Re: More HP for little boat
Took boat out this AM and aside from some issues with the motor (hard starting) experiment was very enlightening. Never went past half-throttle, that was enough to get it up to 18mph with 2 people and our usual assortment of gear. Anything past that is no man's land for this little boat. More power felt like it would bury the bow - even after trim adjustment and weight redistribution. Below 18 it zipped along nicely, and when I had to slow down for a wake or a swell it was cool to be able to blip the throttle and feel a REAL SURGE <G> But 15hp is really overkill for this boat kinda like dropping a Corvette V8 in a VW bug while retaining the stock suspension and tires (!) Am thinking best compromise would probably be a late-model 8hp Merc/Nissan/Tohatsu which weighs 60lbs and would provide just a little extra grunt and top end. The 15 is usable and fun, but it's heavy and would be seriously underutilized - extra horses aren't much use if you can't let them out of the stable LOL. Thanks for all the great input, guys!
Took boat out this AM and aside from some issues with the motor (hard starting) experiment was very enlightening. Never went past half-throttle, that was enough to get it up to 18mph with 2 people and our usual assortment of gear. Anything past that is no man's land for this little boat. More power felt like it would bury the bow - even after trim adjustment and weight redistribution. Below 18 it zipped along nicely, and when I had to slow down for a wake or a swell it was cool to be able to blip the throttle and feel a REAL SURGE <G> But 15hp is really overkill for this boat kinda like dropping a Corvette V8 in a VW bug while retaining the stock suspension and tires (!) Am thinking best compromise would probably be a late-model 8hp Merc/Nissan/Tohatsu which weighs 60lbs and would provide just a little extra grunt and top end. The 15 is usable and fun, but it's heavy and would be seriously underutilized - extra horses aren't much use if you can't let them out of the stable LOL. Thanks for all the great input, guys!
<br /><br />Guess Squeakit will be one of the future advisors telling people to stick with the recommended maximums.