Saxe Point
Well-Known Member
I got a bigger boat (22.5 foot Proline) and I got a new kicker for it as the ancient Yamaha on it is pretty much done. It was a tiller, but it was apparently sometimes connected to the main motor with an EZ-Steer bar. My new kicker is not a tiller (it’s a Suzuki 9.9 electric start power tilt). Most important, is the fact that the kicker is mounted on a bracket and therefore set back a distance from the main motor. So unlike with my previous smaller boat where the main water and the kicker were both mounted on the transom, a rigid tie bar between the two motors is just not a possibility. I’ve also heard that the EZ-Steer bars are not great, so I’m not looking at going in that direction at all.
I’ve read good things on this forum about the liquid tie bar system and got some great advice from Profisher, who has been using this system for years. The system basically involves a hydraulic unit on the kicker, which is connected and disconnected from the same hydraulic system on the main motor. It allows them to be steered together and gives you the ability to disconnect the kicker, just by turning a switch/valve, when you don’t need to use it.The other option that I discussed at the place I bought the kicker is to have an independent hydraulic steering system with a rear helm for the kicker only. In other words, it would not steer the main motor. The costs are basically the same for the two systems.
I am leaning strongly in the direction of getting the liquid tie bar system. It allows me to steer the boat from the front, which I think is preferable, and it allows both the main motor and the kicker to steer the boat. The “independent“ system for the kicker means I steer the boat from a helm at the back or near the middle, and it means I do not have the advantage of being able to use the main motor as a rudder.
I’m just wondering what guys think about the direction I’m leaning in. I realize it’s a personal preference, but I’m wondering if any of you out there prefer steering the boat from a helm mounted at the back or the middle of the boat, and if using only the kicker without the main motor as a router is sufficient.
Thanks in advance for your opinions/experiences and advice.
I’ve read good things on this forum about the liquid tie bar system and got some great advice from Profisher, who has been using this system for years. The system basically involves a hydraulic unit on the kicker, which is connected and disconnected from the same hydraulic system on the main motor. It allows them to be steered together and gives you the ability to disconnect the kicker, just by turning a switch/valve, when you don’t need to use it.The other option that I discussed at the place I bought the kicker is to have an independent hydraulic steering system with a rear helm for the kicker only. In other words, it would not steer the main motor. The costs are basically the same for the two systems.
I am leaning strongly in the direction of getting the liquid tie bar system. It allows me to steer the boat from the front, which I think is preferable, and it allows both the main motor and the kicker to steer the boat. The “independent“ system for the kicker means I steer the boat from a helm at the back or near the middle, and it means I do not have the advantage of being able to use the main motor as a rudder.
I’m just wondering what guys think about the direction I’m leaning in. I realize it’s a personal preference, but I’m wondering if any of you out there prefer steering the boat from a helm mounted at the back or the middle of the boat, and if using only the kicker without the main motor as a router is sufficient.
Thanks in advance for your opinions/experiences and advice.
