Re: 1966 14' aluminium hp question
elantiegne,
I have a similar, if not the same boat. I purchased last year. It is a three seater, however the front seat is covered by a deck, someone installed.
If you look at the Pictures Huron angler posted ; I have the three seat model as show with the guy rowing with the dog in it, however also look at the picture with the four seater, with the guy on a tiller outboard, and the kid up in the front seat. look close at the gussets on the transom. There are three of them, two larger, and one is a little shorter in the middle. I have that type of transom support in my boat, which is a three seater. It is built like a tank.
It also came with a console, steering wheel, and electric start, and choke. It has a 33 hp Seahorse. I think the console was added later, and some of the hardware looks to be different. The color of the console, ( green with white specs) matches the boat color exactly. The hardware that the console is attached to the boat with is not original is what makes me believe it was added later. The 33 hp does not appear to heavy, and the boat sits in the water pretty level, with me in the middle seat, and lighter person in front or back. I am 6'-1" about 240 lb. and this boat hauls ***** when you open her up, but it also stable, and carves the turns nice. I did not run turns wide open, as I am learning its handling, but I would say that motor is not to big for the boat. I would be more concerned about the weight of the motor then its HP.
I understand the HP max rating is to keep people from over powering, and getting into trouble by not be able to control the boat, but there is not a label on the motor that says "Run me WOT" (wide open throttle) correct ?
I say go with the motor restoration, and just limit the throttle to what you feel is safe to keep it under control.
I am not an expert, but I would check these items.
1. how does it sit in the water . with full tank of gas ? level ?
2. Electric start ? cause battery adds weight. If you are building front casting deck, you can move the 50 -60 lb battery forward. Yes you have to run cables, but a size up on cables is not a big deal. This will pull weight out from the rear of boat.
storage up front will help keep odds and ends from adding rear weight i.e. extra prop, small tool kit, cooler, emergency bottled bass ( cold beer)
Good luck with it. I am also going over mine. might even have the outside repainted. I sanded down the wooden seat tops and three coats of varnish.
They look really nice. Marine store told me the wood was teak. If it is, thats not cheap wood. Be carfull about flipping wood over if it is ding up a bit, as there are compound miters on these to fit the angle taper of the boat front to rear, and the taper from bottom of boat to gunwale. you will see if you remove, as it will be to tight, if installed wrong.
I will post more later about what I did so far to mine and maybe give you some ideas.
