Kicker Motor Installation - Help

[MickeyKnox]

Hey guys/gals,

I have 19ft Legend Excalibur with a 115hp Merc. I want to install a kicker motor (i have a 9.9 Merc and a 5hp Evinrude) and can easily pick up a spring loaded transom mount, but not entirely sure how best to connect both engines together and also how to properly connect gas line to kicker motor (from the boat's internal gas tank). The Easy Steer is outrageously expensive and im hoping there is an alternative.

If anyone has a similar boat and has done this procedure and can provide suggetsions, im very interested. Thanks for any help.

[dutchhunter]

I canot give you to much advise but we had a 15 hp pro kicker put on are boat last year and first thy splised the gas line from the big motor to the small motor and this just did not work it has to come right from the tank to both motors with separate lines .we just have a bar from th big motor to the kicker for stearing and both run off there own key and gear shifter .Dutch

[Marker]

You can splice to the main tank but need to install marine grade check valves to prevent vacuuming fuel from the other motor. The way I did mine was to use a second portable fuel tank for the kicker which is plumbed directly and provides a second source of fuel in case you get water or other contamination in the main tank. You can also take the portable tank out for fuelling at a gas station to avoid paying marina fuel prices.

For the steering, there are lots of kits available on the internet to buy, or copy if you are handy.

[MickeyKnox]

Im trying to figure out an inexpensive way to have a kicker that can be easily attached or removed yet still be controlled from the helm. I dont mind having to pull start it at the back but would like to be able to steer and raise it with the main engine. And remove if not required if i choose to pleasure boat around.

[Marker]

The cheapest method I have seen is to take two universal tie rod ends, attach them to length of steel bar and use big metal rad hose clamps to attach a metal pin to secure the tie rod ends to each motor. I pulled this off the internet to show you what I mean:

Attachment 25824

[Utah]

The cheapest method I have seen is to take two universal tie rod ends, attach them to length of steel bar and use big metal rad hose clamps to attach a metal pin to secure the tie rod ends to each motor. I pulled this off the internet to show you what I mean:

Attachment 25824

That's the same system I have used for years, works great. I never remove the bar between them, as it doesn't seem to affect performance or my tilt operation

[Utah]

[MickeyKnox]

Utah, is that your boat? That's exactly what im looking to do but dont want to pay $250 for an Easy Steer system. Was hoping some one has found an inexpensive alternative (without having to go to a marina mechanic) that would perform similar to the ES system.

[darren123]

Do you also have a bow mount electric? If so use that for steering, lock kicker in straight and use electric. I also have a easy steer I found on kijiji but electric with remote key fob is way better. Can walk around boat set lines etc...

You don't need to use much juice to steer with electric either, I use it in lake O as well

[Sinker]

IF your kicker is on a kicker mount and not attached at the same height as the main motor on the transom, the EZ steer is the way to go. They do work great. Attaching the two is easy with a homemade rig if they are both mounted on the transom, but if on a kicker bracket, when deploying andl lifting the kicker back up, you either have to detach your home made rigging, or have it so it ratchets like the EZ steer. Its worth the money IMO. It works great.

S.