Jim P.
04-22-2002, 08:06 AM
I have seen boats with long shaft kickers and extra long. What is the difference, preferance or standard?
I have heard arguments both ways in terms of what length to use.
The arguments are based upon putting the kicker on the transom without a kicker bracket.
There is an argument about having a short shaft for purposes of having less chance of hitting shallow rocks. In forward motion on larger rigs, the boat will never plane out to a level that the prop would blow out...so...being shallower in the water, the skeg would be considered protected and forward handling is fine.
The other argument is that with a short shaft motor, backing up can be a hastle. the thrust from the prop goes right into the transom ranther than under it...so backing up is a pain...especially if you need to get off rocks. In wind, this could be a major problem if you get up along a steep break that has a shallow shelf...with a short shaft, you could be in some major trouble.
If it were up to me, I would get a shaft length that matches the length of your big outboard.
YOu could go with a kicker bracket that can lower the motor into the water further. The only set-back that I could see with a bracket is that you would possibly have some trouble controlling/turning the motor due to being lower and past the transom level....an extension handle or a bracket that you could get to match to the main motor would be a solution...so much of that is dependent on how you fish and what you prefer.
Steve