Opinions on boat/engine combo

[mpj76]

First time soon to be boat owner looking for opinions on the following combo. 15' Saturn with 20 hp honda four stroke pull start tiller for getting out of inlet and hitting reef line in south Florida. Typical load out would be two divers/gear with spotter. Is this enough engine? What if I did four divers with gear? Any other motor brand suggestions (must be 15" shaft). Thanks.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Opinions on boat/engine combo

4 + gear...
30HP minimum if you want to plane with all that weight.

Yamaha

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Opinions on boat/engine combo

4 + gear...
30HP minimum if you want to plane with all that weight.

Yamaha

Absolutely. No way you're planing with 4 divers with a 20hp motor. 30hp is a good suggestion. The 20hp will plane with 2 persons and gear but not 4.

 

[TJLMERC330]

Re: Opinions on boat/engine combo

What is the max HP the boat is rated for ? Go with that ... h

Tom

 

[mpj76]

Re: Opinions on boat/engine combo

It is rated to 40hp. I've been checking out the Suzuki 25 and the Tohatsu 30 due to 15" shaft size. Would love 40 but trying to keep it cheaper.

 

[John the Barber]

Re: Opinions on boat/engine combo

Well, I just bought the Suzuki 25 from O.S. in Pompano. I'll report later on performance. I think (hope) it will be fine for my needs. It's on a 14 Mercury HD.

 

[mpj76]

Re: Opinions on boat/engine combo

Small, small, world. I'm in Lighthouse Point and ended up buying a Suzuki 25 from OS on Dixie about three weeks ago. Mine's a pull start. I put it on a 15' Saturn SD470.

With me and my wife, plus the cooler partly filled, It jumps onto plane immediately. It gets to top speed (21 mph GPS) within seconds and hits the red line quickly.

With the same above plus two dive tanks, dive gear for two, and two more people (275 lbs of people), it still jumps onto plane quickly and tops out at 18 mph and hits redline (5500 rpms) which it still gets to quickly.

My heaviest load so far has been me and two other guys (one heavy) with dive gear for all and six tanks. It still got on plane without problems, but I didn't GPS it. It didn't seem much slower.

The engine has a red line range of 4500-5500. I'm not using a whale tail or tabs. My thoughts are I need a higher pitch prop. I'm probably going to give the 12" a try.

Let me know how your speed trials go. I'm curious since we've got the same exact engine.

 

[John the Barber]

Re: Opinions on boat/engine combo

Well, I'm trying to figure out my speed. I'm used to a twin 250, 30 foot boat. So this is just slow as far as I'm concerned. Almost fast enough for what I need though.

I was out in the Everglades fishing on Sunday with my son. The engine started easily, nice and quiet (when compared to the 82 25HP Evinrude) that was on it.

I think you are right about the pitch change. Mike at OS told me the supplied prop is right in the middle of available ones, so check it out with time and report back to him if I feel I need more. Yeah, I need more and it didn't take much time.

BTW mpj76, were you up in Lake Wyman, by Red Reef Park in Boca three weeks ago with three guest aboard? Just curious we may have spoken about your boat. You weren't doing anything wrong...hint.

 

[mpj76]

Re: Opinions on boat/engine combo

It was me indeed! Haven't purchased the bigger prop yet. I had a chance to test the boat out in some weather this past weekend (Sat morning). Me and two buddies with dive gear for two (one tank each) were out by the Ancient Mariner doing a dive when some weather really kicked up. On our ride back to Hillsboro we went through some high winds and big waves. We agreed they were six to eight when it got the worst. These boats are definately sea-worthy. Any bigger, though, and I would have probably had to right angle it into the beach.

 

[John the Barber]

Re: Opinions on boat/engine combo

I've been too busy with weekend work. Then through in the garbage weather we've been experiencing and I just haven't had any time. However, my lawn is nice and green; growing at the usual summer pace. I'll report more later on how I fare out there. Be well. Track me down if you see me.