy it from the dealer and install yourself.

Slow trolling speed should be the same. WOT speed will be greater on the 15 HP model.

[drbrand]

After doing more research on this particlar motor, it turns out it is a 15EL with trim, not an actual prokicker, so I would have to give up a lot of what I was looking for in a motor. Mercury just came out with a 15hp prokicker this year. So I am back to buying a 2009 9.9 prokicker.