Kicker Question (Newbie)

[WDH4171]

Greetings Fellow Boaters:
Forgive me if I'm in the wrong space for asking questions. This is my first posting ever. My son and I just purchased a 1992, 270 DA with a 454 motor. We are now looking for a kicker motor. The purpose for the kicker is for trolling for fish (in the Pacific Ocean) and in the case we have problems with the main motor this could get us back to the dock. I guess the question is how big of a kicker would be needed for this purpose and what would be the correct place to install it. The boat has a fiberglass swim platform. But we are curious if the swim platform would be strong enough.

Thanks in advance; Walt

 

[Go Aweigh2452]

Look at a 9.9 or 15 hp 4 stroke. A few place them on the swimstep with a bracket on the step. The swim step can be modified to add more struts or brackets underneath but as long as the standard brackets are kept tight and not allowed to loosen up, you should be fine with the added weight. Another option is to have a transom mount bracket that swings down into the water for kicker operation. This is fine as well but will require you to modify (cut out) a section of your swim step. Not the same boat but here is a photo of a bracket on the swim step...

I swing the kicker up when not using it to keep the saltwater out of it...