Does anyone have good tips or advice on setting up a kicker motor, specifically for a 1997 18' Lund Alasan?  I want to put on a 6-8 HP 4-stroke, and was curious:
1) Has anyone measured their top speed on a similar boat, with the kicker, in various weather conditions? (I will be trolling inshore on Superior and Michigan).
2) Have people clamped directly to the transom, or installed a jack plate?  Why or why not?
3) How do people feel about the electric start option on a kicker? For safety, this was recommended, since if you wear down your starter battery while trolling and can't fire up the main, you can run the kicker to recharge the starting battery.       

Thanks

I would talk to Lund about that to make sure it's done right. The plate seems the wtg.

Electric would be the best no dought.

h2o

Hey Noah, I guess everything would really depend on what the kicker will be used for primarily. Trolling? Emergency power? Just to look cool?

With a plate setup you generally have an option to attach the existing outboard to the kicker, and install steering linkage.  Perfect for emergency power but when it comes to trolling you will have a hard time turning the motor due to the linkage.

If mounted independently it is much easier to troll off the back of the boat because you can steer.

Option two is attaching it to the swim platform with a special bracket.  Since a swim platfor is a little higher if you have one, a shirt shaft motor wont work.  I also never seen steering linkage that would reach over that far. 

Installing directly on the transom is likely to interfear with your existing outboard or the I/O.  jack plate can be adjusted by far better than any other options.  Thats my 2 cents. Unfortunately I couldnt tell you anything particular to your boat.  If you can take a picture of the rear and also your motor, I am sure we could point you in the right direction.

Some boats come with a step down transom that allows for clamping directly to the transom. Perhaps post a picture of your transom. If you use your boat for family fun, ( skiing or tubing) a plate will interfere with a tow rope. You can also connect the fuel supply to the main tank thus avoiding a seperate tank that would be cumbersome and in the way. Another option to a kicker is small drift socks tied to the front cleats on each side of the boat. Slows down the trolling speed nicely.

You know noah, i just remembered something. The cheapest way to control your trolling without having to bother with a kicker or drift sox hanging out is this:

Thanks for the advice so far:  The kicker would be used primarily for trolling, and then for emergency power at hull speed as an afterthought.  I am not too into the drift socks or trolling buddy's, the main engine is an older 2 stroke and I do not want to put the hours on it or breathe 2 cycle exhaust.  Unfortunately I cannot get to the boat now as I am travelling for work, but the transom is very simple, no swim ladder, but space to clamp an outboard on.  Perhaps I will post back in a couple of weeks when back home.

Thanks, Noah

Kicker plate with removable linkage to the main motor sounds like the definate way to go in that case. It'll cost ya a couplke of hundred but it will be a very functional setup.

Talk to the Lund dealer. Don't guess or take a chance. The conversation is free.

h2o