How much power?

Princ40

Princ40

Cadet
Joined
Mar 19, 2011
Messages
9
I have a 1976 starcraft ss supersport 16ft. I bought it last summer for $1500. I ran it last summer on a 1974 Johnson 70hp. The motor had issues when I bought it. Now when I took it in to have it looked at the guy wrote on my reciept "Not Worth Fixing". Low compression in the cylinders and the lower unit was replaced with a newer year so the throttle is backwards.

Here is my question.... What is the lowest hp motor I could go with? I am only using it for fishing on inland Michigan lakes.

I don't have a ton of money to sink into a motor.

I think this question qualifies as a non-repair discussion??
 
ezmobee

ezmobee

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 26, 2007
Messages
23,767
Re: How much power?

Well darn near anything will push a 16' aluminum Starcraft. However I don't think you'll be real happy with anything less than a 50. If your 70 was a '78 or newer I'd probably go with a rebuilt powerhead but being a '74 I'd part it out.
 
Silvertip

Silvertip

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Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,762
Re: How much power?

So how did the boat perform with the "tired" engine? A properly running 75 HP two stroke will very likely work ok if you were even somewhat satisfied before. Generally however, 70 - 75 HP should be fine on that boat. I can assure you dropping back to a good running 50 HP motor will likely perform about the same as a tired 70. If there is a maximum HP tag on the boat, then the rule of thumb for acceptable performance is 70 - 75% of the maximum rated HP. If the boat is rated for a 90 HP max then 65 - 75 HP would provide acceptable performance.
 
H

hidef

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Aug 22, 2009
Messages
1,465
Re: How much power?

Depends on a number of factors how much does the boat weigh, how fast do you want to go and how much do you want to spend. I would think that a 50 or 55 would pretty good choice. I wouldn't want to go smaller than a 40 horse and whatever you buy should bolt on to the transom because of the holes that are there from the 70.
 
H

Home Cookin'

Fleet Admiral
Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
9,715
Re: How much power?

assuming it's aluminum--we had 2 growing up with 55's and they were fine for all use. Regardless of your limited use, you want to be able to get on a plane, so (guessing) not less than 35.

A guy near me has a 9.9 on an old 16' bow rider. the boat is a wreck. But he only uses it to dinghy out to a moored sailboat. Great idea, though: a free boat with lots of room for gear and a cheap motor, instead of an expensive inflatable or skiff.
 
Princ40

Princ40

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Mar 19, 2011
Messages
9
Re: How much power?

Went with a 1992 mercury classic 40hp. Pick it up Friday.
 
Chinewalker

Chinewalker

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Aug 19, 2001
Messages
8,902
Re: How much power?

I had a 1977 16SS about 20 years ago. Before I picked up my Johnson 75 for it, I ran the only long shaft motor I had - a 1957 Evinrude Lark 35. It actually performed quite well - even with a couple people onboard, it would plane off easily and probably did 25 mph or so.

Your newer 40 Merc should do quite well. Prop it accordingly...
 
B

Bamaman1

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
1,895
Re: How much power?

I'd be looking for a good used 50-75 hp two stroke motor. With BoatTrader.com and Craigslist.com, they're relatively easy to find.
 
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