Skeeter kicker question

[Willy]

I own a Skeeter 1775 WT with a 150 Yamaha on it. I am looking to add a 8hp Yamaha kicker- but I am just not sure which one to get. I want to get the tiller- but I am concerned about how the boat will ride with the kicker mounted on the driver side? Is this going to be too much weight on the driver side?(102lb+) Anyone have this set up? Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks...

[Willy]

TTT

[jwhite58502]

I have a friend with the same set up. He put his t-8 on the passenger side. He also has a tiller but uses a connector bar so once he gets the kicker at speed he wants and locked in he steers with the conventional motor. He was also very concerned with the weight on the drivers side as he is a big guy so we mounted it on the passenger side. Hope this helps.

[Dutchman]

Willy, I don't know how the boat will sit with the kicker on the drivers side, but I can tell you operating a tiller kicker from that side is easier. This is due to the way the tiller arm protrudes from the motor. If you where to mount it on the opposite side the tiller control arm would be out of the boat in a sharp left turn. There's several guys that run this rig that visit this site so I'll let them tell you how the boat reacts to this set up.


" Fishing is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope "

[Willy]

Thanks for the responses guys... I think I am going to mount it on the drivers side- strictly thinking about ease of use. I certainly hope the boat rides okay once on plane? Anybody else?

[fishhunter]

Dont bolt it down until you water test it skeeters kinda have a leaning problem anyway(no offense but they had troubles in the 1850's)

[Pitts]

Willy I have a 1775 dc wt Skeeter and I have the 9.9 yammy mounted on the passenger side with a steering link to the 150 V-max.
This setup works great the part about the handle being outside the boat on a right hand turn is correct. I have to flip the handle up or it hits the side of the splash well when I steer hard right with the console steering.
My 9.9 is on a panther lift and the 150 is on a fixed 8" jack plate which sets them both back about the same distance.
I have thought about getting a speed control for the kicker because it is nice to be able to dial it in perfect but I am just an amature and I do get it right most of the time anyway :)

I have a 98 model year but they have changed little since then.
If your charger is mounted on the floor by the drivers feet move it to a verticle position or the base will rust from the carpet being wet all the time and it is hard to clean around. I moved it to the kick plate and then braced the kickplate with some pipe strap to the steering rack bracket on the top.
I also cut the top corner off of the kick plates on both sides on the outside so that I could store 8' rods in the top lockers. The tips of the rods will now slide by the front livewell and up to the front compartment if need be.

Hope this helps.




Pitts