Is my engine too big and heavy for my boat?

sparky4612

Cadet
Joined
Dec 1, 2009
Messages
21
Last fall I bougtht an old 1984 Larson All-American 16.5' V-hull. It came with a 1984 Mercury 115 inline 6 2 stroke outboard. However, as I buy parts for the rebuild I see most other boats of this type and size having engines in the the 60-80 hp range. Is my boat over powered and too heavy at the stern? What top speed should I expect? Obviously, I'm hopefull that this wreck floats when I'm done! Thanks, Greg
 

ezmobee

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 26, 2007
Messages
23,767
Re: Is my engine too big and heavy for my boat?

Does your boat not have a capacity plate? Do you have any pictures of the hull? It is possible that your boat it rated that high (though it surely is at the max). I think the lowest it would be rated at would be 90. The 115's often weigh the same as the equivalent manufacture's 90 so I don't think weight will be an issue. We don't endorse overpowering on iboat but if that's the motor your boat came with I'd probably run it.
 
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