65hp merc big enough?

[wbf30934]

Hey peeps
I have a chance to buy a 16ft 1991 Dynasty bowrider. Its a walk thru and is a fixer upper but structurally sound. I have a 65hp mercury on my 16ft cajun bass boat it pushes it at 35mph after putting a hydrofoil on. Will this motor be big enough for the bowrider? I don't have the funds to buy a new motor just wandering if its worth it??????

Thanks for the help

 

[pckeen]

Re: 65hp merc big enough?

What is the bass boat rated for? Rule of thumb - put a motor that is at least 70% of the max rated horsepower on the boat, otherwise performance is likely to suffer. Doesn't mean a smaller motor won't work - just a rule of thumb. I've been on similar boats with a 60 on them, and they ran fine.

 

[Watermann]

Re: 65hp merc big enough?

What motor is the bowrider set up for? Are you planning on using your fishing boat for a donor boat to set up the bowrider? Otherwise you will have some trouble with just doing a direct swap if the bowrider is set up for a different motor manufacturer. A 16' boat with a 65 HP would work alright although it will weigh more and could need a different prop.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: 65hp merc big enough?

I had a 55 Chrysler on a 16' Chrysler Sport Fury bow rider tri hull I bought new back in '71. It was a very light boat and probably only weighed 800#. It had a shallow V at the bow (plus the shallow sponsons) and the stern area was pretty flat. Beat you to death at WOT but planed out ok. Had wife and 4 smaller kids. We liked to go out as a family and part of that was to water ski. 5 people in the boat, one on 2 skis. The 55 didn't hack it. Traded for an 85 and things were super. A 70 would probably been ok, but since I was puking money buying 2 new engines in 6 months and taking a big hit on the small one I traded back in, I figured to get the larger engine.

In the day, 15' tri-hulls were the norm and most of my running buddies ran 60 hp OMCs on them. They would ride 2 to 3 folks and do some water skiing too. Seemed to work out ok. Not sizzling performance, but fast enough to have fun.

So, as others have said, prop it right and you probably will do ok.....if the boat is not heavy and not a deep V at the stern....matters in getting your load up on plane. Look at the bright side. Cheap to operate and tow.

Mark

 

[wbf30934]

Re: 65hp merc big enough?

Yes im gonna be using the boat primarily for fishing
Thanks for all the comments