Mounting kicker on crestliner

[dirtking]

I am looking at potentially buying a 2001 Crestliner 1850 sportfish. I have a 2001 T-8 Yamaha trolling motor.

With the transom configuration - Is there anyway to hook the kicker to the main motor so it could be controlled from the main controls (steering wheel), also is the shaft going to be long enough? (the Crestliner’s have a drop down area for the main motor and then high sides)

[marine_man]

You would probably have to put a kicker bracket on the boat given you don't have space next to the big motor. To steer the kicker from the main motor you'd have to use a external backet that mounts to the motor's mid section like a ez steer.

Will the shaft be long enough? With the external kicker bracket you will probably be ok. If you were somehow able to clamp it to the transom at the higher position, no it would not be long enough - you'd need an extra long shaft.

marine_man

[CatManLee]

I have a regular long shaft kicker mounted on my 2002 Crestliner 1750 Fish Hawk. My boat has the same transom design and the kicker motor is just barely long enough.

It would be ideal to have a motor bracket that lowers off the back...or an extra long shaft outboard. My motor works fine when conditions are nice on the water, small chop is o.k., but if the waves are bigger, the motor will actually come out of the water when the boat is turned sideways in the waves...not fun or good for the motor either I'm sure.

As for a steering arm, anything is possible. I have a steering arm I made for mine that works fine. It just depends on how creative you are.

If you put a bracket on the back for lowering the motor, it'll be a bit tricker, but I know they make a very expensive set up that runs off the back of each motor that looks like it would work well.