Auxillary outboard powerful enough?

[smsscuba]

I have mounted a 3.5hp Tohatsu 4 stroke outboard as my backup engine on a 12ft fibreglass speedboat.will this be able to get me home on limp mode or should i get something bigger?

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Auxillary outboard powerful enough?

3.5hp should be plenty to get you back to the dock, even in a headwind.

I use a 5.5hp Johnson on a 16' aluminum boat and get 5-7mph with it.

One issue to look at is if it's a longshaft model, to make sure the H20 intake/prop will stay wet even in some waves.

 

[pscrabber59]

Re: Auxillary outboard powerful enough?

Should be no problem getting back with that motor. I had same motor but it was a 2-stroke and it pushed my 14' heavy fg boat about 5-mph at 2/3 throttle.