what size kicker?

[tom01mxz800]

i have a 23 foot sea ray hard top and iam looking too ad a kicker to it i will be using a kicker plate not going off the swim platform
my questions are this does the prop need to be under the boat for it to work correctly or can in be in the water? thus do i need short or long shaft
would mainly be used for walleyes so i wont need to go very fast
i was thinking 5-8 horse?
the main thing is weather or not it needs to be completly under the boat the prop that is or if it can be just under or above

the plate iam going to go with is adjustable
what do you guys do with the motors when your not in use lift them all the way up?

[DangerDan]

I run a 20 hp 2 stroke on my 23'r. It pushed my 4,500lb boat about 4mph max. Just enough to handle 4 to 5'rs in an emergency situation should I have a main engine failure. It certainly wont break any speed records but it will get you back in a pinch.

I had an extension added to a long shaft as when my kicker was lowered it would get swamp by waves over 3 to 4'. You don't really need for the prop to be below the transom for trolling but to manuver in a tight space reverse will not work unless the prop is below the transom. It just washes the water against the transom. here's my set-up in case your interested. I usually run and haul the boat with the kicker in the position it's in now. to use reverse I have to lower it a bit.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/533/medium/71_Slickcraft2.jpg

[tom01mxz800]

i found a 8 horse long shaft honda four stroke for 600 bucks sound like a good deal?

[busybeaver]

I really think an eight horse is way to small for your boat. We have a 16 foot fiberglass yarcraft with a merc 5 horse 4 stroke long shaft kicker and it is barely enough. I think your gonna want at least 15 horse if you want to troll at any kind of speed. Just my opinion.

[walleyeman2006]

unless that motor is beat to death its a great deal...but its a little small for your application...