Difference between 6hp and 10hp

ztim

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Mar 19, 2004
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What is the difference between a 6hp and a 10hp? 4hp does not sound like much. Just how much of a power difference is there between the two? I picked those two hps as an example.
 

Chris1956

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Mar 25, 2004
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Re: Difference between 6hp and 10hp

That is nearly a 50% power boost. Depending on the boat size and weight, your speed will be greater with the 10HP. I had an 12' aluminum jon boat. it was well-powered with a 5HP, but a bit overpowered with a 7.5HP motor.
 

wbeaton

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Jul 30, 2006
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Re: Difference between 6hp and 10hp

Same difference as a 60 hp and 100 hp motor. In the end it all depends on what boat you put them on.
 

JB

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Re: Difference between 6hp and 10hp

That is a 67% increase, well over 50%.

Sort of like the difference between a 120lb boxer and a 200lb boxer.
 

kenmyfam

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Re: Difference between 6hp and 10hp

It's a lot on a boat rated for the smaller rating.
 

ztim

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Mar 19, 2004
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Re: Difference between 6hp and 10hp

I do have a 6hp on a semi-V hull and was wondering how much of a difference a larger engine would be. The 6 pushes okay, but there is not a "plane" so to speak. I was wondering if a 9.9 or 10 would do it.
 

watermellonI

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Jun 23, 2007
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Re: Difference between 6hp and 10hp

there should be a rating plate somewhere on the boat tht gives you a max load n max hp.
 

ztim

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Re: Difference between 6hp and 10hp

The 12' boat was totally rebuilt and does not have any plates on it at all. The best I could probably do is find a boat that is similar and see what it can handle.
 

Chris1956

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Re: Difference between 6hp and 10hp

The 10HP may plane the boat. Years ago a friend had a flat bottom wooden rowboat with a Merc 9.9. It would plane and even "slide" in turns.
 

EJ3

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Oct 15, 2007
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Re: Difference between 6hp and 10hp

I have a 12' fiberglass v-hull with a 1978 9.8 Merc on it. With my Dad, 185 lb, and me, 150 lb, and all our fishing supplies, the heaviest thing being a half full 5 gal. bait bucket, it gets up on a plane no problem. I have the prop too far in the water right now and I don't know if that is slowing us down or not. Looking at shore and the rate we are moving I would guess we are going about 15mph, but just a guess. I had a 1997 5hp Tohatsu on it and with the same load we were on the verge of "planeing". Hope it helps!
 

jbjennings

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Re: Difference between 6hp and 10hp

I do have a 6hp on a semi-V hull and was wondering how much of a difference a larger engine would be. The 6 pushes okay, but there is not a "plane" so to speak. I was wondering if a 9.9 or 10 would do it.

I think you would LOVE the 10hp. It's one of my favorite sized outboards. The difference between the 6 and 10 is like night and day. I have a 7.5 hp that runs really nice but it's not even close to as powerful as a 10. Most boats can handle a 10 hp as well but be sure to check it. With just 1 person in the boat it will run at a really nice clip and yes, I'd bet it will easily plane you out. My 2cents.
JBJ
 

steelespike

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Apr 26, 2002
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Re: Difference between 6hp and 10hp

I do have a 6hp on a semi-V hull and was wondering how much of a difference a larger engine would be. The 6 pushes okay, but there is not a "plane" so to speak. I was wondering if a 9.9 or 10 would do it.

Your 6 should plane most small boats if your not too heavy careful weight distribution and make or buy an extension handle so you can sit on the middle seat. Or 5hp Bucaneer on a 12 ft flat bottom steel boat used to pop on plane
with my 180 lbs in the middle seat.
The 8hp Evinrude/Johnson weighs just a few pounds more than the 6.
the 10 hp is probably 25 or 30 lbs more.The 10 will scoot when I was a kid we had a 10 on a 14 ft Crestliner I was only 100 lbs but the boat would plane with 2 of us on the back seat and run about 20 mph.This was a beefy 14 ft at 185 lbs and rated for 35 hp.
 

ztim

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Mar 19, 2004
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Re: Difference between 6hp and 10hp

One more thought. Why would a 10hp weigh so much more when both have 2 cylinders?
 

jbjennings

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Jul 18, 2007
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Re: Difference between 6hp and 10hp

The 10 has a slightly beefier everything. It doesn't feel that much heavier but WILL feel that much more POWERFUL. I could never go back to a 6hp after running a 10hp. They are great on gas as well, in my opinion. Just think, you're almost doubling the horsepower but nowhere near doubling the weight. Check ebay and see how much the 10's go for vs. the 6's and you'll see that most people prefer the 10hp and in my opinion, for good reason. Not that the 6's aren't great motors (they are probably some of the best for reliablility and lasting a long time) but the 10 is SWEEEEEEET! Especially if there's 2 of you in the boat.
JBJ
 
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