Minimum outboard size 14' boat

[colbyt]

If I had 50 cents for every thread I have read where people want to max out, I could buy a new boat.

My situation is that I prefer to fish some restricted lakes and small streams in the local area. I just want to get from point a to b somewhat faster than a trolling motor will go. These are all no wake places, restricted to 5HP or less, and I prefer to play by the rules. I won't be going to the coast or any big lakes.

Some of you putt putt guys tell me what you use. One lake is limited to 3.5 and that or a 2.5 is where I am inclined.

A feller can pick up and older fiberglass boat around here cheaper than a good tinny so what would you say is the minimum for that?

All responses appreciated.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Minimum outboard size 14' boat

Is it going to have the same above stated 2.5-3.5 HP restrictions, if so, go for the 3.5 as will push better a larger size boat than the 2.5. Usually same horses, one restricted. A Tohatsu 3.5 pushes a J-24 sailboat pretty well.

Happy Boating

 

[belairbrian]

Re: Minimum outboard size 14' boat

I had a merc 3.9 (69 model IIRC) that would move a 14 ft jon boat pretty well. I was told it really wasn't a 3.9 but a marking scheme for restricted lakes.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Minimum outboard size 14' boat

I had small engines and if you have any distance to go you need to be able to plane out which means no less than a 9.9.

Mark

 

[JB]

Re: Minimum outboard size 14' boat

The very best small outboards ever made were the JohnnyRude 3-4.5, with my vote going to the 3s. You simply cannot beat a 55-65 JohnnyRude 3 for smoothness, quietness, reliability or ease of maintenence.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Minimum outboard size 14' boat

The very best small outboards ever made were the JohnnyRude 3-4.5, with my vote going to the 3s. You simply cannot beat a 55-65 JohnnyRude 3 for smoothness, quietness, reliability or ease of maintenence.

Yes sir and having been associated with one I never was able to be satisfied with a single cylinder. That little 3 with the weedless lower unit was a real honey but when we used it we didn't have far to go.

Mark

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Minimum outboard size 14' boat

I had small engines and if you have any distance to go you need to be able to plane out which means no less than a 9.9.Mark

So how would you run a 9.9 on a body of water restricted to 3.5hp? I know I wouldn't.

 

[Steve Mahler]

Re: Minimum outboard size 14' boat

There are two parts of your question - how well will a small hp motor push a 14' boat, and also whether a fiberglass boat would be ok.

I have a 15' glass '60s runabout. Heavy as sin (they all are). my 30lb electric will push it marginally, really tough in wind.

I also have a 14' tin starcraft. Same electric 30lb pushes it quickly; my 3.0hp Sears/Eska moves it nicely (4mph) at 3/4 throttle. My 7.5hp Chrysler moves it at 8mph, my 20hp Johnson at 15mph.

I once had a '70s Evinrude Mate 2hp. Nice little motor, you see them for a couple hundred bucks often, quieter and smoother than the sears or gamefisher air cooled motors, and 2hp is a lot more pushing power than most electric trollers.

I would recommend a tin rowboat over a glass boat, unless you find a glass rowboat which wouldnt be as heavy. I do have a 13' MFG fiberglass boat that is no heavier than my aluminum - but they are rarely cheap.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Minimum outboard size 14' boat

I think I'd get a 3 or 3.5, then keep an eye out for a 9.9 - 15, so you have more versatility. In some conditions (probably not yours as described) too little power can be a safety issue. But small outboards are so easy to store and swap out, you'd get the benefit as if you had 2 different boats.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Minimum outboard size 14' boat

Well, if you want to be sneaky, you can get an 8 hp motor and slice the "8" decal in half to make it a "3 hp" motor. It's a bit of a dirty tricky though. I agree that a little vintage, twin cylinder, 3 hp Johnson/Evinrude is a great little motor. I have a single cylinder air cooled Tanaka/Gamefisher kicker on my boat that works great, but it's awfully loud.

 

[colbyt]

Re: Minimum outboard size 14' boat

There are two parts of your question - how well will a small hp motor push a 14' boat, and also whether a fiberglass boat would be ok.

I have a 15' glass '60s runabout. Heavy as sin (they all are). my 30lb electric will push it marginally, really tough in wind.

I also have a 14' tin starcraft. Same electric 30lb pushes it quickly; my 3.0hp Sears/Eska moves it nicely (4mph) at 3/4 throttle. My 7.5hp Chrysler moves it at 8mph, my 20hp Johnson at 15mph.

I once had a '70s Evinrude Mate 2hp. Nice little motor, you see them for a couple hundred bucks often, quieter and smoother than the sears or gamefisher air cooled motors, and 2hp is a lot more pushing power than most electric trollers.

I would recommend a tin rowboat over a glass boat, unless you find a glass rowboat which wouldnt be as heavy. I do have a 13' MFG fiberglass boat that is no heavier than my aluminum - but they are rarely cheap.

I appreciate all replies but I especially appreciate ones like yours.

At one time I had a 1.5 Eska that I ported to rental boats on Stoner Creek. If I got one of the skinny ones it plugged along nicely. When I got the big old wide jon it seemed to fly. I am a good bit heavier now then I was then but I am pretty sure that 3-4 horses will move a 1448 jon about as fast as I need to go.

I admit I would remove the decal from a 4 and call it a 3.5 but I sorta doubt that 9.9 would pass the muster that way. Everybody on these two lakes pretty much play by the no wake rules since there is a zero tolerance policy and your privileges can be revoked.

Edit: Yes it was a 2 part since I am seeing so many small FG boats cheaper than I can find wide tin ones.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Minimum outboard size 14' boat

So how would you run a 9.9 on a body of water restricted to 3.5hp? I know I wouldn't.

Guess what! After reading this I revisited the original post and lo and behold I missed a critical piece of information. So, in retrospect, one would think if the lake were limited to that low of a HP then it must not be very large so distance isn't a concern so there is no need for a 9.9.

Mark

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: Minimum outboard size 14' boat

I'm curious as to why you haven't considered electric as the solution. It's quite and depending on the size, can push a 14' boat to 5mph pretty easily. The downside is the extra weight of the batteries and the need to charge them but a quiet little 2000w portable generator works pretty well for the charging problem and if you wanted to spend the extra money an Odyseey Dry Cell is the ticket for batteries.
As a side note, the dry cells still only have about 200 charge cycles so they don't last any longer than wet or agm batteries. They do give you longer run times and much faster re-charges depending on which one you get.

 

[babbot]

Re: Minimum outboard size 14' boat

Any thought on going all electric. Then you only need one propulsion source. A large trolling motor or an electric outboard should work great. Those torpedoes electric outboards seem nice and very sophisticated on battery management.
Also, a 100lb trolling motor could work pretty well to get you around. Non of those outboards are going to get you on plane so mine as well go easier route.

 

[colbyt]

Re: Minimum outboard size 14' boat

I am fairly sure that that the minn kota 30 will be all I need for the 3.5hp restricted lake as it just isn't that large.

The 5hp restricted lake is much larger and the better fishing is a good ways from the ramp. The only very valid reason for its being restricted is that it is a municipal water supply.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Minimum outboard size 14' boat

Guess what! After reading this I revisited the original post and lo and behold I missed a critical piece of information. So, in retrospect, one would think if the lake were limited to that low of a HP then it must not be very large so distance isn't a concern so there is no need for a 9.9. Mark

Mark I figured as much, just wanted to get you back on track cause I know you wouldn't give out bad advice.
Here in Wisconsin there are a few good size lakes that are restricted to "No Motors"! Not much to do about it.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Minimum outboard size 14' boat

A older 5 hp is rated for about 12 mph lightly setup.
We had a 12ft flat bottom steel boat with a 5hp Gale Bucaneer can't get you the exact speed.But it planed instantly with a 180- pounder in the middle seat with a tiller extension.Speed was very close to the 12 mph rating.
A glass boat with a hard chine with the extra crap stripped out might plane the same way.
A relatively light but big 14 or 16 aluminum boat will plane easier than a small 14 or 12 as you add weight.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Minimum outboard size 14' boat

Thank you sir. Being a retired professional, I state facts from a reference which I publish or personal experience. Just hearing some guy beating his gums just doesn't get it for me. Besides, I like to explain how things work when I can so that you can look at the workings and when you see something that doesn't fit you have your "smoking gun".

Mark

 

[JB]

Re: Minimum outboard size 14' boat

Re: Electric troller vs. 3HP JohnnyRude. The JohnnyRude weighs about 32#, complete. The troller would weigh quite a bit more than that, assuming you want a big deep cycle battery to run it.