Adding a Mercury Avator 7.5e electric outboard as a quiet kicker on an 18-foot aluminum walleye or muskie boat typically runs $4,500–$6,500 all-in at Harris Boat Works in Gores Landing. That covers the Avator, the lithium battery pack, the mounting bracket, helm wiring, and a water test on Rice Lake. Timeline is 1–2 weeks. The 7.5e gives the equivalent of a 3.5 HP gas kicker in thrust, runs silent, and lets you sneak up on walleye and muskie without spooking the fish.
Last reviewed: 2026-05-24
Quick answer: Adding a Mercury Avator 7.5e electric outboard as a quiet kicker on an 18-foot aluminum walleye or muskie boat typically runs $4,500–$6,500 all-in at Harris Boat Works in Gores Landing. That covers the Avator, the lithium battery pack, the mounting bracket, helm wiring, and a water test on Rice Lake. Timeline is 1–2 weeks. Build a quote at mercuryrepower.ca.
Adding a Mercury Avator 7.5e electric outboard as a quiet kicker on an 18-foot aluminum walleye or muskie boat typically runs $4,500–$6,500 all-in at Harris Boat Works in Gores Landing. That covers the Avator, the lithium battery pack, the mounting bracket, helm wiring, and a water test on Rice Lake. Timeline is 1–2 weeks. The 7.5e gives the equivalent of a 3.5 HP gas kicker in thrust, runs silent, and lets you sneak up on walleye and muskie without spooking the fish.
Key facts
- Motor: Mercury Avator 7.5e (electric outboard)
- Thrust equivalent: comparable to a 3.5 HP gas kicker
- Boat: 18-foot aluminum walleye / muskie boat
- Cost range: $4,500–$6,500 CAD all-in with battery and bracket
- Timeline: 1–2 weeks
- Run time: 60–90 minutes per battery at low troll
- Deposit: $200 for portable / small HP
- Warranty: Mercury Limited Warranty, confirmed at quote
What was on the boat before?
The starting point is an 18-foot aluminum walleye or muskie boat with a 90–150 HP Mercury main motor already on the transom. There is either no kicker at all, or there's an old 4–9.9 HP gas kicker that smells, sputters at slow troll, and adds noise the fish hear.
Owners come in once they realize the kicker is the limiting factor on Rice Lake walleye. The fish stack up in the same shallow flats over and over, and any time a gas kicker fires off, the bite stops for ten minutes. A bow-mount trolling motor helps but eats battery and doesn't handle 1–2 foot chop confidently for hours.
The conversation turns to Avator about 80 percent of the time these days.
Why upgrade to a Mercury Avator 7.5e?
The Avator 7.5e is Mercury's small electric outboard, built specifically for the kicker / trolling role. Three things matter.
First, silence. At trolling speeds in the 1.5–2.5 mph range, the Avator is functionally silent. No exhaust, no idle vibration, no prop cavitation noise. Walleye and muskie key on sound. Removing the kicker noise often turns a slow afternoon into a productive one.
Second, clean run. No carb to gum up sitting all winter. No oil change, no spark plug, no fuel stabilizer ritual. Plug the battery in to charge, leave the motor on the bracket, and it's ready next time you launch.
Third, integration. The Avator uses Mercury's smart electronics, so the gauge integrates with helm displays on newer boats. You see remaining range and battery state-of-charge the same way you read fuel level on the main motor. That matters when you're pushing the limits of a battery on a long evening troll.
The trade-off is run time. Battery range is 60–90 minutes at low troll per pack. For all-day walleye work most owners add a second battery and rotate them. The math still works out, Mercury lithium packs charge in a few hours, last for thousands of cycles, and weigh less than a full jerrycan of gas.
What did the job involve?
The work is straightforward compared with a main-engine repower. We confirm transom space beside the main motor, fit the Avator mounting bracket, mount the motor, wire the battery and the helm gauge, and run the steering and throttle controls. On older boats with a clean transom this is a half-day install. On boats with crowded transoms (main motor, bow-mount controls, transducer, hydraulic jack plate) we sometimes have to relocate accessories to get the Avator clearance.
Battery placement matters. Lithium packs need a dry, ventilated location with cable run kept short. We usually mount them in a rear compartment with a vented battery box.
Water test on Rice Lake confirms thrust, helm response, and gauge integration. Pickup-only at Gores Landing, we don't ship or deliver.
What did it cost?
All-in lands between $4,500 and $6,500 CAD. The Avator 7.5e and a single Mercury lithium pack are the bulk of it. The bracket, helm gauge, install labour, and water test make up the rest. A second battery, common for serious walleye anglers, adds about $1,000–$1,500 on top.
Financing is available, 8.99% APR under $10,000 on approved credit. A $200 deposit holds the order. For broader context, see the Mercury repower cost guide or read about Rice Lake repower work.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long does an Avator install take?
- Typically 1–2 weeks from quote signing to water test pickup at HBW. The job is mostly bracket installation, battery wiring, and water test. Faster than a main-engine repower because there is no controls or fuel system work on the existing motor.
- How does an Avator 7.5e compare to a 3.5 HP gas kicker?
- Thrust is comparable to a 3.5 HP gas kicker. Noise is the difference. The Avator runs silent at trolling speeds, which is the point, walleye and muskie spook off prop wash and engine noise. The 7.5e gives you a stealth approach a gas kicker cannot.
- How long does the Avator battery last?
- Run time depends on speed setting and load. At low trolling speeds (1.5–2.5 mph), a single Mercury lithium pack typically gives 60–90 minutes of run time. For all-day fishing, owners often add a second battery or rotate two packs.
- Will the Avator work with my existing main motor?
- Yes. The Avator mounts on a bracket beside the main outboard, no integration required. We confirm transom space and bracket fit before quoting. Pickup-only at Gores Landing.
Visit Harris Boat Works
Harris Boat Works · 5369 Harris Boat Works Rd, Gores Landing, ON K0K 2E0 · Phone (905) 342-2153 · Family-owned since 1947 · Mercury Platinum Dealer, selling Mercury since 1965.
We're the repower side of Harris Boat Works. Avator installs are quick, and the Harris Boat Works service team on Rice Lake water-tests every electric kicker on Rice Lake itself before pickup.
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