7.5 HP on 14" Aluminum Boat??

[garybli]

I have never owned a boat. A 14 Starcraft aluminum boat from the 1960"s was given to my Dad and I want to get it going for him. I have found a 7.5 HP Johnson from 1980 that I may buy. What kind of performance can I expect from this combination ? The boat is a V hull that is pretty flat at the stern. 3 bench seats, nothing else. Any chance of getting up on plane with two men in it (180&210 lbs)? If not how much power do I need?
Thanks!

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: 7.5 HP on 14

Re: 7.5 HP on 14

My experience with this size boat and 200lb people in them is
8 hp. O.K. with 1 person
10 hp good with 1 person, so so with 2.
15 hp. Good with 2 people.

Remember the motor set up and weight distribution is extremely important.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 7.5 HP on 14

Re: 7.5 HP on 14

this is a boat i had 14' Lonestar, '55 15hp rude, had to put controls and stick steering at middle seat to use alone, as all it would do was stand on the stearn, after doing this it would hit about 25mph alone, and 18-20 mph, with 2 200 pounders, never tried 3.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f119/tashasdaddy/MVC-905S-1.jpg

the 7.5hp won't be a speed demond, but will make a good fishing rig for lakes, and small rivers. it should idle down enough to troll. we use to run 7.5 all the time.

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: 7.5 HP on 14

Re: 7.5 HP on 14

I have had a 7.5 Merc on my 13.5 ft aluminum boat. It barely planed me 200lbs and wife up front 125lbs. You will be looking for more power within a year.

I now have a 1997 15hp Evinrude and it will very easily plane 3 x 200 lb guys. There is absolutely no comparison. Yet size wise and weight wise it is very similar to the 7.5. The 15 is the ideal, still portable, engine for a 14 footer. Anything bigger, trolls lousy and is way too heavy to take on and off regularly.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: 7.5 HP on 14

Re: 7.5 HP on 14

A 7.5 on a 14-footer is fine for a couple of kids, or a single adult, but as has been pointed out, unless you're always running alone, you'll wish you had a bit more oomph.

Also, a 7.5 with a heavy load will end up burning up if you run it hard. Think along the lines of driving uphill, towing a heavy trailer, in fifth gear. The motor is working very hard and builds up heat, which will lead to coking and eventually death for the motor.

- Scott

 

[Texasmark]

Re: 7.5 HP on 14

Re: 7.5 HP on 14

3 instances from earlier years.

Neighbor had a 7.5 off brand and took 3 of us kids (50-65# each....he maybe 140#....thin guy) to the lake. Rented a 14ft alum boat and the 7.5 got it to plane finally, but we had to get a lot of us up forward to do it.

Grandpa had a 7.5 rude ('57 ish) and it would plane a 14' fiberglas rent boat with me up in the bow and him on the tiller. Boat had a front deck and side to side board seats and nothing else in it.

I had an early '80's Merc 7.5 on a 12' alum Lowe Lake John (Lake Johns are wider than most and the sides are significantly deeper). I could run that with me and duck dekes, or catfishing trotlines and all my tackle at a real nice clip, maybe 20 mph...my 220# at the time.
------------------
If dad just wants to putt around it's a no brainer. If he fishes by himself and puts his gear forward it should get him around on a reasonable plane in reasonably smooth water.....would guess 15-18 mph range. Put some tabs on it (to help to get the bow down) and should be a sure thing.

Mark

 

[bassboy1]

Re: 7.5 HP on 14

Re: 7.5 HP on 14

We have a 4 on a 12 ft Vee. It doesn't plane, and it ain't a speed demon, but it will get us where we are going.

 

[garybli]

Re: 7.5 HP on 14

Re: 7.5 HP on 14

Thanks guys! I really appreciate that you've taken time to reply with your advice!
Gary

 

[garybli]

Re: 7.5 HP on 14

Re: 7.5 HP on 14

Thanks again! I had the seller put the motor in a barrell and run it a bit, fwd & rev worked, it pumped water through the engine, and when we pulled the bottom end lube plug no water came out. I bought it for $260 and he threw in a 6 gallon tank with hose and connectors. Seems like We're set for spring. I'll be waiting to see how it does on Dad's boat. I think it will be fine on the small lakes and rivers we will be fishing.
Gary

 

[bassboy1]

Re: 7.5 HP on 14

Re: 7.5 HP on 14

That ain't a bad deal. Seems as if you are set.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: 7.5 HP on 14

Re: 7.5 HP on 14

Thanks again! I had the seller put the motor in a barrell and run it a bit, fwd & rev worked, it pumped water through the engine, and when we pulled the bottom end lube plug no water came out. I bought it for $260 and he threw in a 6 gallon tank with hose and connectors. Seems like We're set for spring. I'll be waiting to see how it does on Dad's boat. I think it will be fine on the small lakes and rivers we will be fishing.
Gary

Hope everything works out for you. Keep us all posted how you go on.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 7.5 HP on 14

Re: 7.5 HP on 14

it will make a great little fisherman, that the time to look at nature on the way. i also turn my cell phone off when i'm out. i'm happy when i can get far enough away from the dock, i can't hear them yell for me. sometimes i can hear, and pretend i can't. peace, quiet, and nature.