9.9 vs 15 kicker 25 foot pursuit

[Polarbill1999]

I am getting ready to add a kicker to the recently new to me pursuit 2460 (stern drive). Boat weighs about 5k dry. Leaning towards a t9.9 yami but recently an almost new 15 hp 2021 merc pro kicker efi came up for Sale. This has me thinking a 9.9 might not be enough for the boat. Is a high thrust 9.9 enough for my boat?

Also, I will need to get some sort of electric steering or kicker AP. Anybody have experience with an electric steering setup (Panther or tailfin) vs a garmin reactor kicker AP. The former are just remote steering options while the Garmin is an actual AP and throttle control. The reactor is 2.5-3x the price.

 

[Genie Aye]

Overkill on his 27 northriver runs a 9.9 hi thrust. I also run the 9.9 hi thrust on my 228 grady. If you are looking for 1 to 2 mph more top speed, then the 15 IMHO.

 

[Captain Decent]

The 9.9 is definitely enough. If you ran into a better deal on a 15 though might as well go with that.

 

[fishing fanatic]

All about traction!!! 9.9 is the sane

 

[Polarbill1999]

Thanks guys. I appreciate your thoughts/advice.

 

[So Cal]

I am getting ready to add a kicker to the recently new to me pursuit 2460 (stern drive). Boat weighs about 5k dry. Leaning towards a t9.9 yami but recently an almost new 15 hp 2021 merc pro kicker efi came up for Sale. This has me thinking a 9.9 might not be enough for the boat. Is a high thrust 9.9 enough for my boat?

Also, I will need to get some sort of electric steering or kicker AP. Anybody have experience with an electric steering setup (Panther or tailfin) vs a garmin reactor kicker AP. The former are just remote steering options while the Garmin is an actual AP and throttle control. The reactor is 2.5-3x the price.

I run a 9.9 on my Pursuit with no issues.

 

[punted coho]

I removed a 15 for a 9.9 high thrust on a heavier boat than that and I’m happy with it.

 

[The Peddler]

I have no complaints with a 9.9HT on my 24-ft SeaSport.

 

[Polarbill1999]

Thanks again yall. Anybody have experience with a remote control steering for a kicker vs kicker auto pilot?

 

[Tish]

Also, I will need to get some sort of electric steering or kicker AP. Anybody have experience with an electric steering setup (Panther or tailfin) vs a garmin reactor kicker AP. The former are just remote steering options while the Garmin is an actual AP and throttle control. The reactor is 2.5-3x the price.

I have no experience with Garmin Reactor kicker AP specifically (I have Raymarine X30 in my boat and troll with the mains), but I will say that for me trolling with the AP is one of those "how did I ever live without this" things. I fish solo a lot and love being able to set/check gear or fight a fish without worrying about my boat heading off in some random direction. Before I had AP I often ended up way off course when I pulled up the downrigger on one side or put all of my weight into a rear corner of the boat, that was a major PITA especially when in close proximity to other boats... I have lost more than a few fish while trying to simultaneously fight the fish and steer the boat. Even when I am trolling and sitting at the helm I prefer to make turns with the AP, better and smoother than I can steer which results in fewer gear tangles etc.

 

[mrfish11]

T9.9 high thrust is what you want.

 

[punted coho]

Thanks again yall. Anybody have experience with a remote control steering for a kicker vs kicker auto pilot?

I have an older model panther T-5 on my smaller boat- 19’ sled. It works alright, broken a couple parts on it and don’t use it too often. I might swap it onto the bigger boat since it has a cable steering setup currently. I’ve driven a few different panther setups on other boats too. The newer remotes with throttle control are nice. If I were to do another one I would get the corded remote not wireless. I don’t have any experience with the reactor but real auto pilot setups are the shit. Yamaha t-9.9 high thrust on both boats.

 

[sgwill122]

Do you have cable or hydraulic steering? If hydraulic why not connect the kicker to the main and get AP for both or is that not an option?

9.9 is plenty of kicker for your boat unless your looking for more amps assuming the 15hp has a bigger alternator. My 9.9 cannot keep up with running my bait tank, AP, heater and down riggers while trolling all day.

 

[Polarbill1999]

Do you have cable or hydraulic steering? If hydraulic why not connect the kicker to the main and get AP for both or is that not an option?

9.9 is plenty of kicker for your boat unless your looking for more amps assuming the 15hp has a bigger alternator. My 9.9 cannot keep up with running my bait tank, AP, heater and down riggers while trolling all day.

I have an i/o. If I had an outboard I would do exactly what you mention. I actually have hydraulic steering on the outdrive and a gwrmin AP but I don't have a great way to tie the outdrive to the kicker and I can't stand the ezsteer on my dad's arima.

Sounds like t9.9 is the choice. I know I should choose that. Not sure why I don't just do it

 

[Polarbill1999]

Thanks all. I ended finding the tailfin remote steering thing on Amazon for 240 bucks off. While I really want the reactor and AP sounds awesome, I couldn't justify paying 3x. Since it sounds like most haven't used or heard of it I will make sure and do a writeup and share my review of it.

For kicker I am going to just do the smart thing and buy a t9.9.

 

[Phish'n Phool]

I’ve had 9.9HT kickers on a Pursuit 315 and Grady 30. Worked fine on much heavier boats than yours except for fast moving current days. You should be good with a 9.9. also used to run a TR-1 and Garmin Reactor 40 on the same boats. Reactor is pretty sweet. Not perfect but a great AP option with some mods. Shoot me a dm if you have question

 

[Polarbill1999]

Anybody have an opinion on a high thrust 9.9 Honda as opposed to a yamaha? Found a pretty good deal on a 2 year old, barely used 9.9 Honda. Would save me about 1200 bucks between the pric ebeing less and avoiding tax.

 

[sgwill122]

I have had both and liked both, for saving that much I would go Honda.

 

[Seahusky]

When I got my 2022 Hewescraft Pacific Cruiser 240, I put a T25 yamaha on it. Best decision ever. Has great top and low thrust, EFI, 16 amp output.
At idle and in forward, I can get the speed down to under 2 mph, perfect for kings. At WOT, it gets me 8-10 mph. It's a great balance.
Westside marine in Port Townsend got me a great deal on it so it was a no brainer.

 

[FVSerenity]

I have an i/o. If I had an outboard I would do exactly what you mention. I actually have hydraulic steering on the outdrive and a gwrmin AP but I don't have a great way to tie the outdrive to the kicker and I can't stand the ezsteer on my dad's arima.

Sounds like t9.9 is the choice. I know I should choose that. Not sure why I don't just do it

I wonder how using the kicker for propulsion and let the autopilot drive the main like a rudder works? (Main off and in neutral)

 

[paveingnomo]

When I got my 2022 Hewescraft Pacific Cruiser 240, I put a T25 yamaha on it. Best decision ever. Has great top and low thrust, EFI, 16 amp output.
At idle and in forward, I can get the speed down to under 2 mph, perfect for kings. At WOT, it gets me 8-10 mph. It's a great balance.
Westside marine in Port Townsend got me a great deal on it so it was a no brainer.

Second that , 25 horse Yamaha on 24OS north river great for back up and trolled for Tuna with it enough juice to run everything with no voltage drop slow enough for salmon

 

[Tish]

I wonder how using the kicker for propulsion and let the autopilot drive the main like a rudder works? (Main off and in neutral)

I've tried that approach albeit with no AP at all (kicker locked straight ahead, all steering done from the wheel by using the main as a rudder) and it worked pretty well as long as conditions were calm-ish but was lacking when any wind or waves kicked up. Boat where I tried this approach was a 17 foot whaler with a deep V hull and with any decent wind (>7kn) I would need to help steer with the kicker when turning against the wind and waves and it was harder to keep the boat straight. Could be a totally different story for a different hull or running twins (so more rudder surface) etc.

BTW +1 to comments above about paying attention not only to the HP of the kicker but also the amps, if you are out there running your fish finder/chart plotter, radar, VHF, auto pilot, live well, a couple of high performance downriggers or a pot puller or tanacom or whatever... that stuff adds up quick. And don't overlook the fact that in an emergency you can start your kicker by hand and use that to charge up your batteries if you ever find yourself unable to start the mains from dead battery, that is a nice safety margin if you ever need it.

 

[Polarbill1999]

I wonder how using the kicker for propulsion and let the autopilot drive the main like a rudder works? (Main off and in neutral)

I thought about this. From searching the interwebs it sounds like it work OK in the right conditions. I would think it would work in calm conditions in wide open areas where you don't need to be maneuverable.

I wonder if the pump on the stern drive AP would consume more battery power then the tailfin I bought?

 

[GregE]

I wonder how using the kicker for propulsion and let the autopilot drive the main like a rudder works? (Main off and in neutral)

I have the Garmin 40 on the Honda 225. It will rudder steer with the kicker fixed-
If light crosswinds.
Our boat has a left side helm for the kicker which makes it easy to make large adjustments

 

[Polarbill1999]

Ended up with the Honda. I couldn't pass up the deal for 2200 and avoiding tax. The motor looks almost unused and has 3.5 years left of warranty. One other thing that was interesting is that from the mount/bracket to the cav plate on the Honda is almost 28". On the yamaha it was only 25". I think it has to do with the larger prop on the yamaha. Either way 25"is about the minimum I needed based on the kicker mount I am installing. The Honda gives me a little more room to move the kicker towards the centerline of the boat which I like.

It should work out great on my boat and saving 1100 over the yamaha t9.9 with less warranty is a nice.

Thanks all.