Alumacraft V14 with 9.9hp

Matcraft

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Hey ppl,

I’m new to the forum and just had a quick question.

Has anyone here ran a more recent alumacraft v14 (with floors and spilt rear seating), with a 9.9hp? What kind of top speed were you getting solo, or with 1 or 2 adult passengers and gear?

I guess for context, I live in a region where I fish both larger lakes with no HP restrictions, and smaller lakes limited at 9.9hp. I traded in my old boat (a 14’ legend ultralite aka ultraunstable) and I’m hopefully getting the alumacraft some time in the summer. I’m trying to figure out if the 9.9 is livable (min 10-12MPH with a couple of guys and gear/batteries/trolling motor in the boat) or if I really have to consider buying a 20hp outright, hanging onto the 9.9 and swaping out for different lakes (I don’t really want to do this, but would consider it if I should be expecting speeds of lower than 8-10mph with ppl and gear).

Any input helps and thanks!
 

mr 88

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Since you already have the 9.9 , keep it and try it . I do not think the 9.9 is going to get you and a full load of gear on plane and mix in 1 or 2 more adults and for sure your plowing water. Even the 20 will be cutting it close with 2 guys and a full load . I have a 14" FeatherCraft with a 1960s 18hp on it and with one person and no gear I might hit 20mph .I would be looking for a 25- 30 hp for your set up and would hold on to the 9.9 for the lakes that are restricted.
 

Sea Rider

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Which 2 or 4 stroke motor brand is it ? What's the current pop pitch data factory delivered with ?

Happy Boating
 

Matcraft

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Which 2 or 4 stroke motor brand is it ? What's the current pop pitch data factory delivered with ?

Happy Boating
Hey Sea Rider!

2017 Merc, 4 stroke, short shaft - not sure what the prop pitch is, would have to look in manual.
 

Matcraft

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Since you already have the 9.9 , keep it and try it . I do not think the 9.9 is going to get you and a full load of gear on plane and mix in 1 or 2 more adults and for sure your plowing water. Even the 20 will be cutting it close with 2 guys and a full load . I have a 14" FeatherCraft with a 1960s 18hp on it and with one person and no gear I might hit 20mph .I would be looking for a 25- 30 hp for your set up and would hold on to the 9.9 for the lakes that are restricted.
That makes a lot of sense and kind of what I suspected, thanks for the input! I think the boats max HP rating is 25, so when the time comes I would look into that.
 

Sea Rider

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Hey Sea Rider!

2017 Merc, 4 stroke, short shaft - not sure what the prop pitch is, would have to look in manual.
You have 2 nice options : (1) Pass that 9.9 to-a 15 or-20 HP one, all 3 shares the same 33CC powerhead, a matter to check which parts are needed for such conversions and the cost of each one. No one will know you are running a converted 15 or 20 HP with a 9.9 cowl rated motor.

(2) Prop right that combo as loaded for the 9.9 motor to run towards its max 6.1 K wot rpm range factory stated. Will need to install an induction tach for that purpose, can recommend a good one, go for a wot run on flat calm water as plan being loaded and report max achieved wot rpm. That 9.9 HP motor should have been factory delivered with a 10 pitch prop stamped somewhere on the prop, check

With underpowered portable motors powering large hulls it's a must count with a correct lower leg height/transom match optimization, spot on deck load distribution along a nice prop maximization. All 3 parameters will account for the motor to achieve its max cowl rated output....

Happy Boating
 

Matcraft

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You have 2 nice options : (1) Pass that 9.9 to-a 15 or-20 HP one, all 3 shares the same 33CC powerhead, a matter to check which parts are needed for such conversions and the cost of each one. No one will know you are running a converted 15 or 20 HP with a 9.9 cowl rated motor.

(2) Prop right that combo as loaded for the 9.9 motor to run towards its max 6.1 K wot rpm range factory stated. Will need to install an induction tach for that purpose, can recommend a good one, go for a wot run on flat calm water as plan being loaded and report max achieved wot rpm. That 9.9 HP motor should have been factory delivered with a 10 pitch prop stamped somewhere on the prop, check

With underpowered portable motors powering large hulls it's a must count with a correct lower leg height/transom match optimization, spot on deck load distribution along a nice prop maximization. All 3 parameters will account for the motor to achieve its max cowl rated output....

Happy Boating
Nice, thanks sea rider! I’m not the most technical savy guy but I think I can figure it out.

Edit:
I just looked up the SN of my motor and it seems to be the 209cc, it shares components with the 8HP, but nothing with the 15 or 20HP motors (which the larger displacement, 323cc, 9.9s do). So I guess conversion is off the table.

Can you steer me to the induction tach you would recommend and how to install? What prop pitch do you think would be optimal in my case, or is the really a case of trying props with different pitch ratings until I hit the 6.1K RPM?

Maybe it doesn’t matter given that I think can’t do the conversion? It’s the factory prop so 10 pitch as you said. The new boat has a 15” transom which matches the short shaft on the motor.

Thanks again!
 
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Sea Rider

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You're Welcome Matcraft,

A typo error sated being all 3 motors 33CC but in reality all 3 are 333CC ones, not an issue passing a 9.9 to a 20 HP one. BTW all Merc models are rebadged Tohatsu ones with slight differences. Paul being a Tohatsu guy will surely direct you regarding which parts will be needed to be swapped in order to convert the current 9.9 to a 20 HP one.

A prop maximization is what comes after a correct motor/transom height match/deck load distribution, will depend entirely on the rpm achieved as usually will be loaded. Can work that out latter when the motor has finally been converted...

Happy Boating
 

Matcraft

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You're Welcome Matcraft,

A typo error sated being all 3 motors 33CC but in reality all 3 are 333CC ones, not an issue passing a 9.9 to a 20 HP one. BTW all Merc models are rebadged Tohatsu ones with slight differences. Paul being a Tohatsu guy will surely direct you regarding which parts will be needed to be swapped in order to convert the current 9.9 to a 20 HP one.

A prop maximization is what comes after a correct motor/transom height match/deck load distribution, will depend entirely on the rpm achieved as usually will be loaded. Can work that out latter when the motor has finally been converted...

Happy Boating
Thanks again see rider! See my edit above, I have a 209cc so I think the conversion is off the table :(
 

Sea Rider

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Yep Merc's 9.9 HP has only 209 CC, Is your 9.9 HP a carbed non-EFI 4 stroke motor ?

Happy Boating
 
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Matcraft

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Yep Merc's 9.9 HP has only 209 CC, Is your 9.9 HP a carbed non-EFI 4 stroke motor ?

Happy Boating
Exactly what it is, with an electric starter.

The dealer messed up my boat order anyways (khaki paint with a 15” transom) but they have an unpainted V14 with a 20” transom in stock, so I might just trade up the motor to a long shaft 20HP and put 9.9 stickers on it :)

At that rate, should I just be biting the extra cost bullet and get the 25hp?

My concerns are that the 25 might be a little too heavy in the back considering I also run a stern mount trolling motor and have the gas tank and a battery in the back, I plan on building a front deck and having storage along with an extra battery up there to help with weight distribution.
694B418D-4D56-42A8-9A06-094FF155A78A.png
 
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Sea Rider

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Sorry for the rush, what posted being 333CC were the EFI 9.9-15-20 HP motors, not the 9.9 carbed 4 strokes one you own. If possible go for the 20 HP motors whether being carbed or EFI ones along an alum long shaft transom boat. Can always prop right the motor whichever brand you go for. Congrats, nice eye catching looking boat...

Happy Boating
 

Matcraft

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Sorry for the rush, what posted being 333CC were the EFI 9.9-15-20 HP motors, not the 9.9 carbed 4 strokes one you own. If possible go for the 20 HP motors whether being carbed or EFI ones along an alum long shaft transom boat. Can always prop right the motor whichever brand you go for. Congrats, nice eye catching looking boat...

Happy Boating
Thanks dude, youve super helpful and I appreciate it. Will keep you update as thing develop!

Happy boating!!!
 

Matcraft

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A little update here:

Got the V14 with floors, sold my 9.9 and pulled the trigger on a new merc 20 (EFI 4 stroke).

Took the boat out for her maiden voyage this past weekend and couldn’t be happier, 2 guys with gear and all added mods with a 55lbs trolling motor in the back and I was out of the hole and up on plane in about 15 seconds, at WOT on the “comfy trim setting” would hit about 21-23 mph. Messed around with the trim a bit and got it up to 25-26 mph with a bit of a bumpy ride. This is very respectable speed for the lakes I tend to fish.

What impressed me the most though, at the end of the weekend I had to ferry fishing gear for 2, 3 fully grown men (including myself) and a mid sized dog. I was almost sure we wouldn’t make it on plane but I was wrong! It took a bit but after a couple of mins at WOT we were on plane at 18 mph.

I couldn’t be happier with my decision to go for the 20hp and the 20” transom, definitely helps with load at the rear and didn’t have any concerns of swamping whatsoever.

Alumacraft V14 20” transom with floors paired with that merc 20hp is a great combo! Hope this helps anyone else in the future!
 
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