Can i use an outboard larger than recommended ?

[DanMC]

Hi to all,
So our little 2010 Lund WC14 (20'' transom) calls for no more than 25 Hp ...now what would happen if i were to use a 30 Hp....?, i live in Canada so maybe our laws differ than those in the US, does anyone have any experience or heard about going bigger than factory allowed. I did email Lund and they basically told me that 25 Hp it is...!, i did email Transport Canada but no reply....what is weird is that the weight on the transom can hold up to 250 lbs...yet most 25 hp are well bellow that...
Any ideas ?.......
Thank you all,

Dan

 

[JimS123]

Re: Can i use an outboard larger than recommended ?

This question has been asked a dozen times in recent months. The answer is no you can't.

Besides, a 25 is plenty big enough for that boat.

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Can i use an outboard larger than recommended ?

You can in the states. However, if you were ever involved in an accident the insurance companies would take you to the cleaners.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Can i use an outboard larger than recommended ?

The actual weight of the outboard is of minimal concern. You could probably put 400 static lbs. on the transom without damage. It is the torque produced by the propeller thrust at the end of the motor leg (lever) that is the issue.

 

[DanMC]

Re: Can i use an outboard larger than recommended ?

Hi to all and i would like to thank you for the reply. I like to stay within the law so i will follow your guys and the manufacturers recommendation. You see for now i use a kicker for trolling along shore lines, in fact just last week we had "her" on the water for the first time and we were inpressed with the kick this little guy has,in the boat was myself,wife and a 100 lbs puppy (we all had our life jackets on) and gear, here are some pictures of the boat.
Thanks again,
Dan

 

[F_R]

Re: Can i use an outboard larger than recommended ?

Just a word of caution: Don't overload that boat. I see an awful lot of seats in there. Five seats doesn't mean five people, unless they are little kids. But you know that, don't you?

 

[JimS123]

Re: Can i use an outboard larger than recommended ?

Just a word of caution: Don't overload that boat. I see an awful lot of seats in there. Five seats doesn't mean five people, unless they are little kids. But you know that, don't you?

The max total capacity for that boat is 1000 lbs, with a max persons capacity of 4.

 

[F_R]

Re: Can i use an outboard larger than recommended ?

That is pretty generous. But remember the 1000# includes the motor, gas can, cooler, hound dog, and bait.

 

[DanMC]

Re: Can i use an outboard larger than recommended ?

Hi to all,
The boat is rated for 1000 lbs with occupants and gear/motor,etc and i'm aware of that,the back seat is only for the motor operator and it will stay in the folded position whan stationary..., i will not have more that 4 ocupants in the boat so i comply with the laws of the land and laws of physics...
Anyways, i did some research and it gets kinda confussing the more i read,such as do i want E.F.I. or Carb., to be honnest i do lean towards Honda or Yamaha, or maybe Tohatsu/Nissan.I narrowed it down to this ones:
-Honda BF25,
-Yamaha F25A,
-Nissan NSF25,
-Tohatsu MSF25,
Out of this group which would you guys go with ?, Honda and Yamaha are carburetor and the other ones (the are same engines) are fuel injected...
Thank you all,
Dan

 

[Ike-110722]

Re: Can i use an outboard larger than recommended ?

So far most of the comments are correct except the one about the weight of the engine. That boat probably has built in level flotation so it won't sink and will float relatively level even if filled with water. However, the calculation to determine the amount of flotation is based on three things, the weight of the boat, the weight of the persons and gear, and the weight of the engine. A separate calculation is done for the engine because with an O/B hanging on the transom the boat, without flotation, would roll over. The flotation is design to stabilize the boat as well as float the engine when the boat is swamped.

If you put on a heavier engine it may not float level and just may roll over if swamped. So there are more reasons for not putting on an engine bigger than what the boat is rated for. Plus that a bigger engine burns more gas.

 

[amclaker]

Re: Can i use an outboard larger than recommended ?

So far most of the comments are correct except the one about the weight of the engine. That boat probably has built in level flotation so it won't sink and will float relatively level even if filled with water. However, the calculation to determine the amount of flotation is based on three things, the weight of the boat, the weight of the persons and gear, and the weight of the engine. A separate calculation is done for the engine because with an O/B hanging on the transom the boat, without flotation, would roll over. The flotation is design to stabilize the boat as well as float the engine when the boat is swamped.

If you put on a heavier engine it may not float level and just may roll over if swamped. So there are more reasons for not putting on an engine bigger than what the boat is rated for. Plus that a bigger engine burns more gas.

Without going crazy with an oversized engine the weight shouldn't be an issue. Older 2 stroke models with a higher hp are still much lighter than the newer 4 strokes that wouldn't exceed the rating of the boat.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Can i use an outboard larger than recommended ?

Although my boat is a Starcraft, it is the competitive model to yours and the specs are very close. I think 4 good sized adults might be pushing it a bit unless it was real calm water.

Also, my personal opinion is that I would stick with a 2-stroke, reasons being much less maintanance and lighter weight. A 14 footer isn't all that big and any weight savings will be welcomed.

Yamaha and Merc are the only 2-strokes around. I bought my Yami because of a good local dealer, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Merc either.

I have a 26 year old carbed Evinrude and a 31 year old carbed auto. Neither carb has needed cleaning yet...knock on wood. My other car is 10 years old and has EFI and its needed cleaning twice already. I'm all for new technology and love the fast starts and easy warmup, but you can't complain when the older technology runs and runs and runs.

 

[Ike-110722]

Re: Can i use an outboard larger than recommended ?

I have been reading through the Canadian Laws on construction standards for pleasure craft and the answer to your question about "can you" is no. Canada has a very good boating web site with lots of good info.http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/menu.htm Some information is hard to find unless you know where to look but otherwise it is very informative. anyway powering standards are in TP1332 http://www.tc.gc.ca/publications/en/tp1332/pdf/hr/tp1332e.pdf

And it says in the section on who the law applies to:

701. Unless otherwise indicated in these Regulations, the builder, manufacturer, rebuilder, importer and owner of a vessel shall ensure that the vessel meets the requirements of this Part.

That is different from US Law. The US law only applies to manfacturers. Canadian law applies to the owner as well.

Also section 710 deals with modifications. And it says essentially the same thing. Any modifications have to comply with the standards. So I guess you're stuck.

 

[DanMC]

Re: Can i use an outboard larger than recommended ?

Hi guys and thanks for the info in regards to outboard, we decided (wife & I) in the end to go with a Honda BF25. Up here in the white north (frozen 7 months of the year...just kidding,it's only about 5 months) onr this Honda's go for like $5.5oo CND (i think our dollars are like 3 cents apart...) ,can someone if time allows check to see what they cost in the US, and thank you.
I will keep an eye on prices and i remember this past spring Honda had like a $100.00 off ,not much but that hundred bucks can buy another fishing rod or four cases of cheap beer...(for when at the camp site) so we will wait till spring but if prices are cheaper in the States somewhere like Montana (we are just north of it, 800 Km) and the savings are worth the drive...i'll do it.
All the best,
Dan