motor size help

[sdb1966]

Hi, I have a 15ft fiberglass fishing boat tri-hull 2 seater nothing else on it besides trolling motor 2 adults a nd a cooler I use it in small lakes around the area and wanted to get a small outboard to just push it around the lakes,would a 7.5 horse 2 cycl be adequate .I have nothing to compare it to.I know it want plane it or anything like that just a general estimate...thanks

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: motor size help

a 7.5 would be way under powered on that boat...normally a 7.5 would be used on a 10' aluminum boat. a 15 on a 12' aluminum boat...I would think on a 15' fiberglass tri-hull you should be looking at a 25-30 HP motor.

 

[sdb1966]

Re: motor size help

Thanks yea i was concerned about that,but it would beat the trolling motor i have now.A local guy has one for $150.00 a 1979 model that runs good,he said it would move it about 10mph maybe if I was not against current or heavy wind thanks

 

[5150abf]

Re: motor size help

Also I don't think you would enjoy a tilller steer motor on your boat.

That is alot of boat for that motor, it will move it but not much more and I really think you will want a bigger engine right away but yes it will move the boat.

If all you are doing is fishing and you aren't in a hurry it should work.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: motor size help

1st question I would ask are how small are these lakes? A couple hundred acres or less? Next, is this a TUFFY/Lund style fiberglass boat? Kind of like an aluminum Jon boat?

On very small lakes it may be adequate if all you are doing is putting around the lake and are in no hurry. Though I would be concerned that it would still be overworked even with a small prop on it. A 9.9 or 10hp would be better but thinking an 18-20hp would be best. Unless of course there is a hp restriction on the lakes.

 

[steelespike]

Re: motor size help

What kind of motor?It would help a little if you could get a prop that is intended for a heavy load.
Which that boat would be even empty.

 

[sdb1966]

Re: motor size help

Hi, the boat is a 15ft and about 48 at its width its a mid 70's Richline. I think its more of a flat bottom similar to a john boat with with a center v at the front it so i probaly was wrong early with my tri-hull description. I do plan on getting a larger engine later but cant afford one right now.The deck/transom restore is draining my wallet quick and I wanted something to putter us around the 120 acer lake we fish on better than the trolling motor when I finally get it in the water,plus it would have to help on windy days getting the boat back on the trl i hope. I eventully want to add a console with remote steering with a larger engine . The little outboard is a sears gamefisher 1979 7.5 horse . I will see how it does later in the summer and will go from there. I am sure I can resell it later with no problem. One step at time thanks!

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: motor size help

Back when I was still wet behind the ears, I had a 13 foot Starcraft fiberglass with a deck and windshield. Our lake was about 0ne mile long. It had a horsepower restriction so I powered the boat with an Evinrude 5.5. With just me in the boat it planed, but just barely, and went about 12-15 MPH or so. Certainly adequate if you don't mind taking your time, but when you are 16 years old, it is sorely underpowered.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: motor size help

My thoughts are this. On a small lake as you describe a 7.5hp would work because if you're like me there will be more time idleing around than running WOT. One thing to keep in mind is that there will not be a whole lot of resale value to that Sears engine if and when you decide to upgrade. Don't know about your area but here in SE Wisconsin 60s to 70s 18-20hp johnnyrudes can be had for $300-400.00 for a nice runner. Though on a 100/200 acre lake a 20hp could be overkill.

Best o luck in your search!

 

[sdb1966]

Re: motor size help

I have been scouring ebay and craigslist for the past 4 months and have not found anything that seems more like a boat anchor than a working motor, here in the Kansas City area .The ones that I have found recently on ebay are pickup only and are to far away. The average cost I found is about $500-900 for a decent motor on Craigs list in this area. I am sure I will find a deal sooner or later just keep a looking. My wife throws me some boat money here and there so I have to take what I can get ,she has this crazy idea that saving for a house is more important than fishing !! have you ever heard of such thanks for all your advice ...Springs a coming!!!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: motor size help

Sometimes you can find great deals on motors that are attached to boats. I've seen small boat/motor/trailers going for just a few hundred more than the motor itself is worth. In that case you could sell the boat and end up with a very good price for the motor. I also think some people are way overestimating how much HP you need. We run all over the place in this 14' http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/DSCF2577.jpg with only a 4HP on it. We've had 3 adults and a 3 year old in there and still moved around quite adequately. Sure it doesn't plane but we can still cover a LOT of ground with that little motor. There's some videos of it running in this album http://s176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/First Day Out 2010/