Problems with oversized boat motor

[iboats625]

I want to put a 1962 Johnson 40hp on my 14 foot V Jon boat that is about 5 feet wide at its widest point. My research says this motor is too large for my boat. What kind of problems should I expect?

 

[FLATHEAD]

I want to put a 1962 Johnson 40hp on my 14 foot V Jon boat that is about 5 feet wide at its widest point. My research says this motor is too large for my boat. What kind of problems should I expect?

Curious about that camo. Is that a wrap, or what? Maybe you already did this, but as far as the motor look at your plate on the transom. It should give max HP

 

[iboats625]

Curious about that camo. Is that a wrap, or what? Maybe you already did this, but as far as the motor look at your plate on the transom. It should give max HP

There is not a plate on the transom. The camouflage is painted by one of the previous owners. It was used as a duck blind. The hull number is a new one obtained by the owner I bought it from.

 

[bigblocksarefun]

That's double what you usually see for a jon that size, plus the extra weight of a much older outboard. Best case scenario she just sits ass low in the water, worst case scenario it rips the transom off. Basically, FAFO lol.

 

[briangcc]

Stern sitting lower/much lower due to weight, possibly swamping it. Could flip if you goose the throttle too much. Inspections may cause your pocket book to be lighter/much lighter due to ticket. Insurance will have a field day with you if you're in an accident.

I wouldn't do it, I'd sell it off and look for a smaller motor. Probably 10-20hp max as a guesstimate.

 

[roscoe]

illegal in some states

 

[jimmbo]

60" wide, a 62 40hp Johnson isn't all that heavy, unlike the current 4 Stroke Anchors. It should be fine

 

[Chris1956]

That isn't a Jon Boat. It is more of a semi-vee boat.

12 foot Semi-Vees were often rated for 25HP, so a 14 footer should be rated for 30 or more HP.

My 1960 Crestliner 14 foot runabout (also 5 ft beam) was rated for 40HP.

You could look up similar boats and see what they are rated for.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Local LEOs will use the USCG calculations

 

[airshot]

Wont be a big problem until you get into a boating accident and someone realizes your boat is overpowered......then everything will be your fault...find the mfgr and see what the max hp rating is...

 

[brodmann]

I had a 12' flat bottom that was rated for 10 HP. I inherited it with a 3 HP Evinrude. I was 16 years old with a need for speed. I bought a used 25 HP Evinrude and put that on the back. I kept both anchors and 2 6 gallon gas tanks in the bow to keep it down and it ran about 35 MPH! When I got to the end of the small creek my parents lived on, I'd open it up and it would stand straight up in the water, when it leveled off, it got fun. I was frequently told by neighbors that there was no part of the boat actually in the water when it was running wide open. Yeah, I was stupid! I had a blast in that boat. I got a little smarter and I had that boat for 10 years with that motor on it. My girlfriend (now my wife) went fishing, crabbing and island hopping in it and it was our boat until my first son came along and we stumbled across something bigger. Lots of memories of that overpowered little boat. I actually used to tow that boat behind my '77 MGB! All I can say is, God took care of me when I did stupid stuff!! Be careful with it!

 

[jimmbo]

poor motor was probably over revving severely, unless you had changed the prop

 

[tphoyt]

Oh the stupid stuff days. My memory is flying along at 106 mph on a pice of cardboard with twin 235 on it. It’s was actually a 21 foot sonic but it felt like a pice of cardboard. We won the amateur Grand Prix that summer. Good times

 

[JimS123]

A local guy owned a small marina and gas dock. He was the local guru that went faster than anyone else. His boats all had HP wayyyy higher than the plate. All the kids adored him.

One day he was going so fast that he started to chine walk, lost control and he hit a bridge abutment. He's been dead now for 30 years. Nobody even remembers how stupid he was.

 

[airshot]

I can remember those stupid (fun) days very well !! Today we would be swamped in lawsuits, but sure was fun back then !!

 

[Willyclay]

Try the link below for USCG boat building regs on calculating maximum horsepower for outboard boats under 20 feet long. Good luck!

https://safeafloat.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/D-Powering-Final-4-14.pdf

 

[KJM]

I can remember those stupid (fun) days very well !! Today we would be swamped in lawsuits, but sure was fun back then !!

Nothing more indestructible then a 20yr old young fella (in their own minds anyway)!