Merc 4 strokes

[Mr T]

I'm going to maybe buy a new 4 stroke kicker. I've got a 17 foot aluminum Crestliner. I'm trying to decide between a 6 or 9.9 Mercury. Anyone out there have any experience with either of these engines? Did you like them? Someone said that the Merc 6 HP 4 stroke is made by Tahatsu. They also make the Nissan small 4 strokes (the 4,5 and 6 Hp). So I guess the Nissan, Mercury and Tahatsu 4 stroke 4,5 and 6 HP are all the same engine with different decals.In fact the gusy I talked to said nearly all the parts are interchangable. Is 6 horse enough kicker for a 17 foot metal boat and is the 6 horse Merc 4 stroke(or Nissan, Tahatsu) a decent engine? Anyone with an opinion or experience would sure help out.
Thanks,
Mr. T

[Phil T.]

My main engine is a four stroke, my kicker is an old 2-stroke. My reasons for buying the 90 hp Honda were durability and fuel economy with no loss in performance compared to the 90 OMC I owned before. If I buy a new boat when my last kid is out of college, I won't be buying another engine.
My 9.8hp Merc kicker is a 1977 model and gets run for more hours than the main engine each year. So much for the durability arguement with small displacement engines. Economy isn't much of an arguement either, it runs all day on less than 3 gallons of gas.
Unless the odor of 2-stroke oil burning is particularly offensive to you, I'd buy a 2-stroke of about 10hp. Six hp is too small, you may need the kicker to bring you home someday, or you may want to backtroll with it. If the durability of my kicker is normal, shop for used. Spend the money you save on a nice fishing trip, bait, or gas.

[Delgue]

I have a 9.9 Bigfoot Merc, 2000 with extend transferable warrenty to 05,spare prop, for sale, $1450--it has about 30 hours--am leaving lower 48 for a while, buying a new boat when i get back.
(Ad is in Classifieds here!)

[Mr T]

Thanks guys for the help so far. I know the durability of the 2 stroke is great, been around a long time. But the smoke can be a negative. How is the durability of the 4 strokes going to be in the long run? As good as the 2 stroke?
Mr T

[Merc 9.9 owner]

I have one year of experience with a 9.9 Merc 4stroke as a kicker on my 17.5 foot boat. I like it because it trolls down to under 1mph (GPS) which is GREAT for pulling night crawler harnesses with spinner blades. My 9.9 is quiet at trolling speeds and at times I have to look at the pee hole to see if water is coming out because it is so quiet.
The only advice I will give is that the Merc. is "cold blooded" in cool weather. That means that it needs to warm up with the choke partially pulled out for a minute to two minutes. Once it is "warmed up" it will run all day without missing a beat.
I would get the electric start if I had to do it again because there is a lot of compression on that little engine.
Another advantage is that I have a dependable power source if my main engine quits.

[Mr T]

I have a 15 HP Merc right now, I had wanted to go to something that has less smoke. How much does your 9.9 4 stroke smoke? And how hard is that to start? Pulling and pulling on a starter rope is no fun. My 2 stroke is not that tough, but tough enough for me. How does the electric start model work? Where is the battery stored? Is it a hassel to hook up or remove from the boat? Thanks for the help.

[WCoyote]

I have a 9.9 Merc Electric start with tilt/trim on my 1800
Pro-V. It is fantastic. Quiet. No smoke. No loading up. Will go at a crawl all day. This is first kicker that I have not wanted to periodically toss overboard.

If you can afford the tilt/trim you will be the happiest man on the lake this summer.

[RIVERRUNNER]

Been running a 9.9 97' mariner ,built by merc,I think.Quiet,once warm, runs all day.It's on 17 ft lund ,make sure you have room for it, there big and heavy.Go with elec. start, just watch you done turn it over while running, very quiet.Good luck

[bruce]

I have a 9.9 electric start four stroke and love it. No problem starting it with the electric start, a little cold blooded but not bad. I would however opt for the 15 h.p. four stroke next time. I do a lot of contour speed trolling and the 9.9 is a little light for that. So the 6 h.p. would be out of the question.

[Mr T]

Bruce,
Don't the 9.9 and the 15 weigh the same amount? If so what's the reason for anyone going with the 9.9 I wonder? Have you ever tried to pull start yours or is that not possible with an electric start?