Kicker motors?

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Thanks, hope you hooked into some. The 620fs looks like a great boat . I looked at alot of them online, even had a dealer in Colorado measure the windshield and motor height before eliminating it from my dream boat list .Happy with my boat though especially once I get a Kicker dialed in.I imagine you have full controls at the helm for your Kicker as alot of those boats come prerigged that way.
 
I have a Yamaha 9.9 with the garmin 40 kicker autopilot on my 21 ft Thunder Jet. I love it, the motor will push the boat from 1.1 mph to 3.5 mpg. The autopilot is great as I can set up ”s” or box patterns with it. If you do not go the Garmin route make sure that you get on with a tiller in case of main engine issues. Before the Garmin I would use the i pilot to steer with the kicker lock in place. The Garmin allows for both speed and direction control. I would also suggest that you make sure and get an electric start with an alternator.
 
I have a Yamaha 9.9 with the garmin 40 kicker autopilot on my 21 ft Thunder Jet. I love it, the motor will push the boat from 1.1 mph to 3.5 mpg. The autopilot is great as I can set up ”s” or box patterns with it. If you do not go the Garmin route make sure that you get on with a tiller in case of main engine issues. Before the Garmin I would use the i pilot to steer with the kicker lock in place. The Garmin allows for both speed and direction control. I would also suggest that you make sure and get an electric start with an alternator.
I haven't heard of the Garmin autopilot, thanks for the tip. I'll have to research it. Steering,throttle and shifting are the things I need to iron out. I like the idea of using the I pilot to steer and was planning to tie it to the big motor to keep the motors parallel to be able to steer from the helm. I don't have room for shifting and throttle control at the helm, so I'm looking towards an electric start tiller model.
 
Wish my I pilot was an Ulterra as well. Lifting that 36 volt motor gets heavy especially in rough water. When using the I pilot to steer do you have to have it powered on or just use as a front Rutter?
I am a little late chiming in, sorry I just saw it. Greyhackle convinced me I needed the 36 volt and the auto stow/deploy and am I glad I listened to him! If the EM motor is on I can cruise in close to a boil and be grabbing my pole while the motor is deploying, great feature for me. If it is off I just reach up and turn it on and then grab my pole! I am still learning all the features but if I am going to be trolling for any amount of time I start my 9.9 and steer with the ulterra and usually a # 2 or 2 1/2 speed setting is enough, in wind I may have to go up a bit but not usually. I set both outboards straight and leave them there. I am a bit spoiled as I put a panther remote on my kicker. It is remote throttle and steering if you want to steer the kicker but most of the time I fish like greyhackle. I control speed with my kicker with the remote and steer with my electric, with the remote or i-Pilot, it makes life sooo easy. At Powell I have found myself trolling a lot of the time with my electric TM, it’s easy to control, handles the boat better and with the on board charger my batteries charge when I get up and go again with the big motor so life is good. Unbelievable how fishing has changed for me with all the new gadgets I have on this new boat! I have learned how to use a little more of the i-Pilot features and last trip I had it follow the contours automatically and I just fished and didn’t have to steer. That’s cool too. I agree with electric start with alternator it also keeps my batteries charged while fishing. Mine is a merc 9.9. There are all kinds of options out there, I was not aware of Garmin’s either, I would think they are comparable to i-Pilot features but not familiar with it.
 
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Thanks, I just installed the alternator charger for my 36vlt I pilot but haven't had a chance to test it out . I agree with you about all the advanced technology has really changed how I fish and spoiled me. I don't have the I link on my EM but with the Lakemaster chip I'm glued to the screen so I can remote steer and follow a certain contuor. If I can find fish trolling I've been known to do that for hrs. Is your Kicker a carburetor or efi motor? I am thinking that the efi motor will run more consistently at varying elevations.
 
I don’t think any of the kickers under 15 hp are efi. I know that Mercury and Yamahas are not, at least as of this time last year.
 
Actually Mercury,Suzuki and Tahatsu all have a 9.9hp this year and are all made in the Tahatsu factory in Japan .
I have a 2006 Nissan 9.8 made by Tohatsu same as mercury blew the lower leg out on my last trip putting a brand new leg on from Tohatsu for 650 I love this motor enough to justify the expense 👍 it’s a great motor ⛵
 
I need to correct my last post, Suzuki builds there own. It was Mercury, Evinrude and Nissan are rebranded Tohastu motors from 3 to 30hp.
 
I had a Nissan 4 stroke 5 hp a few years back. Same as above. Made by Tohatsu. Same as the 5 HP Mercury engine. But it didn’t matter. None of the local mercury dealers would touch it for service.

I wouldn’t buy a Nissan (or Tohatsu) again due to the limited service network.

@Meatwagon are you sure about your above statement that they build for Evinrude? I thought they were all in with the eTec technology? (Yes I know that they are now defunct).
 
I had a Nissan 4 stroke 5 hp a few years back. Same as above. Made by Tohatsu. Same as the 5 HP Mercury engine. But it didn’t matter. None of the local mercury dealers would touch it for service.

I wouldn’t buy a Nissan (or Tohatsu) again due to the limited service network.

@Meatwagon are you sure about your above statement that they build for Evinrude? I thought they were all in with the eTec technology? (Yes I know that they are now defunct).
The 15hp etec was there only in-house portable. There 4 strokes were Tohatsu since I think 2011.
 
I had a Nissan 4 stroke 5 hp a few years back. Same as above. Made by Tohatsu. Same as the 5 HP Mercury engine. But it didn’t matter. None of the local mercury dealers would touch it for service.

I wouldn’t buy a Nissan (or Tohatsu) again due to the limited service network.

@Meatwagon are you sure about your above statement that they build for Evinrude? I thought they were all in with the eTec technology? (Yes I know that they are now defunct).
the 4 stokes were johnson not eteck
 
I have a 8 HP high thrust Yamaha , wit a 3 Blade Power prop . On a 20 ' Lund . Use it at Powell , Blue Mesa and Flaming Gorge . 1.2 - 2.2 MPH . Very quiet and stealthy . Everything controlled from the Helm. Starts every time since 2004 . Happy fishing
 
The johnson 4 strokes where suzuki 4 stroke motors , suzuki small engines are made in Thailand. Tohatsu is nissan and are made in Japan.
Okay I got to much time on my hands.
 

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I found my motor and had it rigged on the boat today, only thing left is to tie it to the main engine with a quick release rod and to put it the water and get it broke in. Looking for a Powell trip in September 🤞 :)
Thanks for everyones input.
 
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