Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 52
by Ross Robertson
photos by the author
A kicker engine is a purchase that covers several different
angles for most boat owners. For some, it's a means to get
their boat to troll slower, with the added benefit of less fuel
burned and reduced engine hours on the main engine. For
others, it's the peace of mind as a way to get home in the
event of main engine failure. Regardless of the reason you
want a kicker or auxiliary engine, picking out the best one
for your boat can be difficult. Here are a few options that
should be considered before making a purchase.
because these are the first size engines that manufacturers
offer in a two-cylinder design. Two-cylinder engines run
much smoother and are much better suited for running
at the low revolutions per minute (rpm) or idle speeds
over long periods of time that kickers typically operate.
Larger boats may benefit from the increased displacement
of a 15-horsepower engine. Engines much larger than 15horsepower typically become too much weight for most
boat transoms or brackets to handle.
Horsepower
Shaft length
The size of the engine is the first thing to consider. The
larger the boat, the larger the engine, but keep in mind
that no matter the horsepower on larger boats you will
only obtain X speed before the boat wants to get on plane
and will not push the boat any faster. Most boats less than
22 feet perform best with a 8- or 9.9-horsepower engine,
52
This is a critical choice in the decision process. Get a shaft
that is too short, and it will frequently be out of the water,
causing a loss in control. Over time, a shaft that is too short
can cause damage to the engine. Most boats perform best
with a 20-inch or higher transom, even if the main engine
runs an XL or 25-inch shaft. This is due to the kicker being
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * November/December 2013
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013
Straight Talk
Contents
Swinging Streamers for Steelhead
Trout Fishing Overlooked Stretches of Water
Your Fishing Field Guide
Tying the Egg Sucking Leech
A Dozen Money-Saving Tips for Anglers
Lake Erie Steelhead: A Hatchery Success Story
Flowing or Frozen: Top Cold-Season Trout Locations in the East
Last-Chance Smallmouth Bass
Hard Metal for Cold Water
Warm Water in the Winter Fishing Pennsylvania’s Warm Water Discharges
Erie Steelhead Success
Boating Terms from A to Z
Fishing Reminiscences
Reflecting on the Water
Nasty Days for a Nasty Fish
Vertical Presentations for Deep-Water Perch
Notes from the Stream
Picking Out the Perfect Kicker Engine
Chessie
My Experience at Pennsylvania Brookies Field School
Currents
Angler’s Notebook
Fishin’ from the Kitchen
2014 Seasons, Sizes and Creel Limits
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - Cover2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - Straight Talk
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 4
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - Swinging Streamers for Steelhead
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 7
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 8
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 9
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - Trout Fishing Overlooked Stretches of Water
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 11
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - Your Fishing Field Guide
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 13
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - Tying the Egg Sucking Leech
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - A Dozen Money-Saving Tips for Anglers
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 16
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 17
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - Lake Erie Steelhead: A Hatchery Success Story
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 19
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 20
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - Flowing or Frozen: Top Cold-Season Trout Locations in the East
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 22
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 23
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 24
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - Last-Chance Smallmouth Bass
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 26
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 27
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - Hard Metal for Cold Water
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 29
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 30
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 31
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - Warm Water in the Winter Fishing Pennsylvania’s Warm Water Discharges
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 33
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - Erie Steelhead Success
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 35
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - Boating Terms from A to Z
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 37
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - Fishing Reminiscences
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 39
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 40
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 41
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - Reflecting on the Water
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - Nasty Days for a Nasty Fish
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 44
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 45
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - Vertical Presentations for Deep-Water Perch
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 47
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 48
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 49
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - Notes from the Stream
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 51
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - Picking Out the Perfect Kicker Engine
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 53
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - Chessie
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 55
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - My Experience at Pennsylvania Brookies Field School
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - Currents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 58
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 59
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 60
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 61
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - Fishin’ from the Kitchen
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 63
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - 2014 Seasons, Sizes and Creel Limits
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2013 - Cover4
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