Going from 25 hp to 35 hp

jitterbug127

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Feb 6, 2023
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601
I finally heard back from Smoker Craft. My flat bottom is rated for up to a 35 HP outboard. I am going to look to buy or trade my 25 hp for a 35. I can get up on plane well with 2 guys in the boat, but I am struggling to get on plane with 3. I assume a 35 hp outboard will help with this. Ill look at getting one of those whale tail things if I'm still struggling to plane after the increase of 10 hp.
 

jitterbug127

Chief Petty Officer
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Feb 6, 2023
Messages
601
Will do! Suggestion on what to check? I've messed with the tilt a bunch on my boat and motor. It has 5 different spots (i think maybe 4). I have the best luck with the motor on the second to lowest setting (by lowest I'm saying if the prop is all the way down this is next one up). The boat and motor will do about 27 mph with 2 guys in it planning well. We added a third guy fishing the other day. It didn't want to get up on plane.
 

airshot

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Jul 22, 2008
Messages
5,080
Will do! Suggestion on what to check? I've messed with the tilt a bunch on my boat and motor. It has 5 different spots (i think maybe 4). I have the best luck with the motor on the second to lowest setting (by lowest I'm saying if the prop is all the way down this is next one up). The boat and motor will do about 27 mph with 2 guys in it planning well. We added a third guy fishing the other day. It didn't want to get up on plane.
Where did the third guy sit ? Balancing weight on a small boat is very critical. So is prop selection...a change to a lesser pitch might be needed when that third person is added. On my 14' old tinnie, I carried two props so I had a spare, but one was two inches less in pitch for when I added that third person. Experiment so you know....When I switched props, I also knew which trim settings I needed to change.
 

jitterbug127

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 6, 2023
Messages
601
Where did the third guy sit ? Balancing weight on a small boat is very critical. So is prop selection...a change to a lesser pitch might be needed when that third person is added. On my 14' old tinnie, I carried two props so I had a spare, but one was two inches less in pitch for when I added that third person. Experiment so you know....When I switched props, I also knew which trim settings I needed to change.
Right in the middle of the whole boat. I was thinking prop might be a good idea to check too!
 

jitterbug127

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Feb 6, 2023
Messages
601
My jon boat is a 16x54 smoker craft big jon. Its heavy before I even get anyone in the water

Boat 340 lbs
Outboard 115
Battery 40
Powerdrive 45
Plywood floors 100 +/- (Im going to 1/2 inch eventually)
Anchor 15

Guy 1 200
Guy 210
guy 3 150

Gear and other crap 50-100 lbs

Were probably around 1300 lbs more or less. I have no idea if thats a lot of weight for a 25 hp outboard or not.
 

saltchuckmatt

Commander
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Jul 19, 2019
Messages
2,638
HP is HP....often times when your using the same block size kick out of the hole and getting on a plane are better. My 2 cents.
 

cyclops222

Lieutenant
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Mar 21, 2024
Messages
1,289
How wide is the hull at the widest place ? At the straight across bow ? How many gallons of gasoline tank ? Gallons of bait tank ? Type and weight of seating ? Or only aluminum bench seats ?
 
Last edited:

jitterbug127

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 6, 2023
Messages
601
How wide is the hull at the widest place ? At the straight across bow ? How many gallons of gasoline tank ? Gallons of bait tank ? Type and weight of seating ? Or only aluminum bench seats ?
6 gallon fuel tank, no bait tank, ive got 3 of those foldable seats. 2 on pedestals and one on a homemade bench seat. One or two aluminum bench seats have been eliminated.
 

airshot

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
5,080
My jon boat is a 16x54 smoker craft big jon. Its heavy before I even get anyone in the water

Boat 340 lbs
Outboard 115
Battery 40
Powerdrive 45
Plywood floors 100 +/- (Im going to 1/2 inch eventually)
Anchor 15

Guy 1 200
Guy 210
guy 3 150

Gear and other crap 50-100 lbs

Were probably around 1300 lbs more or less. I have no idea if thats a lot of weight for a 25 hp outboard or not.
Yep....your pushing some weight there, with the right prop it should plane but gonna slow it down. Another 10 to won't make a big difference in performance, but might be enough to plane if you have the right prop.
 

cyclops222

Lieutenant
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Mar 21, 2024
Messages
1,289
When you remove 1 or 2 bench seats. You make the boat a submarine. If it takes on too much water, too fast.
 
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