There are quite a few things that you have to manage to keep your trolling motor working perfectly.
Most people like to stick with the trolling motors in relatively calmer water conditions, while others rely on kicker motors to get through harsher conditions.
When you’re talking about one perfect system, you will have to first consider the local water conditions. Some regions complement a lighter weight trolling motor while others complement a robust outboard.
So, even the experts will struggle to recommend the right motor without knowing about the water.
Yes, you will have to go through the hassle of explaining your requirements.
There is no point in trying to guess the right system. Instead, you should engage the officials and have them help you out.
These professionals will surely take some time, but you might save yourself from a bad purchase.
So, you can choose either one of these options according to the water conditions in your region.
A lot of questions have recently been recorded regarding kicker motors for trolling. If you’re also interested in these motors for trolling then the following solutions should help.
Kicker Motors for Trolling
You can think of kicker motors as a middle child between outboard motors and trolling motors.
Even though the size of these motors is substantially larger than the outboard motors, these motors can’t be compared with full-sized outboard engines.
With that said, anglers can often be confused about whether or not they should rely on this motor for their fishing experience.
If you’re in a similar situation, you should start by inspecting the water condition and your fishing objectives.
In general, kicker motors are viable for trolling where the water conditions are a bit harsh, and you need more power from your unit.
So, if a standard trolling motor doesn’t bring enough push to your setup, the kicker motor is the perfect option for you.
With that said, you can easily modify the speed configurations on the kicker motor to perfectly match the ideal trolling speed.
These motors serve as the perfect product for anglers that can’t seem to get good power out of standard trolling motors.
Along with the water conditions, if you own a mid-sized boat then it will be impossible for a trolling motor to keep up with the requirements of your system.
You’ll need to purchase a bigger motor that can produce enough power to keep the boat moving in different water conditions.
This is why you will often notice antlers with bigger boats rely more on the use of kicker motors. So, if you believe that the standard trolling motor isn’t producing enough power, switching to a kicker motor is a good choice.
The only downside with the kicker motor is that you will notice a reduction in inefficiency. Yes, you will get more power from the system, but you’ll have to spend more on fuel and the efficiency will not be that great.
Sadly, you’re not left with many options when it comes to securing a robust response from the motor.
A bit of investment here will help you with years of performance. So, instead of only looking at the price tag, you should look at the value that is brought forward by this motor.
However, that is the price that has to be paid for a better motor that can keep your boat moving in harsher water conditions. So, if you don’t mind the added expense, the kicker motor is almost always better for trolling.
Using Bow Motor With Kicker Motor For Trolling
You can also rely on a combination of a trolling motor on the bow and a kicker motor on the transom to help you with better stability.
Now, it might not sound like a smart decision to the people that are short on budget, but it does bring real utility to the table.
All that you’re trying to do is making sure that the bow motor is helping you with the steering and the kicker motor is helping you push through the water.
This incredible setup will ensure that you don’t have to worry about losing control or missing out on any push.
Yes, you will have to spend more money to establish this setup. However, you’re not left with as many options, and going with the kicker motor combination is one of the best things that you can do.
This method is only suitable for smaller boats and rougher conditions. So, if you’re working with a bigger boat, we will suggest that you get yourself an outboard.
Using a mini engine is a good idea, and the robust structure or the bigger boat will complement the power from the kicker motor.
However, that is not the only reason why so many people use the kicker motor with their larger boats.
As mentioned before, the kicker motor is a middle child between the trolling motor and the outboard. However, that doesn’t mean that it lacks power when it comes to moving water.
You can rely on this motor as a backup or a secondary power source that will help you reduce the pressure on the main engine. When the outboard is not getting used up, the resale value of your system will maintain a decent point.
Here are more details on how you can go about reducing hours on the engine when using the kicker motor for trolling.
Reducing Hours On The Engine With Kicker Motor
Now, there is another aspect to using the kicker motor. While there is no debate that you can rely on this motor to help you with the basic trolling features, the main purchase decision relies on its utility as a secondary motor.
You will find that the majority of experts only bring the kicker motors as they help you reduce hours on the main engine.
When maneuvering through calmer regions on a heavier boat, you can switch between the main engine and the kicker motor.
Depending upon the model you’ve purchased, going with the kicker motor will keep the boat moving while putting no load on the main engine.
Moreover, the uptime is also better when you’re comparing the kicker motor with an outboard.
So, if you do get stuck in these errors and can’t seem to figure out how to exactly put less stress on the main engine, try using a kicker motor.
In this context, the kicker motor is more cost efficient, and will put no strain on your budget.
So, be sure to rely on this option and you will be more than happy in the long run. Yes, you’ll have to spend some cash on the purchase, but this expense will leave you much better in the long run.
The best thing about the reduced hours on the main engine is that you will be able to fetch a better resale price.
If you’ve been in the market for a bit of time, it is not that hard to understand that having a decent resale value opens up so many options.
So, investing into a kicker motor is one of the smartest decisions that you can make this week. All that you have to do is to set aside some cash and then invest that into a kicker motor.
From there, you can just cycle between the main engine and the kicker motor, and that should be enough to help you limit the hours on the main engine.
Hopefully, you’ll have a good idea on how to manage the cycling routine.
However, if you’re not that sure, we suggest that you get pointers from a local expert.
There is no point in guessing the right method on your own and you should never hesitate to ask for help. Yes, You should always try to reach out to other experts, and have them guide you through the optimization.
Lastly, you can also engage the official dealer or the customer support team for your respective brands. They will make sure that you avoid more hassle down the road.
To Conclude
The kicker motor is perfect for trolling when you’re using a mid-sized boat in harsher water conditions.
So, you can use this metric to figure out whether or not you need to rely on a more robust setup when going on your next trip.
If you occasionally get sucked in rougher waves or can’t seem to maintain the pace of your boat, going with the kicker motor is not a bad idea.
You will be perfectly sorted out with the kicker motor, and it will help you maneuver through even the roughest environments.
The standard trolling motor doesn’t have enough power to keep up with the power demands of a mid-sized boat, and you will be stuck in the water.
So, to overcome this issue, just use the kicker motor in your boat.
With that said, if you’re using a smaller boat and the water conditions are relatively calm, then there is no point in purchasing an expensive kicker motor.
Hopefully, this information will help you make better decisions about your unit.