Add Kicker Motor to Lowe 165 Fishing Machine

Ontario Fishing Forums

Help Support Ontario Fishing Forums:

JMB

JMB

Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2016
Messages
19
Location
Brighton
Want to add a Merc 4.5 (long shaft) beside my Merc 50 on a Lowe 165 Fishing Machine.
Would like to avoid the need for a bracket.
Has anyone any tips on deck/transom modifications that might be necessary?
The motor bracket has a depth of 2 3/4 "; the transom clearance on the inside is 2 1/2 "
Not sure how or if I can access the area between the front of the transom & the rear of a storage compartment (approx 8") (Red Arrow)

Any tips/advice would be most welcome!

...John
 

Attachments

  • images.jpeg
    images.jpeg
    23.6 KB
  • Unknown.jpeg
    Unknown.jpeg
    15 KB
Why do you want to do this? The 50 is a good match to that hull, the boat doesn't need a kicker.
 
Spend a lot of time trolling....inland lakes & Lake Ontario (when its calm)...
Also, the safety factor for those times out on Lake Ontario in case the 50 malfunctions
Do have a Merc 4.5 that has been in storage for > 10 years & thought I might restore it & hook it up.
Love getting ready for the season in March!!
 
4.5 might be a little small we use a 9.9 as back up. I had a Merc 7.5 and she's reliable but sucks a lot more gas than the 9.9.

Always a good idea to have a back up on big water even if it takes forever to get back in.
 
I get the safety factor if you're going offshore, but wouldn't think you would need it for trolling, that 50 should troll sweet all on its own. If it's too fast, you could swap the prop down one size, just watch your rpms when running at full throttle.

If you really want the kicker then you might have no choice but to use a bracket. Just screwing it on as is or putting a filler strip on top of the transom isn't going to be secure enough, you risk losing the motor if you bump around in chop when running with the big engine. You could make a cut out in the deck so you can drop it to the correct height, but before you cut anything make sure you still have enough room to tighten the clamp screws. You might also want to email Lowe or talk to the dealer first and make sure there's nothing under there to cut away by accident, like transom supports, live well plumbing, etc.

Also watch the weight on your transom. The 4.5 will probably be ok but some of the four stroke 9.9s are over 100 pounds. That's pushing it.

Personally, I wouldn't bother. If you're seriously worried about safety just get a handheld VHF radio and carry another battery for your electric.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top