motor size for 14'

[CASimmons]

I'd like to get a larger motor for my 14 ft boat. I'm considering 20 or 25 hp. The 20 weighs about 115 lbs and the 25 is 160 lbs and is EFI instead of carb. The transom is 16 inches and the plate shows 1000 lbs persons, motor gear and 35 hp motor as well as 5 persons 676 lbs. I'm assuming this a 2 stroke engine versus the 4 sold nowadays. Any advice?

 

[kfa4303]

Re: motor size for 14'

Hi CA. Welcome to iboats. The 35 hp max sounds about right for a 14' boat. However, bear in mind that most capacity plates assume you're using a 2-stroke engine which tend to weigh quite a bit less than their 4-strokes cousins. For example, my 1966 20 hp 2-stroke only weighs about 80-90 lbs, whereas the 20hp you described is quite a bit more and may well be a 4-stroke. If you can post a bit more info on the motor we can be sure. Depending on the layout in your boat, you'll also need to factor in your own body weight and any gear that your store in the stern (rear) of the boat. It sounds like your total weight is under the 1000 lbs. max so the trick will be distributing it evenly within the boat, which just takes trial and error.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: motor size for 14'

also boat ratings depend on whether you have console or tiller steering--you are allowed higher HP with a console; sounds like that's what you have

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: motor size for 14'

Go with the EFI engine. You will never regret it. Horsepower listed on the capacity plate is independent of the engine brand, model, or method of operation. Horsepower is horsepower!

The capacity plate will also list totsal weight including persons, ENGINE, and gear. THAT is where the weight of the engine is factored. With correct weight distribution the 160 pound engine should not trouble you. Aall you need to do is ensure that all the weight of gear is not at the stern. Movuing the battery alone will offset the extra engine weight.

 

[CASimmons]

Re: motor size for 14'

All, Thanks for all the advice so far! Here are answers to some of your questions.

My boat is:

1. Tiller Steering
2. Bench seat in the back and the front
3. Gas tank in the very back up against the stern
4. Battery in the very back up against the stern
5. Live well on the left (starboard) side in the center
6. Carpet floor with I assume floatation under it
7. 16 inch transom height
8. ~20 inch stern height
9. ~57 inch water line at stern

Engines:

1. The 20 and 25 hp engines are 4 cycle.
2. Currently I have a 9.9 hp 2 cycle

 

[phillnjack2]

Re: motor size for 14'

I have a 13 ft boat rated at 50hp for steering at consol or 20 hp on tiller.

i actualy have a 60hp on the back and no problems at all.

the main thing is if the transom is strong enough and the maximum capacity of the boat.
Most boat makers are very frugal with their engine capacity limits especially on tiller.

if on till says 9.9 then 20 on consol is about right, but if your using a tiller you have to remember that all your own weight is
also at the back of the boat near the engine and 30hp would be the very max for safetey and swamping.

Look around at what most people with similar boats are using and ask them if they have bigger engines how they
find the boat handles in general and in rough water..

on european boats the engines capacity is well underated by the makers of the boats.

there is a general rule of thumb to work out the average capacity of a speedboat, but if open boat then i
dont know if such a formula exists..

ask the manufacturer of the boat what they reccomend as the max for tiller nowdays ?

if your in a area that requires insurance you must not go overthe plate sizes and weights !!!




phill

phill

 

[kfa4303]

Re: motor size for 14'

"starboard" = right
"port" = left

It may be worth you're while to sell all of the motors you have now and get a nice 30-40hp 2-stroke like a Yamaha Enduro, or similar model.

 

[steelespike]

Re: motor size for 14'

If your thinking a new motor there are some direct injection 2 stroke motors available.
The Evinrude Etec is one, available in a 25 or 30 ,weights from 143 to 177 depending on the accessories.
No break in period,No service for 3 years or 300 hours. Electronic idle adjust on the tiller
for getting that perfect trolling speed.
Do you find the present setup slow out of the hole?With the gas,battery ,you and the motor all in the back I would think it would struggle.A big bare bones 16 or 18ft utility would plane easier with less power. Our 18ft Crestliner planed easily with 6 adults and a old 25 hp gale.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: motor size for 14'

+1. An nice new e-tec 30hp would be sweet! That's pretty much my dream motor. Super strong, super light, super quiet, and one of the few motors that comes in factory white (not sure why more companies don't do that?).

 

[Outsider]

Re: motor size for 14'

Horsepower is horsepower!

Yes, but all horsepower is not equal. Somewhere along the line HP measurement went from HP rating at the power head rating to rating at the prop, or something like that. The age of the boat would determine which rating is applicable, though not likely to make much of a real difference. Or something like that ...

 

[phillnjack2]

Re: motor size for 14'

Our 18ft Crestliner planed easily with 6 adults and a old 25 hp gale

ha ha ha yeah right, and it done 60 miles per hour too.

a 25hp gale is about the same as a 20hp today, you had 6 adults and it planed easily ?????
were these 6 adults very skinny midgets as not a hope in hell of planning anything with 6 adults on a old gale 25hp.
ive had gale 25hp's when they were relatively new and not a chance of getting a heavy boat like a crestliner 18 on
the plane with just me let alone 6 adults ha ha ha

do you have any idea what an 18ft crestliner weighs ?????
i know many people on this forum like to dream and exagerate the speed of their boats but this is taking the p***


phill

 

[Expidia]

Re: motor size for 14'

Trade it in for at least a 20 inch transom boat. It's that 16 inch transom that's going to be your problem. Especially with a tiller. Think about it. . . . the weight of the motor, you, the gas tank and a starter battery all hanging off the back. It ain't gonna float with an even heavier outboard. I know as I've been there already.
If you think I'm wrong than rent a 20 or 25 4 stroke outboard and hang it off the back. I bet you will have like an inch before the water is coming in. I doubt even a light weight 2 stroke will be safe with a tiller. A 35 hp would be really pushing it in my opinion, with a 16 inch transom.

Probably best to relocate the gas tank towards the front and if you have an electric start (even heavier) move the battery towards the bow too. I used to use a tiller extension handle, so I could sit in the middle, but they are really unsafe when trying to steer with them.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: motor size for 14'

Trade it in for at least a 20 inch transom boat. It's that 16 inch transom that's going to be your problem. Especially with a tiller. Think about it. . . . the weight of the motor, you, the gas tank and a starter battery all hanging off the back. It ain't gonna float with an even heavier outboard. I know as I've been there already.
If you think I'm wrong than rent a 20 or 25 4 stroke outboard and hang it off the back. I bet you will have like an inch before the water is coming in. I doubt even a light weight 2 stroke will be safe with a tiller. A 35 hp would be really pushing it in my opinion, with a 16 inch transom.

Probably best to relocate the gas tank towards the front and if you have an electric start (even heavier) move the battery towards the bow too. I used to use a tiller extension handle, so I could sit in the middle, but they are really unsafe when trying to steer with them.

I would respectfully disagree. A 25hp 2-stroke (I'm thinking used 25 2-stroke Mercury or tohatsu or Yamaha from 2000-2006 or so) would be great--or even a late 1990's johnson 25hp 2-stroke if in good shape. I weigh 230lbs., keep a marine battery and 6 gallon gas can behind the rear seat of my 14'6" aluminum boat that's rated for 25hp and it has a 15" transom. It's not bad at all and although it would be nice to have a higher transom, I'm fine. If your lake is really windy, the 20" transom would certainly be handy. If going new, I'd sell the rig you currently have and get a whole new rig. (I'm thinking a brand new 4-stroke 25-35hp would be in the 4-5k range). You should be able to find a nice 2-stroke motor in the 25hp range for around 2000 bucks or less if you're patient.

 

[richardgreen]

Re: motor size for 14'

After owning utility style boats with both 15" and 20" transoms I would have a very hard time going back to a short shaft setup. Too many times hitting that one big wave and getting wet is no fun. That being said a heavy 4 stroke motor is only going to make a bad situation worse. If it were my money I'd much rather have a 20" transom first and then match it up with an old school style 2 stroke that is way lighter.

RG

 

[Expidia]

Re: motor size for 14'

I've owned 2 aluminums with 15 inch transoms. If you only use the boat alone on a quiet lake or pond it can work out. But sitting and fishing on a decent sized lake a bigger boat shoots behind you . . their wake can easily swamp you.
Then I moved up to 20 inch transom on a brand new 13.9 foot sylvan Alaskan Deluxe, I used a Merc 4 stroke 9.9 long shaft.
It was rated for a 25 hp and no way it would have held a 25 hp with 2 or 3 people it still would have only had an inch left before water would come in over the transom. And this boat had real high sides to it (called freeboard).

Just noting my experiences for others looking for a small aluminum and come across this thread, not necessarily for the original poster.

One last note. I would also only own a small aluminum which has a splash tray built into the front of the transom. When a wave splashes over the transom, this tray has holes that channel the water back out the back of the boat. Many older 14 footers don't have this feature. Avoid rigs without this transom draining tray (or what ever its called). Or make sure you bring a plastic bleach bottle with you that has the bottom cut out. You might need it at some point.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: motor size for 14'

Wow! I have a 1984 Lund with a 15" transom that is rated for a 35hp engine and has a 1978 35hp Evinrude on the back. I have been hit from behind by large wakes while anchored and I've NEVER taken water over the transom. NEVER! I face much more concern while steering into a hard quartering wind then I do about getting swamped from behind.

 

[sutor623]

Re: motor size for 14'

Our 18ft Crestliner planed easily with 6 adults and a old 25 hp gale

ha ha ha yeah right, and it done 60 miles per hour too.

a 25hp gale is about the same as a 20hp today, you had 6 adults and it planed easily ?????
were these 6 adults very skinny midgets as not a hope in hell of planning anything with 6 adults on a old gale 25hp.
ive had gale 25hp's when they were relatively new and not a chance of getting a heavy boat like a crestliner 18 on
the plane with just me let alone 6 adults ha ha ha

do you have any idea what an 18ft crestliner weighs ?????
i know many people on this forum like to dream and exagerate the speed of their boats but this is taking the p***


phill

Dude, actually Steele is one of the most reputable members on this forum. If you ever have issues with prop pitch, planing, hydrofoils or any of that he is the man to go to. I have a 16' starcraft, that had a 65hp merc on the back, with an older 9.9 Johnson, 3 deep cycle batteries, tons of gear, 15 gallons of gas, and one choppy day on the water my merc died on me. I, believe it or not, planed that boat out and traveled about 10mph and made it back to the boat ramp. I have a video that I will try to post here.

 

[sutor623]

Re: motor size for 14'

Here's the proof:

 

[bonz_d]

Re: motor size for 14'

your links won't work for me! neither of them.

 

[sutor623]

Re: motor size for 14'

And here's another one.