Is a 6 horse enough?
- Thread starter Matty4x4
- Start date
kingblazer84
Well-Known Member
i run a 5hp merc on my 17.5 and it performs well but in a strong tide and high wind siutation your prob going to need a 8 - 9.9hp outboard imo
ideal would be a long shaft as you can get it under the hull of the boat to push properly.
ideal would be a long shaft as you can get it under the hull of the boat to push properly.
Last edited by a moderator:
Clint r
Well-Known Member
Run a 6hp Yamaha long leg on my 17.5" Campion. More than enough motor to push us around in the wind and waves off Renfrew. Easy on fuel and a lot lighter than the 9.9 mercs I've run til now. Only drawback is I can't find controls for this particular model year. (1999)
Attachments
Last edited by a moderator:
Tightlines22
Well-Known Member
Kicker
You have it so try it first. I'm sure it is fine for trolling however a bit bigger and a long shaft will make you happier if you ever need to get you home from ten miles out.
You have it so try it first. I'm sure it is fine for trolling however a bit bigger and a long shaft will make you happier if you ever need to get you home from ten miles out.
fogged in
Well-Known Member
If your prop does not clear the bottom of your hull, it will not work worth a damn in reverse..pushing is ok
a 6 on your boat is not enough power to do anything but troll in calm seas
If my only choice was a 6 or a 15, I would go with the 15.
only guy I know with a Honda kicker, has had nothing but problems starting it and getting it to run smoothly consistently.
That's my 2 bits worth.
Matty4x4
Active Member
That's exactly the problem with the honda. I can troll for hours and it runs perfect go back to the dock and the next time out it won't run for crap. Usually all it takes is a carb adjustment but I shouldn't have to do that Avery couple trips.
I tried the 6 once and on a calm lake it pushes my boat about a half mile an hour slower than the 10 wide open but I've had my long shaft come out of the water trolling in some rough weather.
I tried the 6 once and on a calm lake it pushes my boat about a half mile an hour slower than the 10 wide open but I've had my long shaft come out of the water trolling in some rough weather.
SpringVelocity
Crew Member
I ran a smaller one down in sooke and hated it honestly, and my DE was only 16 feet at the time. For a 17ft and up 8hp minimum... do not get a short shaft. Just remember the day your motor quits you will be needing a little extra. Its OK to troll around but think about being under no power with current. Get most hp you can put on... Also think resale. Lots of guys wont by the 6hp.. They will be looking for 9.9 and the 8's. 15hp is the ideal motor but that would be for a bigger boat...
That's just an opinion..
Keep in mind a 17 foot hourston is a fairly heavy boat with deep v...You will want the extra hp.
That's just an opinion..
Keep in mind a 17 foot hourston is a fairly heavy boat with deep v...You will want the extra hp.
Last edited by a moderator:
It really depends where you fish. If you fish South VI and the Race Rocks/Sooke area and its super moon currents you really want a 9.9HT on that 17 or at least an 8ht. We get some nasty nasty current. Remember it is not just your fishing motor it is your back up emergency motor. There are times the outer Secretary rips are so fast that in my boat with a 9.9ht wide open you are still going backwards or at best side to side but not forward and you need to start up the main to get you forward a few hundred yards where the 9.9HT will hold its own - just, at near wide open. I have trolled through the inside Secretary gap when the current and rip has it resembling a boiling raging river and that's with moderate wind. Granted it is not that often you get those conditions. One of my buddies finds the 8 HT is sufficient on his 16 Double Eagle for South VI both for safety and fishing but that is a smaller lighter boat. One of my older fishing buddies who has passed away, had a light weight 15 hp two stroke on his 17 foot glass boat. That is not to say that some don't get away with smaller motors but more is better and safer as long as the boat can handle the weight. A bigger motor does not have to work as hard, will last longer and be less likely to fail when you need it most and have to push it hard.
Last edited by a moderator:
I had a 6hp Yam 2 stoke on a 25 foot Bayliner and it was ok. Would not want to try it if the wind came up but on a 17 footer you are fine. I just repowered my 26 footer with an 8 hp high thrust and never found myself wanting more power.
Corey_lax
Crew Member
I have a short leg johnson 6 HP on my 18'. It works fine for trolling. We run about 50-60% throttle on it while trolling. The short leg is a little bit of a pain. When its rolling, it goes under a bit occasionally but never any internal damage. I would definitely get a long leg 8HP or 9.9 next go around but the price was right for mine ($0).
I used my pops 8HP Merc 2 stroke on the weekend and it weighs 30# more than mine I think. Bit of a pain to haul around if you take it on and off. A 4 stoke will weight around 100#.
I used my pops 8HP Merc 2 stroke on the weekend and it weighs 30# more than mine I think. Bit of a pain to haul around if you take it on and off. A 4 stoke will weight around 100#.
nicnat
Well-Known Member
I put a new 6 hp 4 stroke long shaft merc on my 18' center console aluminum after much consideration. it has enough power for my needs. I mostly troll with my big motor (a new 115hp etec) as I fish the mouth of the fraser and cap a fair bit so my need was more for a back up safety feature. the weight diff was huge for me as my back ain't what it used to be and I don't leave the motor on the boat. if i was buying the kicker to troll I would definitely have gotten the 8 or 10 hp 4 stroke, way less vibration than the 6 hp singles bangers. i think yamaha has a 2 cylinder 6 hp but it weighs the same as the 8 pretty much.
