8 Hp not enough

[mistycats]

I have a 14ft Aluminum springbok that I bought last year. The 8 hp Evinrude that came with it works great but is not enough to get up on plane especially with another person in the boat. The plate says that the boat can handle up 20hp but I don't think the boat would even be touching the water with that kind of power. would a 9.9 be sufficient Or should I go with a 15? The boat has a fairly narrow body and not very deep. I don't want to buy something too big. The 8 gets me where I want to go but the boat is pushing alot of water and I am afraid I may be working the motor too hard. There are normally 2 of us in the boat all the time. Any suggestions?

 

[rwcreigh1]

Re: 8 Hp not enough

i had a 9.9 johnny on a 14 ft.and it got me and the wife moving in the bay.handled good.BUT 15 sounds better but dont forget the bigger the motor the less gear you can bring.if it was me i would leave the wife and get the 15hp.good luck

 

[roscoe]

Re: 8 Hp not enough

Hardly horth the effort to go from 8hp to 9.9.<br />Get a 15 -18 - or 20hp and be assured you have the power you need.<br />You don't have to run full throttle all the time, but its nice to have in case you ever are loaded heavy or need to outrun a storm.<br /><br />Most 2 stroke 15hp weigh the same as the 9.9.

 

[mistycats]

Re: 8 Hp not enough

Thanks Richard. Now by leave the wife do you mean on shore or in the boat. My marriage depends on your answer lol.

 

[marinemech1]

Re: 8 Hp not enough

why not take boat to a marina for a water test with a 9.9 and a 15 and then decide

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: 8 Hp not enough

The 15 is significantly faster than an 8 or 10. I have a 15 2 stroke Evinrude on a 14 ft (rated for 25hp) and have driven a 7.5 and many 9.9's. The 15 blows them away. No comparison. What's really fun about the 15 is that it is very similar in size and still very portable and trolls just as well. Going to an 18 or more and portability isn't a feature anymore and trolling becomes less quiet and smooth.

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: 8 Hp not enough

My dad has the same boat with a 9.9 evinrude and it planes nicely with 2 adults and fishing gear. Not screaming fast but it gets up on top of the water easily. Add a third person and it is too much for that motor. If the 8 isn't doing it for you, go to a 15. The difference will be night and day. I think a 20 would be too much for that boat as well. Also with the cost of gas now at 0.92/litre (4.17/gal) the smaller the motor the better IMO.

 

[steelespike]

Re: 8 Hp not enough

I say for now go with a bigger boat.Sounds to me like you have what I call a small 14.Ive seen them with only 500 lbs capacity.Ive also seen a 14 with over 1,000 lbs capacity.Comparing basic boat to basic boat the bigger 14 will get up on the water easier than the smaller boat and feel and be safer with a load.Get your self a bigger boat for now and get that bigger motor as soon as you can afford it.And of course the bigger boat will be rated for a bigger motor.Im betting that with carefull motor trim and weight distribution the boat will plane with 2 unless you are both over 200 lbs.And youll feel like you are in an ocean liner.