different type of boats with same motor

[CNT]

So, my final recommendation is to buy a 14' Starcraft basic V-hull aluminum utility. The 15 will push it just fine.

Indeed. Thank you. I am on border of buying a used or brand new 14'. Price are similar (in my findings). Yes, my wife has already seen and said she doesn't like these boats, so... this is why I am thinking might have to go with two boats. I enjoy the ugly one and also enjoy my wife's boat too (best of both worlds). Most of the question or comments I made in this forum are mostly for my ugly boat (and ugly 15HP).

 

[Old Ironmaker]

Come on man! You are going to buy whatever your wife likes. She deserves it. Case closed. By the way there was no need whatsoever to explain your personal information here. What you do with your money and how you spend it is nobody's business but your wife's and yourself. To me there is no such thing as an ugly boat or ugly woman. If one floats and the other floats your boat that's all that matters. That reminds me of something I once heard. Someone can say "She's got a face that can stop a clock." or "Her beauty can make time stand still." Same goes for boats.

 

[Silvertip]

Let's get back to the post mentioning that prop selection can make the boat the best performer regardless of HP. Although I agree whatever motor is installed on a boat, it can only perform it's best when the engine is operating in its recommended wide open throttle range. That does not, however, mean that boat can perform as well as a larger engine with a proper prop. Case in point is a 17ft aluminum side console with a 40 HP evinrude. Once on plane the boat had reasonable speed but struggled to get on plane with a load of gear and two adults. This boat was rated for 75 HP max. So I experimented with props including stainless, aluminum, cupped and uncupped in pitches from 12 to 19 inches as well as adjustment of engine height and installation of Nauticus trim tabs. This, by the way was a properly tuned and certainly not worn out 40 HP engine. In fact I used that engine on a 15 foot but much lighter boat (rated for a 40 max) and it provided excellent performance for many years. Nothing woke this new boat up like installing a 75 HP engine. Downsizing an engine based on what you think will be average load will result in a very poor performing boat when it is heavily or even moderately loaded. You can certainly try the 15 on whatever boat you buy. If you are happy with the performance -- great. If not, you can sell the 15 and buy an engine with more power. As so many folks on this forum have indicated -- "I've never seen anyone write that they wished they had less"power" but many have indicated they want/need more power.

 

[JimS123]

-- "I've never seen anyone write that they wished they had less"power" but many have indicated they want/need more power.

Not true. As I said before, when I put a 25 on a tinny that was rated at 25, I found the boat squirreley and ended up running an 18. After the kids grew up I put the 9.9 back on and it satisfied me 100%.

I have a friend that fishes with a 9.9 on a hull rated for 115, and another guy that runs a 454 on a hull rated for a 454 but it's not fast enough because the other guy with twin 454's beats him out.

It's all a personal thing.

So, here's my second (and final) recommendation.....

Since the wife doesn't like the basic tinny with the 15, scrap that idea. Buy whatever wifey wants and then install the 15 on as a kicker. Best of both worlds. Then the 15 won't go to waste. That way, the OP only has to have one boat. If two boats are OK, then go for that.

 

[CNT]

If two boats are OK, then go for that.

THEN pick the power plant that will fill the 75% or more rule of thumb.​

https://milwaukee.craigslist.org/boa/d/menomonee-falls-alumacraft-14-ft-model/7066605402.html

I just looked at this boat (at his garage). He said he used his 75HP on this boat (the 75HP was next to it, hanging on engine lift). Does that make it 214% power (114% overpowered)?

While I was looking at the boat, I wasn't concern about the 75% thumb rule at this time (it would be 43% in my case with 15HP). The boat itself deem heavy (thick metal). Even it's priced OK, should I have bought it?

The wood transom, I can work on that, but he was telling me that there's supposed to be wood on the back also (expose to water). If I was to do the transom work, what kind of wood to use on the water side?

 

[Old Ironmaker]

That boat is going to need some work. The wood that the capacity tag is on has dry rot. 75 on that tinny, I doubt it. Just because someone says it's so doesn't mean it's true. The weight of a 75 might lift the bow right out of the water.

 

[CNT]

Yet, the hood (is that what it's called? what's it propose?) has weight too (towards the front).

 

[Scott Danforth]

that boat will need you to spend a weekend replacing the wood in the transom. no way a 75 was on the back with that wood

 

[JimS123]

I grew up in a boat very much like the one in that ad. When Dad bought it he was only 17, and he hung a 3.2 hp Wizard on the back. By the time I was old enough to go boating he had upgraded to a 10. His boat was a woodie so it was a lot heavier boat. With the 10 it planed easily.

Some of my fondest memories are sitting on the long front deck with a fishpole in hand. Front decks may take up some passenger space, but they add tons of storage space. Plus, its a added safety margin in heavy seas. My current woodie has a well appreciated front deck.

Fixing the transom is a piece of cake. Couple pieces of 1/2" marine plywood. Been there, done that.

The boat is a steal. If it were closer, I'd buy it just because.

 

[jbcurt00]

Yep, should have bought it...


Excellent vintage platform thats managed to survive 63 yrs w no sawzall savant attempting to resto-mod it into a god awful mess.

Buy that boat and enjoy it w your 15hp w minimal investment of time, money and effort.

Then work in finding a 2nd wife friendly boat that she likes.

FYI: here iboats forums many of us refer to our wives as The Admiral, for what should be obvious reasons.....

 

[Scott Danforth]

If the Admiral isnt happy, the whole navy is unhappy........

 

[Old Ironmaker]

I learned the front of a boat is the "bow" the back is the "aft". Or front and back if you will but never the hood and trunk or bonnet and boot.

 

[racerone]

Most 75 hp motors would be 20 " transom.------Most 75 HP motors are bolted through the transom.----I don't see the holes.----What model 75 HP did he have hanging there ?

 

[CNT]

Most 75 hp motors would be 20 " transom.------Most 75 HP motors are bolted through the transom.----I don't see the holes.----What model 75 HP did he have hanging there ?

He did mention and explained that the 75 is a 20" and he had to put a board up to make it higher. He did "warned" me that this boat will work only with 15", without me saying anything. After he said all that, I said, "huh huh short shaft", then he said, right on. When he pointed the motor (hanging on engine stand), it was all black (very black) with cowl off. I was quickly looking around the area for the cowl, then then turn my attention to the boat... the motor did have a big mounting plate that have holes for bolts (I almost took a picture of it, but felt it would be rude to take photos elsewhere in his garage).

He share a little with me that he is "done" with boating (didn't say fishing, and I didn't see much "fishing gears" in there). He is going into "hot rod" and then point to his regular white pickup truck (nothing "hot rod" in that truck). He did have a hog in the garage next to the boat, with dust on it, again, I didn't take a good look at it. I can't confirm anything, only to what I understood from him (I am Deaf, so I had to ask him to repeat sometimes). Maybe he did put the 75 on it, and then drowned? Ha ha

The boat felt very strong, no echo when tapping on the metal (as I feel it, like knocking on a door, I feel if it's hollow or not). I don't know what I am saying... I am not protecting him or anything. this is added edit line :frusty:

 

[roscoe]

My father bought a similar boat, an Alumacraft 1959 FDR model, 15.5', I believe.
We used a 15 hp motor on it for many years.

It is a heavy duty hull, very thick and solid.
We hauled it up the logging roads and smashed into rocks in the Canadian wilderness
until 1997 when dad, I mean mom, bought a new Alumacraft Lunker LTD.

Your 15 hp motor should do ok on that hull.


The "hood" you refer to is a closed bow, or covered bow.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

We head out on Erie about 10 miles to the Walleye.. Buddy with his 250 HP Merc high tails it out there at 50MPH and leaves me in his wake in my 115 Mariner doing 30, maybe. When I get there maybe 5 mins latter he is monkeying around with his tackle. I organized ours before we wet the boats and am fishing 15 minutes before he is. So what's the point of speed beside bragging rights?

Yeah bragging rights when you beat the storm back to shore.

 

[ahicks]

Yeah bragging rights when you beat the storm back to shore.

The guy that beats the storm back to shore first is WAY more likely to be more about who recognizes the s**t's about to hit the fan first, and act's on it!

 

[Texasmark]

I learned the front of a boat is the "bow" the back is the "aft". Or front and back if you will but never the hood and trunk or bonnet and boot.

Sea Explorer Scouts, BSA, Ship 13, taught me the front of the boat is the Bow, rear the Stern, while the board across the Stern is the Transom, standing Midship, looking in the direction of the Bow is Forward, and looking in the direction of the Stern is Aft.