motor HP recommendation?

[jasper60103]

Hi, All.

I was thinking of trading my boat/motor in for a smaller HP motor.
I have a 85HP Evinrude that needs work and I wouldn't mind downsizing
for a smaller working motor.

I see a lot of boat/motors for sale in the 10-25HP range.
So my question is, would that be adequate for a 14-16 boat
on most fresh water lakes/rivers? I live in Minnesota and we got lakes!
I was thinking 40HP minimum, but maybe that's not necessary? I just want to fish with it, not ski.

I appreciate your opinions. thanks jasper.

 

[mthieme]

Re: motor HP recommendation?

What kinda boat?

 

[jasper60103]

Re: motor HP recommendation?

I was thinking a 14-16 ft. aluminum v-hull boat. I didn't have a particular brand in mind. Oh, I guess I should say the motor should be capable of nicely pushing a couple guys and fishing gear. Thanks.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: motor HP recommendation?

A lot of the lighter 14' aluminum boats have maximum hp ratings of 20-25 hp, so they'd work just fine with that power range. Those are tiller boats, of course. If you step up to a boat with a console, then you'll be looking at a max power of 40 or 50 hp.

Any of the usual 14 foot tiller-steer boats will zoom right out with two guys out for fishing with a 20-25hp outboard.

Lowe, Alumicraft, Lund (of course), Starcraft, and several others make boats like that, with different seat arrangements, etc. You'll miss stuff like rod storage, etc., but they're sure easy to tow and handle out there on the water.

Since you're in MN, do check Craig's List for a couple of weeks. You'll see lots of boats like that. You could get a complete rig, just a few years old, for a nice price right now. The market was pretty hot this season for those boats, as guys sized down from their big boats, but it's slowed up now that the season's almost over. Great time to buy.

 

[jasper60103]

Re: motor HP recommendation?

Sounds good. I'm checking craigs list.
I have mine listed as well.
Hopefully I can get a good deal.

Thanks for the advice.

jasper

 

[ED21]

Re: motor HP recommendation?

I've got a 16' alum boat with a 40 hp tiller that plenty for 2 people fishing and crabbing. Not a lot of storage, but it's easy on fuel and easy to tow and launch. I've also pulled kids on skis and tubes.

 

[steelespike]

Re: motor HP recommendation?

When picking a boat if its a 14 go with the biggest 14 you can find not all loaded down with floors and consoles etc.I've seen 14s that looked like 12s and others that looked like 16s.You'll not only have more room but it will plane better.When I got my barebones 18ft for my 25hp Gale it was much faster with a load than my 15ft ever was.It would easily plane with 6 adults.

 

[jasper60103]

Re: motor HP recommendation?

Yea, 20-25hp is the way I'm leaning now. I hope to sell/trade my existing setup. Thanks again for the advice.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: motor HP recommendation?

There are a couple of interesting-looking Lund 14' boats on the local Craig's List this morning. It'd be hard to beat a nice Lund.

 

[jasper60103]

Re: motor HP recommendation?

Ok, I have another question.

What shaft length should I be looking for in a motor? I see short and long shaft motors listed on craigslist?

I don't have a boat yet, but I was hoping to trade my existing boat on a outboard motor. After getting a motor, my plan was to buy an aluminum boat/trailer later. Assuming I go with a short (15") shaft motor, are 15" transom boats plentiful?

thanks,
jasper

 

[jasper60103]

Re: motor HP recommendation?

OK, I think I can answer my own question.

Small aluminum boats in the size range I'm looking for generally require the short shaft motor.

 

[marquette]

Re: motor HP recommendation?

i have 16ft Lund Rebel w/side console with a 30hp Honda. works great here in minnesota for 3 people with gear. Honda's have horrible mid range acceleration so i think a 25-35hp 2 stroke would have more jump. i had a 3 cylinder Yamaha 40hp on the boat. ran fast and got up on plane fast but a 40hp on a 500lb boat won't troll. the 3 cyl Yamaha's idle down nice and smooth but the prop moves more water with each revolution that the boat can resist. the plus side to a 40hp is that there are a lot of them and most of them will have T&T. finding anything smaller with T&T is hard. a lot of the 4 stroke 25-35hp will have gas assist for tilting. the 2 strokes are light enough you really don't need it unless you are physically challenged. for what it is worth i wouldn't give up a flat floor for the little bit of weight saved with out one. standing on the slant of the floor, having your feet in water, always trying not to set something down in water or dropping your snack in the water that is always rolling around in the bottom of the boat sucks. i think downsizing is a really good idea considering todays gas prices and tow vehicles but just becase you are downsizing doesn't mean you have to become a minimalist.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: motor HP recommendation?

OK, I think I can answer my own question.

Small aluminum boats in the size range I'm looking for generally require the short shaft motor.

Not necessarily. Some of the larger, wider 14' ones use a long shaft engine. I had an old Lund 14' for awhile, with a 20" transom. It was rated for 50 hp, tiller. I wish I'd kept it, frankly, but I didn't have an engine for it, so I sold it.

I'd wait on the engine until you find the boat you want.

 

[jasper60103]

Re: motor HP recommendation?

I'd wait on the engine until you find the boat you want.

CATransplant, after thinking about it a while I came to the same conclusion. Thanks.

I found a clean '77 Crestliner 16ft. tiller aluminum boat w/20" transom and Spartan trailer. New marine grade plywood and carpet was installed a couple years back. The guy who owned it has a fiberglass and aluminum boat repair shop.

I'm very please so far, it trailers very easy and I can easily move it in/out of my garage. Plus, the trailer has a lifetime license and boat is registered
thru 2010. I hope to put the boat in the water before it gets too cold.

Anyway, I'm back to shopping for motors. My new boat is rated to 35hp, but I'm not really looking for a lot of power. I would prefer a 9.9hp, but I'm afraid that would under power my boat.

I seen a couple motors on craigslist and would like to hear some opinions. I was thinking a 15hp would do the job for me and I found one that sounds nice and fairly new, '88 Johnson 15hp for $495. Then, I found a '76 Johnson 35hp for $500. So, I'm thinking more power, same price, why not? Then again, I like the idea of having a lighter motor.

Now, I haven't seen either one yet, but I plan to make some appts this week.
If both motors were in good shape, which one would you choose? Also, there are a couple 20hp motors in the same price range, but a further drive away, a '73 Mercury 20hp and a '72 Johnson 20hp.

But, I'm thinking that '88 Johnson 15hp could be a good pick? Your thoughts?

thanks,
jasper

 

[whofan]

Re: motor HP recommendation?

I would get a boat like a Lund Rebel 16ft with the 20 inch transome. Maybe outfit it with a 30 hp Honda or something like that.

I had a 14ft with the 15inch transome. In rough water the 15 inch takes water over it easy with a little chop. 14 ft is rough in a little chop and cramped with two people.

I have a 1650 lund Fisherman with the walk through windshield and a 70 Johnson on back.

Something like a Rebel with the decking and bildge pump and live well is nice.
It doesn`t have to be a Lund, Just useing the rebel as an example of what I`d look for. Do yourself a favor, as a minimum get a 16ft with a 20in transome.

 

[whofan]

Re: motor HP recommendation?

The Johnson 15 is a great motor but in your case I would go with at least a 20 horse or more. The 15 horse is better suited for a 14ft boat.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: motor HP recommendation?

Congratulations! I'm glad you found a boat. I think, for that 16' Crestliner, you should look for a 20-35hp motor. The 9.9 will just frustrate you, and won't plane that boat. You can always go slow with the larger outboard, but, you can't go fast with the little one.

Typically, 25 and 35 hp outboards are pretty common on CL. I saw a 20hp on there today, too, I think. I know you're eager to get going, but take your time. Within a week or two, you should find something that's just right. Make sure it's in good running condition, of course.

Frankly, I'd go with a johnnyrude, but I may be prejudiced. Avoid the various Chryslers and Forces out there, and skip the Spirit 25 hp that seems to turn up on CL every couple of weeks. Mercs are OK, of course, but don't get an old one...they can be tough to maintain for the amateur.

Let us know what you find!

 

[jasper60103]

Re: motor HP recommendation?

CATransplant,
I'm noticing a lot of these motors in the 25-35hp range are in the same price range, so I'm leaning towards 35hp.

I've been talking with a guy who has a '81 Evinrude 35hp. It sounds like it's been well kept, looks clean and recently tuned-up. Hopefully, I can get by to see it this week. I've been avoiding the motors that have been stored or not used in a while.

Do you think I would be better off waiting until Spring to buy ?

Will keep you posted.

jasper

 

[jasper60103]

Re: motor HP recommendation?

Oh, I have another question.
Motors with the shaft extension kit, do those have any realibilty
or performance issues compared to a factory long shaft motor?

 

[marquette]

Re: motor HP recommendation?

i had a 1992 crestliner commander 16ft 9 in. so i don't know if it was a considered a 16 or 17ft. the commander was an odd boat. much like a lund rebel with flat floor, pedestal seats, live well,ect but much wider with a very chined hull. it weighed 740lbs according to crestliner. i had a 40hp johnson on it. too much motor to troll with. a 40hp turns too big of a prop for that light a boat to troll. 25-35hp would have been a better choice. smaller than 25hp would have been too small. when you are looking remember 1976 is when OMC went to thru hub exhaust (quieter) on the 35hp and sometime early 80's on the 25&30hp. second hand props are easier to find for thru hub also. i know that parts are available for most of the old Johnnyrudes but parts and accessories are easier to find for the thru hub models. Tashdaddy might know the correct answer but i think that when OMC switched models to thru hub is when they also started rating hp at the prop for that model. so a 1986 30hp would be pretty close to a 1971 35hp in performance if i am right. i have a 1986 28hpSPL as one of my motors and i would avoid them if you can. starts and runs great but it is a noisy motor because (i think) it does not have thru hub exhaust.