Maximum Horsepower

[Thompy_04]

Hello everyone... I've got a 14' vee bottom boat here with a 9.5 horsepower Seahorse on'er. Not to bad with the motor but looking to upgrade. The boats 13'11" inches exactly and about 42" wide.... Just wondering what a max horsepower would be? General area would be great looking to buy pretty soon. Tried to make the Johnny run a little faster with a new prop and some smart tabs, just isn't doing the trick.... Thanks guys...

 

[Boatist]

Re: Maximum Horsepower

Boat should have a max HP plate on the boat unless it is very old. If it is a 14 foot aluminum then most 14 are rated at 15 to 18 HP. As narrow as your's is I think likely 15 HP or under.

 

[FlyBoyMark]

Re: Maximum Horsepower

Some 14'-15" transom boats are also rated for upto 30 HP. The old SeaNymph 14R made of .050 aluminum is rated 25 HP and the boat only weighs about 180 lbs. Judging by the beam and length of your boat it sounds like a 9.9-15 HP rated boat. There are also some 14' boats out there that are ONLY rated for a 9.9 also. Can you post a pic of the boat? Sometimes we can identify the boat from a pic.

 

[Thompy_04]

Re: Maximum Horsepower

I can't post a pic, no digital camera on me at the time. I can tell you that the boat doesn't exactly weigh 180 pounds.... Its got a plywood floor 2 fishing seats and a home made front deck with a bow mount trolling motor on'er bow also. With no 2 people in the boat it sits about 2 inches underwater with a full load (fishing gear, battery, full gas can). Also with my crew aboard (me and passenger) it doesn't squat in the rear at all sits perfectly level. What would happen if I put TO MUCH of a motor on this boat? Am I gonna sink it, or just run the p*ss out of it and flip over backwards... Hehe As far as I know by the boat inspection by the Ohio Division of Watercraft the said it was a 1960's Monark boat if that helps any also. The motor now weighs about 60 pounds and if I strengthen the transom can I put a bigger motor than a 15 horsepower? Right now any help would be appricated, like I said looking to buy soon. Thanks

 

[FlyBoyMark]

Re: Maximum Horsepower

Whelp...most 15 HP weigh the same as the 9.9's(same engine,jus' souped up..) Overall speed increase with a 15 HP is only gonna be about 3-5 MPH at best unless you have one of those "old" 9.5 HP powerhead rated engines. Then you could expect upto a 10 MPH increase with a one man load. I personally would not hesitate to put a 25 HP on a boat like that, but in your state it could be different as far as engine size laws go. And as I've said before, here in Florida its what ever blows your skirt up. A Merc 25 HP only weighs about 100 lbs or so and that weight is not a factor in your case. Whats important is the overall condition of the transom and rear of the boat. Does the transom flex now with the 9.5 when you "hole shot"? And last, the 25 HP on the SeaNymph will get about 30 MPH with a light load and fully loaded about 25-27 MPH. Nothng particularly spectatcular. But then again, "flying" on the water to me is anything over 70 MPH. If your a "green horn", I would suggest you stay with a 15 HP for now......

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: Maximum Horsepower

I get 25 mph with my 14 ft and 15 two stroke Evinrude with two big guys. Alone it gets close to 28-29 mph. A 15 has way more "guts" than a 9.5.

 

[Thompy_04]

Re: Maximum Horsepower

Cobra, do you have any mods on the inside of the hull though? If it is a stock aluminum boat I could see the speed being that.... But with two big guys in the boat that could depend also. How big are we talking here. Like I said theres a plywood floor and some fishing seats, but right now a 15 seems pretty good to me. I just don't want to go 18 miles an hour anymore! And yes, it is an OLD SCHOOL 9.5 I'm talking 1970 old. (If thats old to you guys) 25 sounds pretty good for now....

 

[DJ]

Re: Maximum Horsepower

Thompy,<br /><br />Big difference between the old low profile 9 1/2 and the newer 9.9/15.<br /><br />A 42" beam is pretty narrow. I'll bet 15 is MAX.