Putting motor on boat

Dave Turner

Dave Turner

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 7, 2006
Messages
118
Anyone out there ever put a 10 to 15 horse on a bass boat for smaller horsepower lakes? I have a 18 foot glass project boat with a bad motor. I was wanting know any good or bad stories on changing to a small motor. Thanks very much.
 
matt167

matt167

Captain
Joined
Sep 27, 2012
Messages
3,698
Re: Putting motor on boat

You will only get displacement speeds ( HS = 1.34 x √LWL is the calculation ). You can probably see 7-10 MPH but at some point in that time your just pushing the boat wasting gas,
 
H

Home Cookin'

Fleet Admiral
Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
9,715
Re: Putting motor on boat

be sure it reaches the water!

in some conditions an underpowered boat is dangerous b/c you can't make it to safety against big wind and/or currents, but I don't know if that applies to you. Also depends on whether you plan on going solo or with your fat friends.
 
bonz_d

bonz_d

Vice Admiral
Joined
Apr 22, 2008
Messages
5,274
Re: Putting motor on boat

Also if you do it find the largest diameter, smallest pitch prop you can find. It will help a lot and save the engine.
 
Sea Rider

Sea Rider

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 20, 2008
Messages
12,345
Re: Putting motor on boat

There's a great difference in punch between newer 10 and 15 HP horses, most 10 are restricted versions of the 15. If lake permits bit higher HP and 2 strokes horses go for a 2 strokes 18 HP. Weights same as any 10-15 HP and with extra 3 HP punch that will make more of a difference...

Happy Boating
 
JimS123

JimS123

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Jul 27, 2007
Messages
7,993
Re: Putting motor on boat

A friend has an 18" glass trihull bowrider with a 9.9 on it. All he does is fish. He successfully runs it in the heavy current of the Mighty Niagara and has a ball every time out. Its set up with controls but sometimes he uses the tiller. The "sailboat" prop lets the engine rev quite well.

Different strokes....
 
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