5 Tips for Choosing the Best Kicker Outboard Motor
Most new boaters learn about new gears and pieces of equipment from their peers. It is usual for them to follow the trend even without knowing its uses.
Before jumping in and purchasing a kicker or auxiliary motors, we recommend you assess your boat and make a list of your preferences and usages.
Alberni Power and Marine is a renowned fishing boat and outboard motor dealer in BC, Canada. We tend to sell oodles of kicker boat motors in and around Vancouver Island. Read on to understand why a kicker is a perfect sidekick for your boat.
1. Region of boating
The water body you are planning to use plays an essential role in deciding on a kicker motor. Considering the amount of debris that could accumulate over time, having a backup motor comes in handy if you run into engine trouble while on board.
Most fishing boat dealers offer boats with mounting brackets for the kicker. Choose your model in line with your boat’s specifications.
2. Fishing Boats
A kicker on a fishing boat can work to your advantage, primarily if you hunt for trout or Salmon. BC Canada offers many varieties from Rainbow trouts, Kokanee, Lake trout, Dolly Vardens, to Salmon, and hence slow trolling is preferred for a substantial catch. New boats are often equipped with high-powered engines in which low is not low enough or burn too much fuel.
With the help of a kicker motor, you can go as low as 1MPH without a hitch, shouldering the burden of the primary engine efficiently.
3. Cost-Effective
Kicker motors offer a good gas-to-time ratio and can help on reducing the hours on your main engine, which helps with the resale value of the boat.
It also assists in maintaining the main engine with minimal wear and tear for a longer run time, thereby reducing engine maintenance costs.
Unlike trolling motors which require spare batteries for backup, kicker motors aid in downsizing that added weight to the boat.
5. Features
The Auxillary motors are updating with every season. Hence, it is crucial to pick and choose the best from the wide variety of options. Fuel injection, handle-mounted control and power tilt are some of the highly recommended features for boaters looking for a secure and fun day out.
6. Models
Owing to its importance, most outboard brands like Mercury, Yamaha and Suzuki offer smaller horsepower engines as kicker motors.
While the Yamaha T9.9 has better steering capacity and is excellent for bigger boats during trolling, Suzuki DF9.9 offers power tilt and Electronic Fuel Injection.
We have the Mercury ProKicker FourStroke Outboard Series, which offers you the performance, power and convenience required for small & even larger boats. To take an example, the 9.9ELPT ProKicker FourStroke has a Command Thrust Gear Case, Electronic Fuel Injection, a Power Tilt, and so many other features that give you fast, efficient, and effortless operation in any weather condition.
For outboard Motor dealers in BC or news on the latest and newest models, check out your favourite manufacturer’s website or attend the virtual boat shows.
Conclusion
September to November is the ideal time for catching migrating wild salmons on the coastlines of British Columbia, Canada. And sprucing up your boats in time for the season is one way to ensure profit.
While buying a kicker motor is a no-brainer, there are some additional facts that you have to go over before signing the deal.
The cost for the auxiliary motor is high, and sometimes the added weight of the secondary engine can create problems for the boat if not installed correctly. Do understand that service costs and repair works might be present along the way and calculate the return on investment to assess whether it is the right choice for you.
For more queries, visit Alberni Power and Marine, one of the most experienced boat traders in BC, Canada.