Kicker or Vantage ?

[PDOGG]

I'm looking at getting a kicker motor for my boat and was wondering if any one had any experiance with the Minn-Kota Vantages seeing as how there about half the price of a gas kicker. Just wondering how well they push an 18' boat and how long the batterys last. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[ccarlson]

I've had a 24 volt vantage since about the 2nd year they came out and have really liked it. You can backtroll into about a 20 mph wind on a good sized lake if you want to but the batteries will drain down on a full day of that. Usually getting a full day out of working it hard is very easy, up to 2 days of moderate use etc.

I also have a kicker and I wouldn't be without one of those either though. When it gets too windy to be in the back of boat for rigging, I sit at the console and use my kicker. I also use the kicker for forward trolling cranks so they really serve two different purposes.

Part of the need for a kicker depends on the size of your main outboard too. Under 100 horses and you may want a vantage and then use a driftsock and your main for the heavier stuff. Over 100 horses or so and you may want both the kicker and the vantage.

In regards to a transom electric trolling motor though, you can't beat the vantage with power up and down, 4 to one steering etc. IMO.

ccarlson

[PDOGG]

Does the vantage have enough to troll cranks for the day?

[Stratosman]

If you plan on trolling mostly crankbaits, get a kicker. The Vantage is primarily set up for back trolling.

[PierBridge]

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Does the vantage have enough to troll cranks for the day?

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Yes.

[Rost]

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Does the vantage have enough to troll cranks for the day?

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Yes.

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Seriously? I find it hard to believe that a 24 Volt Vantage could push my 18 ft boat at over 2 mph for 10 hours straight. I guess I could be wrong.

[Fishing Junky]

If I had to choose one, I would choose the gas kicker. Especially if my boat was an 18fter. Don't have to fuss with battery charging when camping. I'd run the kicker off the same tank as the main engine. Also, it would serve as a backup to the main engine if it fails several miles from the landing. Just my thoughts on it. Be safe and get both. Junky.....

[ccarlson]

As the others have said, if you are looking for a motor to troll cranks, then the gas kicker would be the better of the two. You could do it with a vantage under most circumstances but not with the same advantages a gas kicker offers for that application.

The vantage is best for backtrolling.

I still don't think you mentioned what main motor you have on your boat. That would help with advice on what set up would be your best bet.

ccarlson

[PDOGG]

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I still don't think you mentioned what main motor you have on your boat. That would help with advice on what set up would be your best bet.

ccarlson

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It's a Merc 125 horse 2 stroke

[PierBridge]

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It's a Merc 125 horse 2 stroke

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What year? is that a 2+2 motor if so they troll down pretty good.

[PDOGG]

2004 yes its the 2+2. I haven't even picked the boat up yet so I haven't been able to try it out yet but if im gonna get a kicker I wanted to do it will the rest of the stuff is getting put on it. So you think I would be fine with the vantage for back trolling and the main motor for pulling cranks? The salesman says he is givng me a good price on the kicker. What do you think about 2,600 for a merc 9.9 pro kicker tiller ? Thanks to everyone for all the advice.

[PerchJerker]

$2,600 is a good / fair price for a Pro Kicker these days. I paid $3,000 for mine the year they came out (limited availability in those days). You can get T8s cheaper than Pro Kickers.

I haven't weighed in on this thread yet but I would vote for the kicker over the Vantage. In my opinion the kicker would be vastly superior for pulling cranks and would be better for backtrolling also - it's what they're made to do, and they'd have more power than you'd ever need for those applications. Using the Vantage and the 125 would work, just not as well for either application. Up to you if it's worth the price or not. Good luck and enjoy your new boat!

[Mille Lacs Guy]

I would agree that a kicker is better for forward trolling cranks or spinners. However, kickers are not made for backtrolling and I don't think the kicker would backtroll better than the Vantage. I have talked to many pro walleye anglers about backtrolling with a kicker and for whatever reason they said it just doesn't work very well.

One suggestion would be to get two drift socks and tie them off the bow and just troll with the big motor. If you tie two 18" Amish outfitter trolling bags off the front you will be able to troll that boat down to 1.5 mph. The Mercury 125 2+2 actually trolls well.

[PDOGG]

Does everyone agree that the kicker would be money well spent?