Upgrading to More Powerful Mercury Pro Kicker 15 HP Outboard Motor

Upgrading to the Mercury Pro Kicker 15 Outboard

The Mercury Pro Kicker outboard motors have long been a popular choice among jon boat enthusiasts and anglers. Many start out with the smaller 9.9 hp carbureted model due to its lightweight design and affordable price. However, some look to upgrade to the more powerful 15 hp options like the Pro Kicker 15 to get improved acceleration, higher top speeds, and enhanced durability.

Reasons to Upgrade to the Mercury Pro Kicker 15

There are a few key reasons you may want to upgrade from the 9.9 hp Pro Kicker to the 15 hp model:

• Faster acceleration - The 15 hp engine provides much quicker acceleration to get your jon boat onto plane faster.
• Higher top speed - Expect to see 2-4 mph faster speeds for improved performance.
• Enhanced durability - The 15 features more rugged components designed for heavy use.
• Electric start - Upgraded convenience with the turn-key electric start ignition.

Performance Improvements

One of the biggest motivations for upgrading to the Pro Kicker 15 is the noticeable improvements in speed and acceleration. When mounted on a typical flat-bottomed jon boat, users see the time to plane drop from around 8-10 seconds down to just 5-6 seconds. That quicker planing translates into more time actually spent at top speed instead of slowly getting there.

In addition, the top speed ideally gains 2-4 mph which is significant when crossing lakes and rivers. Every bit of extra speed counts when trying to reach the opposite bank or return to the launch point before nightfall. Those performance enhancements allow anglers to explore farther and spend less time commuting between spots.

Electric Start Convenience

While the base 9.9 Pro Kicker requires manual rope pulling to start the engine, the 15 hp upgrade brings the convenience of key turn electric start ignition. This allows easy, reliable single hand starts instead of needing two hands on the rope pull. It's much simpler to engage the starter while sitting against the stern instead of standing hunched over the engine.

Electric start means no more ropes snapping off or painful kickbacks from rope pulls gone wrong. It also means less strain on your back, shoulders, and hands over years of repeated manual starts. Simply turn the key and go - it's that convenient.

Enhanced Durability

Being engineered for more horsepower and torque, the Pro Kicker 15 features upgraded internal components designed to handle the extra output. This includes changes like:

• Larger displacement block
• Forged steel crankshaft
• Marine grade stainless steel reed valves
• High flow water pump

Together these improvements add up to better handling of extended wide open throttle operation. The engine runs cooler while maintaining tighter tolerances across the RPM range. You'll experience less premature wear leading to a longer service life. That's critical for anglers in remote areas without access to repair shops.

Installing the New Mercury Pro Kicker

Swapping out for the new Pro Kicker 15 only takes a few tools and minutes to accomplish. Since it's built to use the same rigging, wiring, and controls - upgrading is simple with minimal additional rigging. Here is an overview of the quick install process:

1. Remove the old 9.9 kicker - disconnect fuel line, control cables, and then undo transom mount bolts.
2. Bolt new 15 hp engine onto transom mount plate using existing hardware.
3. Reconnect fuel line and control cables to new engine.
4. Connect battery leads red to red and black to black.
5. Add motor oil appropriate for engine displacement.
6. Test controls and start engine to verify proper operation.

With just basic tools like wrenches, socket set, and pliers the entire job usually takes 30-45 minutes. Take your time to carefully remove components from the old engine and reconnect each line or cable properly. Check your owner's manual for detailed wiring diagrams and schematics.

Performance Analysis

After upgrading to the 15 hp Pro Kicker, you can expect roughly 30% faster acceleration times across comparable hull setups. Where the 9.9 motor might plane out an average 14 foot jon boat in 8.5 seconds, the 15 hp will accomplish the same task in around 6 seconds. The quicker acceleration continues as speed increases until reaching the higher top end RPM range.

As mentioned earlier, typical top speed gains run approximately 2-4 mph over the smaller 9 hp engines. Real world examples have shown 16-17 mph tops with the base carbureted 9.9 models, while the 15 hp Pro Kicker has achieved 19-21 mph on the same hulls. Getting on plane faster and running at greater speeds will get you to the fishing spots quicker.

Fuel Efficiency Comparison

While acceleration and top speeds see noticeable gains after an upgrade, one area that remains relatively unchanged is fuel efficiency. Since both motors share the same basic powerheads and lower unit gear cases, most report nearly identical miles-per-gallon numbers at cruising speeds.

Running both models side by side at common 14-16 mph cruising velocity showed a less than 10% difference in fuel usage rates. What little efficiency loss comes from pushing a heavier hull across the water at elevated speeds. But proper prop selection can minimize the gap to negligible amounts.

Added Weight Considerations

With bigger components designed for higher outputs, the upgraded Pro Kicker 15 does weigh slightly more than the base 9.9 kickers. Actual engine weights increase from around 95 lbs on the 9.9 models up to approximately 115 lbs on the 15 horsepower engines.

So operators will need to consider this extra 20 lbs of overall weight when it comes to transom heights, trailer loads, and draft limits. Raise the engine a notch, redistribute trailer payloads, or reconfigure gear to compensate. A jack plate is also useful for dialing in the best running angle and clearance.

Ownership Costs Overview

Increasing power output usually also means increased operating costs from factors like fuel and oil usage, replacement parts, and long term repairs. But when comparing total ownership costs between the 9.9 vs 15 hp Pro Kicker engines, there are minimal economic differences thanks to component commonality.

If run at mostly matching speed and usage levels, the maintenance schedules remain very similar. Oil change intervals are dictated more by calendar durations rather than engine hours in most cases. Fuel usage rates are reasonably close at common speeds. And most replacement parts like water pump impellers, seals, spark plugs, etc can be shared across both models.

By reusing existing rigging and controls, new investment is also minimized aside from the engine itself. So upgrading offers substantially improved performance for barely any rise in yearly cost of operation - making the Pro Kicker 15 the clear value choice.

FAQs

How much faster is the Mercury Pro Kicker 15 versus the 9.9 hp model?

Typically you can expect around 2-4 mph faster top end speed after upgrading to the Pro Kicker 15 from the base 9.9 kicker. Acceleration sees even greater improvements, with time to plane decreasing by 30% or more.

What are the main benefits of choosing the 15 hp upgrade?

Key benefits include: quicker acceleration, higher top speeds, rugged durability for heavy usage, easier electric starting, and still shares affordable maintenance costs of the smaller motor.

Will my existing 9.9 controls and rigging work with the 15 hp?

Yes, the Pro Kicker 15 utilizes the same connections for fuel lines, control cables, battery wires. So no additional rigging is needed when upgrading from the 9.9 kicker.

How much more does the 15 hp engine weigh compared to the 9.9?

Actual weight difference is around 20 pounds more for the 15 hp model, at 115 lbs versus 95 lbs for the carbureted 9.9 Pro Kicker. So some considerations may be needed for transom height, trailer loading, etc.