12-14' Aluminum boat with 10 HP. Speed?

[keninaz]

I have noticed that most lakes in my area that allow motors limit you to 10 HP. So if I had a 12-14' aluminum deep V configuration and two people on board with typical fishing gear what kind of speed would I be looking at?

 

[MTboatguy]

My 14 foot Western Aluminum was able to attain a speed of about 16 mph with a 9.8 Mercury model 110 on it, with my wife, a buddy and myself in it, we had an ice chest with food and beverage and our fishing gear. I am about 230lbs, my wife is(edited) and my buddy is about 200lbs. I have since upgraded to an 18 hp Tohatsu

 

[keninaz]

OK, TNX, that will do me then.
Almost all the lakes in this area that allow motors are limited to 10 HP.

 

[MTboatguy]

I forgot, I did also have a fuel tank, 6 gallons of fuel is about 50 pounds plus or minus, we were just about the rated limit on carry capacity of the boat as by the certification plate.

 

[airshot]

Very hard to say as an awfull lot of that speed will be determined by the boat size. A lot of difference can be had between a 12 and 14 ft alum boat. How heavy, how wide, and how deep the boat is will all determine the speed you get as well as how good the motor runs. On a smaller 12 that is light in wt will go 5mph faster than a wide and deep 14 with that same 10 hp motor. Another thing to watch for is in many states the 10 hp rule also carries a 5-10 mph or even no wake speed along with it. Just be sure!!

 

[gm280]

All the state run lakes in Georgia are 10HP max rated. And I don't know the true speed, but back in the days when I first started boating I had a 12' "V" bottom aluminum boat with a 9.8 Mercury and it scooted along pretty well. Of course it run much faster with only me in it as well. That was a strong running OB!

 

[Texasmark]

Check the fine print on that limitation. Watch for the words "Up to". That doesn't mean that 10 hp is ok.

That's the reason for the industry coming out with all the 9.8888 and 9.999999 hp rated engines. I had a 12 ft Lowes "Lake John", a wider than normal john with higher sides (heavier than river johns) . Ran a 7.5 Merc on it and usually fished alone. Boat would run out very well and was fun to drive. 9.99999 on most any 12-14 alum boat would go fast enough for you to feel like you are getting where you are going. Just expect things to fall off as you add weight.

Mark

 

[momule]

Since this is a fishing boat for a smaller lake, in my opinion the question of speed really doesn't matter. HP limitations are not only imposed for safety reasons but because lots of the folks on lakes like that use canoes and other small craft, they sit quietly and fish, and are hoping that no one wants to go zooming around throwing up a wake. Most of the best things about small craft boating is not compatible with any concerns about speed. Just my opinion....

 

[Texasmark]

Since this is a fishing boat for a smaller lake, in my opinion the question of speed really doesn't matter. HP limitations are not only imposed for safety reasons but because lots of the folks on lakes like that use canoes and other small craft, they sit quietly and fish, and are hoping that no one wants to go zooming around throwing up a wake. Most of the best things about small craft boating is not compatible with any concerns about speed. Just my opinion....

Opinion: A 5.5 in my estimation is worse than a 15 because the 5.5 can't plane the boat with any kind of load and the 15 can. I don't have to tell any of you the difference in water disturbance caused by a boat IN the water vs ON the water. Course if you are a courteous boater and see other craft present, or on course, realizing the wave effect, you would first of all avoid the boat as a common courtesy and if warranted, cut the throttle to idle if you can't plane the boat. If you can and can avoid it, then have at it. Check out the wake, or lack thereof in my Avatar. That's 90 hp doing 50 mph.

Mark