what size kicker for my boat?

[Evinrude man]

Well I went to the dealer to look at the Lund Fury, and I found out that the dealer had some smokercraft tracers in stock so I ended up bringing home a smokercraft tracer 162. I am choosing a kicker motor to go with it. My main power is a Honda bf50 4 stroke I am trying to decide between a Honda bf5 and a Honda bf8. I want to be able to troll down slow enough to fish for trout, but want to have enough power if anything should happen to my main motor. I like to bf8 as it is smoother running than the bf5, but I'm not sure if the bf8 is too big for my boat. The boat is 16' 6" in length and weighs 925lbs (no motor or gear). Please let me know which one would better suite my needs. Thanks WC members.

[Fish4ever]

I trolled for years with a easy troll plate on my main motor. Just got a kicker this year on my 1875 Pro V. Love it. I went with a 9.9 yamaha. I can get under 1mph easy. I say go with bigger one. Especially if your concern, also is to have back up power for the boat. Good luck and have fun with new boat.

[DnD]

Originally Posted by Evinrude man

Well I went to the dealer to look at the Lund Fury, and I found out that the dealer had some smokercraft tracers in stock so I ended up bringing home a smokercraft tracer 162. I am choosing a kicker motor to go with it. My main power is a Honda bf50 4 stroke I am trying to decide between a Honda bf5 and a Honda bf8. I want to be able to troll down slow enough to fish for trout, but want to have enough power if anything should happen to my main motor. I like to bf8 as it is smoother running than the bf5, but I'm not sure if the bf8 is too big for my boat. The boat is 16' 6" in length and weighs 925lbs (no motor or gear). Please let me know which one would better suite my needs. Thanks WC members.

Have you looked into the EFI Suzuki's?

Yes, I said EFI. The only manufacturer out there to provide small kicker Fuel Injected engines. NO CARBS!!!

I got a 15HP for my Starweld 1800DC and I love it.

[beeman]

I tried on larger superhawk 1600 5hp 2stroke and she fly's yours would move even faster. Consider saving your money go Ipilot motor or smaller kicker for weight savings. 4hp would move it

[REW]

One thing to consider is battery charging.
Check to be sure, but I had thought that the 5 hp motor did not have an alternator, but that the 8 hp did have an alternator.

If you do a lot of trolling, and especially at night, it is nice to have a charger to keep charging the battery as you fish.

http://marine.honda.com/outboards/models/portable

Yes, as the site points out, no charging on the 5 hp, but charging on the 8hp and above.
Be safe

[grasshopper armory]

the 6 hp tohatsu has an alternator----and does save money if that is an issue.

[Phil T]

What is your boat's width at the transom.
My old Alumacraft has always carried a 90HP main engine that weighed around 400#, and a kicker that weighed about 100# on an 86" wide transom. I did move a battery or two forward to help trim the boat, and in choppy water I'll run with the big front livewell partially full.

[Evinrude man]

REW the honda bf5 has a optional 3 amp alternator and the bf8 has a standard 6amp alternator on the manual start and a 12amp on the electric start. And the transom width is 79 inches.

[pale ryder]

Try trolling with the 50 first, I doubt you need a Kicker.

[northernbite]

Originally Posted by Evinrude man

Well I went to the dealer to look at the Lund Fury, and I found out that the dealer had some smokercraft tracers in stock so I ended up bringing home a smokercraft tracer 162. I am choosing a kicker motor to go with it. My main power is a Honda bf50 4 stroke I am trying to decide between a Honda bf5 and a Honda bf8. I want to be able to troll down slow enough to fish for trout, but want to have enough power if anything should happen to my main motor. I like to bf8 as it is smoother running than the bf5, but I'm not sure if the bf8 is too big for my boat. The boat is 16' 6" in length and weighs 925lbs (no motor or gear). Please let me know which one would better suite my needs. Thanks WC members.

Go with a bf8 to match your motor and have charging, what the heck you have a new boat and new kicker. My friend has this set up with the 50 Honda and the 8 nice rig.

Paul