kicker motors

[sidekick]

On the Mercury outboard web page they talk about a new lighter weight 9.9 hp 4 stroke. Has anyone seen one yet? What's the price?
Should I wait to see whats up with this motor or should I be looking at the high thrust Yamaha 8 hp?

[Sparky]

I have the Yamaha 9.9 HT motor and it's great! I know a couple of guys with the 8HT and it works well for them. If I was buying one now, I'd buy the 8 HT. The Merc. may be a great engine but, I'd wait a while and see how it works out. I hope it's a good engine. I'm getting tired of Yam. making the only game in town when it comes to moving big heavy boats with a kicker. My Yam. 9.9 HT pushes my 27' Amberjack with no problem. I have a TR1 Gold hooked to it and it's like cheating! I would have rather had black but, they didn't have anything comparable when I bought this motor in '98.

[Shep]

You are going to want to wait for the new Merc. This motor was desgined from the ground up as a kicker. LOTS of features! It will set the standard. Should be out with the 2005's in June/July.

Tight Lines All,

Shep

[Ryan H]

I was looking at this page at Mercury's site. It doesn't look like it has an electric start on it, and that it is still a pull start. I also think it has electric trim and tilt, but I wasn't completeley sure. It looks like it only tilts to three positions.

If the Mercury kicker doesn't have the electric start how is it going to set the standard.

It states that it is lighter but from reading the fine print it looks like mercury weighs it with the dry weight no oil, and without the prop. Yamaha's weight would appear to include the prop but I'm not sure about the oil. I would suspect the weight is within ten lbs of each other when all is said and done.

If you know more specifics about the motor and why you think it's going to set the standard above the T8 I'd like to hear about it. Thanks!

Ryan H

[Sparky]

If they don't at least match the features of the T8, they won't be in the game.