I need a new kicker for my 17' Wooldridge. I do a lot of back bouncing and free drifting. How do you like the Yamaha gear shift on the handle? I find shifting a Mercury hard on the wrist after a day of fishing.

I have the Yamaha 10 horse, with the gear shift on the handle, and it is GREAT. The shift is smooth, has good action, is easy to reach, and is postive in action. The engine runs smooth and has been reliable thus far, though it's only 3 months old.

I generally like the Yamaha overall, though it's a bit cold blooded. It takes it about 5 to 10 miniutes of backtrolling before it's really warmed up. Though it always starts and runs, including this morning, when it was a frosty 29 degrees when the boat hit the water. It's smooth running and queit, like most 4 strokes, and trolls down pretty well. I wish I had gotten the 8 horse, however, as the 10 horse sometimes is just a bit too much in real slow water. That's when the shift handle gets a lot of use, shifting in and out of gear.

I have a 15 HP Yamaha four stroke. What a great motor. Mine does not have the shifter on the handle though. The shifter is next to the hanndle which, I have found, to be a little cumbersome at times. I will sometimes shift to hard and throw the motor from forward to reverse when I meant to go from forward to neutral.
You ask most guys that are in the know about motors now days and they will tell you to get a Yamaha. Heck, even the guys at Olympic Boat Center told me to get a Yamaha (all they sell are Mercury's).

On some of the kicker size motors, I believe Yamaha and Mercury are using the same powerhead. I believe Yamaha is the supplier.

AK -

I have the Yamaha T8 4 stroke, electric start, with the powere tilt/trim. This is a great little motor. The shift on the handle is ideal for how I like to fish. I had a Merc handle shift before and liked it, but overall would probably choose the way Yamaha has done it, all things being equal. I like the positiveness of it. I have had wrist fatigue in certain situations with the Merc before. The 8hp powers way down which should help reduce the need to be kicking it out of gear frequently while in slack water.

Runs smooth and quiet, is cold blooded for the first couple of minutes (my buddy has the Merc 9.9 4 stroke and his has the same coldbloodedness) and starts great.

Good luck.

I would give a big thumbs up for Yamaha 8hp. I have the 8hp High Thrust with electric start, trim & tilt and the shifter on the handle, I would not trade it for any other motor. The High Thrust has the thrust of a 25hp and can get you out of trouble real fast if you need to.

if you already have an anchor for your boat don't buy a merc you'll wanna pitch it in the river, yamaha or suzuki are the only way go

From being in the marine repair biz for almost 20 years, the yamaha and suzuki are fine. But when it breaks or corrodes(suzuki) you will cry when you find out how much it is to repair it. More merc dealers also.Yes yamaha and merc share the same powerhead on some models. I would stay with the merc myself.

If you're a boondogger you are constantly tilting the kicker to run back upstream with the main engine. The Merc allows you to tilt both up and down with one hand. Yamaha's require you to lean way out over the transom to lock the kicker up.
I prefer Yamaha's 9.9 four-stroke in a strict trolling application where you seldom tilt the kicker, but you can't beat the Merc on the crick.
The one-hand tilt feature is huge because it allows you to tilt the kicker and fish at the same time.
Bottom line: The Pro's run Merc's for a reason...
Good Luck, TJN

Merc doesn't make an 8 h.p. 4 stroke only a 9.9. In the 8 h.p. 2 stroke i like the merc 5 stage tilt adjust for trolling shallow water. Merc and Yamaha share the same powerhead on all four strokes with exception of the 50 h.p. model. Yamaha powerhead and mercury leg. Shop price and service. 2 stroke 8 h.p. merc $1499 @ dougs boats in woodinville.

Of course you could always go down the street to 3 creeks marine.But shop around. :p

TJN,

I can tilt my Yamaha 8 hp with one finger, lets see the Merc beat that. I don't have to lean over at all and could literally have a 5 year old do it. Power T/T all the way. And yes, I do alot of boondoggin with it.

I can also say the dudes at 3 Rivers rock...when you stop in, just ask for Bryan.

BTW-I think they've got Doug's beat on the kicker price as the last time I was in there (looking at driftboats but b.s.ing about sleds) I was told their 2-stroke 8 hp longshaft Merc runs like $1450.