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Thoughts on a new gas trolling motor


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I've had electric, and because this motor is going to be partially back up power if the main motor goes down (it's getting old...) I want to hang a new gas kicker on the back so I know it will have the power to get me home at the end of a long day. That being said, it's main purpose will be as a troller...the 25 2 stroke just won't purr like it once did. I've done some reading, and it comes down to these choices;

All 4 strokes;

A small I cylinder...2.5, 4 or 6 hp.  Light, but vibration of the single cylinder motors comes up often in my reading. 

A 2 cylinder... smoother, but 8 hp is the smallest I'm seeing. Heavier...and will it troll as slow as the little 4 hp?

Both of those choices are going to be carbed motors...all that's available.

last choice...a 9.9 2cylinder with EFI. Suzuki is the only one making EFI in less than 25 hp...last year a 15, this year an added 9.9

is it worth the extra $$ for EFI? and will a 9.9 troll as slow as the 4?

 

Boat is an empty (bench seats) 16 ft lund fishing boat, btw

 

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I bought a 5hp Honda last year as a kicker on my big boat and as a replacement for my old 5.5hp Johnson for my Jon boat.  Disappointed with the vibration/noise of the single cylinder (as you have heard), to the point where I kept my old Johnson on my small boat.  The 9.9 Suzuki sounds like what I should have bought.

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based on experience with my big suzuki, EFI is worth it.  

 

But a kicker on a 16 foot bare lund seems like overkill.   What is the big motor?   And what sort of lake are you using it on.  ?   

 

I would be tempted to just get a good 24v. electric and let it go at that.   Unless you go out in the middle of mille lacs or lotw. 

 

 

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you're close delcecchi; Red lake, and sometimes the bite can be miles away. My 25 hp is getting old, and it also doesn't troll down that well with a light 16 foot boat. As I said, I don't want to troll all day with an electric, run it low on juice, then perhaps need it to get me home from miles away in case of an engine issue.

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Maybe the 8hp merc?  Or of course, the Suzuki that was already mentioned.

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can a new 25hp troll slow enough and be dependable enough for you ? I know it is a lot more $ right now but if you are looking at replacing the old 25hp down the road  anyway , a 9.9hp kicker price would make a substantial down pmt . Just another angle to view  the problem with ,for what it is worth !

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I'd say a 25 isn't going to troll slow enough. A 15hp might be a better tool for the job.

 

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I did think about just biting the bullet and getting a new 25 4 stroke. But the 1990 25 yammy is still pretty solid and selling my wife on a new 25 isn't gonna be easy. Then theres the ? of whether it would troll slow enough...

Decisions, decisions... thanks for the opinions guys.

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