Lowe 1648M Outboard/ What HP?

[LandlockedPirate]

OK, kind of a in-depth question. I recently bought a new (holdover) Lowe L1648M and am now shopping for an outboard. The boat is rated up to 35 HP. I need a tiller steered short shaft. The boat will mostly be used with 2-3 large adults and all the normal gear.

Is 9.9 too small for this boat? I only ask because there are a few 10 HP-limit lakes around that I like to fish. I also like to fish larger lakes (3,000-10,000 acres) and a local river and I do still want to be able to get around. If 9.9 is not an option, I am not opposed to running a larger outboard and using trolling motor on the small lakes.

I am very curious if there is anyone else out there with the same/similar boat and what outboard that they are using. What speeds are you getting and what are your recomendations?

Thanks!

 

[5150abf]

Re: Lowe 1648M Outboard/ What HP?

With 3 adults and a 16 footer a 9.9 will get you where you want to go as long as you aren't in a hurry.

If you want to run 10-15 miles down a lake I would probably hold out for something bigger but if you fish close to the ramp a 10 should be fine.

We have limit lakes around here and as long as you remove the prop you can have any size of engine you want, you just use the trolling motor to get around.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Lowe 1648M Outboard/ What HP?

put as close to 35 on it, and a bow mount trolling motor, or you will be extremely unhappy. there are not many 35's around new. may have to go with 30hp. i recommend an Evinrude 30 hp Etec.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Lowe 1648M Outboard/ What HP?

I would also suggest the larger engine (25 - 30 HP) since you do lug around three people periodically. Depending on the trolling you do, that size gasser will troll all day just fine so the 9.9 is not really needed other than for the HP limit lakes. The bow mount electric is great if you do some really slow trolling or spot fishing.

 

[jasper60103]

Re: Lowe 1648M Outboard/ What HP?

On a side note. I had a difficult time finding a 70-80s JohnnyRude 35hp, and a newer motor is out of my price range. Short shafts may be easier to find though. I settled for a 25hp to push my 16' tinnie.

 

[nightstalker]

Re: Lowe 1648M Outboard/ What HP?

OK, kind of a in-depth question. I recently bought a new (holdover) Lowe L1648M and am now shopping for an outboard. The boat is rated up to 35 HP. I need a tiller steered short shaft. The boat will mostly be used with 2-3 large adults and all the normal gear.

Is 9.9 too small for this boat? I only ask because there are a few 10 HP-limit lakes around that I like to fish. I also like to fish larger lakes (3,000-10,000 acres) and a local river and I do still want to be able to get around. If 9.9 is not an option, I am not opposed to running a larger outboard and using trolling motor on the small lakes.

I am very curious if there is anyone else out there with the same/similar boat and what outboard that they are using. What speeds are you getting and what are your recomendations.

Thanks!

I've got basically the same rig in CT. where many of the lakes have the 10 HP limit. I use a 15 HP Johnson with 10 HP decals. It pushes it good enough to get around, but I don't have to go farther than a few miles to get to where the fish are.
Nightstalker

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Lowe 1648M Outboard/ What HP?

none of the manufacturers have made many 35hp, since the 1950's. they are 25, 30, 40 is what is mostly available.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Lowe 1648M Outboard/ What HP?

"none of the manufacturers have made many 35hp, since the 1950's. They are 25, 30, 40 is what is mostly available."

Except Chrysler...Wait I get it. You meant a real manufacturer

 

[steelespike]

Re: Lowe 1648M Outboard/ What HP?

Boy I'm surprised that boat is a load at 420# my bare bones 77 18' Crestliner is around 275.That flat bottom should get up pretty easily. A 9.9 will do about 21 on a light reasonably fast stock boat.Carefully loaded and propped you might plane ok with three aboard.probably no more than 15 or 16 mph.
Of course you'll be a lot happier with more power.A 25 would run about 32
on a light stock boat.I would think your boat could manage 20 to 25 carefully loaded and propped.

 

[jasper60103]

Re: Lowe 1648M Outboard/ What HP?

77 18' Crestliner is around 275...

steelespike,
Just curious, what model Crestliner do you have and what size motor are you using?

I have a 77 16' Crestliner Voyager Dlx. It weighs 400# per spec. I think your 18 footer would be 375# at least?

jasper

 

[BIGcarpy50]

Re: Lowe 1648M Outboard/ What HP?

My Uncle Runs an old 2 storoke Nissan 9.9. on his 16 foot jon. The thing flies with 3 of us. I Have been told that the old 2 strokes nissan made were sold as 9.9hp but are more like 17hp. I know they have since made the testing requirements more rigid so if you can find a used one its a GEM. He was once offered $2000 by a gentelmen at one of the launches.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Lowe 1648M Outboard/ What HP?

77 18' Crestliner is around 275...

steelespike,
Just curious, what model Crestliner do you have and what size motor are you using?

I have a 77 16' Crestliner Voyager Dlx. It weighs 400# per spec. I think your 18 footer would be 375# at least?

jasper

I think my 77 may have been a Voyager but very plain.A dull green 16 or 18" front deck.combined welded/rivet construction. 5/8" seat material with cheap wood grain glued covering,no floor,bait tanks, compartments,factory wiring etc. Just a few ribs other than those formed from the 3 main seat bases filled with what looked like leftover foam scraps. Front seat was just a board.Rear is U shaped. Rated for 55hp I have a 88 Evinrude 50 tiller.Never fine tuned the setup but she fairly flys with the tank in the rear and me jammed into the starboard corner of the stern.Boat was $995 new in 77.Cheapest 18 I could find.I know the weight is less than300 and it seems I saw the 275 figure somewhere.I should have bought the very pretty red and silver lund with blonde seats for $1090. My 57 18ft Bucaneer same bare bones but much longer deck with a little dashboard,mohogany seats, beefy mahagony built up transom rated for 70 hp. factory specs are 330lbs.

 

[jasper60103]

Re: Lowe 1648M Outboard/ What HP?

Yea, yours sounds like a voyager.
Mine was a 16' voyager deluxe (had a center console and storage locker), but someone removed it, so its no longer a "deluxe" anymore, LOL. Anyway, I like that its open in the middle.
I haven't had a chance to take it out yet. It will be powered with a 25hp. It's was rated to a 50hp when configured with a console. So I guess up to a 40hp tiller setup should be OK.

Anywho, guess we hijacked this thread long enough. PM me your email and I can send you a copy of the spec sheet I have for your boat.
thanks,
jasper

 

[just_crsn]

Re: Lowe 1648M Outboard/ What HP?

OK, kind of a in-depth question. I recently bought a new (holdover) Lowe L1648M and am now shopping for an outboard. The boat is rated up to 35 HP. I need a tiller steered short shaft. The boat will mostly be used with 2-3 large adults and all the normal gear.

Is 9.9 too small for this boat? I only ask because there are a few 10 HP-limit lakes around that I like to fish. I also like to fish larger lakes (3,000-10,000 acres) and a local river and I do still want to be able to get around. If 9.9 is not an option, I am not opposed to running a larger outboard and using trolling motor on the small lakes.

I am very curious if there is anyone else out there with the same/similar boat and what outboard that they are using. What speeds are you getting and what are your recomendations?

Thanks!

I have the same boat lowe 1648m with a 25 4 stroke on it.Will push the boat at 30mph with me and gear, 2 guys around 27 mph and 3 guys about 23mph.
A 9.9 will not plane your boat with more than you in it.

 

[Wee Hooker]

Re: Lowe 1648M Outboard/ What HP?

If going two stroke, the 15/18 hp w 9.9 decal has merit. (Ask me how I know;-))
However, 15hp is still questionable if your loading her up with 3 guys and gear regularly. ( You might want two different props.) My advice is to see if you can borrow/ test run a 10 or 15 hp motor before you buy.
I did this when rigging the 14'/350# WeeHooker. I was convinced I wanted a 25 (as she was rated for) but reconsidered after "wowing" myself on a test run with a buddies borrowed and repropped 15. I went 15hp as it was plenty fast, lighter and was easier to lift/run shallow water.
FWIW, my rule of thumb for small boats is to shoot for 50% rated HP as a minimum. 75% is better. ( NOthing scientific in those #'s, it just always worked for me.) In your case that means 18hp or better. The nice thing about getting a 10-25 is that they are easy to find in short shaft tillers and can be shipped right to your house from online dealers. ( There are often some pretty decient deals on NIB 20-25 hp's on Ebay.) Pricewise, the 20 or 25 isn't much more than the 10 so gives the best bang for the buck. That considered, I just bought a 30hp Nissan ( tiller and power tilt) to run my new Mirrocraft 1615-Outfitter. It was only $300 more than the 25 so I figured WTH. I figure I can always hang a 3-5hp kicker to hang on the side for those (rare) 10hp lake days. Lastly, In my experience, the electric will work "OK" but lacks "getting there" speed and is frustrating by days end when the wind is up and battery volts down.

 

[mickjetblue]

Re: Lowe 1648M Outboard/ What HP?

10 hp - fine for 1 person, will get 2 or 3 around, but not fast.

20 hp - fine for 2 persons, will do much better than a 10 with 3 persons.

30 hp - fine for 1, 2, or 3 persons, best, except for the 10hp lakes.

If the 10hp lakes are what you what most, than 10hp is for you.
You can sacrifice some speed for the fishing and lake experience that is
more important. Efficient with gas usage, and great for trolling.

Many bass boats with big motors fish electric lakes only, and get around
for fishing just fine with electric motors.

In my 1848, I have opted for the maximum power, and don't regret it.
Depends on your waters options and what you want most to do.

Some compromise in all multi situations.