Transom Mounted Electric vs. 9.9 kicker

[Wirehair]

Traded boats last summer. Previous boat had a Merc 150 EFI and a 9.9 Merc kicker. New rig has 150 Merc 4 stroke. Elected to try without the kicker as I rely on the 36V bow mount electric most of the time. Considering adding a Minn Kota Vantage instead of a 9.9. Boat is a Stratos 386XF and I do most of my fishing on the Missouri (Wilton to SD line). Any advice / suggestion would be appreciated.
Thx!

 

[Vollmer]

Kicker for me. I like the added security of an additional motor.

 

[eliminator]

I am with vollmer on this one

 

[AaronJ]

3rd on that thought. Especially in current situations.

 

[sl1000794]

My experience with a transom electric kicker is good for slow trolling but virtually unusable in any wind for steering control.

 

[Rowdie]

Gotta have a kicker for cranks IMO

 

[sweeney]

After my primer bulb went bad last spring on my big motor on the Missouri river, I was glad I had that little 8hp motor to push me back to the ramp at 4 mph. loading the boat in the current with a kicker sucks BTW.

 

[Rizzo]

That 150 merc 4 stroke does not troll down well at all if you pull cranks. I would pony up the money for a kicker each and every time. There are only two disadvantages to a kicker, cost and weight. If you want to save money just buy a tiller kicker. They aren't much more than a vantage.

 

[Wirehair]

Thanks for your input! Planning on adding a kicker for reasons stated above. Agree that the 150 does not troll at the speed that I would want to crank most of the time. Weight was my concern. Happy fishing!

 

[eyexer]

Comparing that electric to a 9.9 kick is like....well uncomparable

 

[NodakBuckeye]

That 150 merc 4 stroke does not troll down well at all if you pull cranks. I would pony up the money for a kicker each and every time. There are only two disadvantages to a kicker, cost and weight. If you want to save money just buy a tiller kicker. They aren't much more than a vantage.

Get yourself a couple Amish Buggy Bags

 

[deleted member]

Both.