motor size?

[MAN AND A BOAT]

Hello everyone! I recently purchased a 1960 v-hull aluminum boat. It's a 13 footer and riveted. There is no stamp that lets me know what hp it is rated for. I want to purchase a 20hp mercury. Is this too much motor. It weighs 114lbs. This is my first boat so I have no idea what to do.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: motor size?

That's an ideal size for that lenght boat if not boating/cruisng heavily loaded at speed.

Happy Boating

 

[Chris1956]

Re: motor size?

You might check the Max HP rating for other V-hull rivited hulls of that size. If I remember correctly my friend's dad had one of 16', that could only take a 25HP motor. You boat might only take a 15HP motor, or even less. My 12 Jon boat (75 pounds) had a max HP rating of 7.5HP.

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: motor size?

There are 13' row boats and 13' bass boats and 13' cruiser type boat. The configuration and ability differ greatly. I have a 14' bass boat style with a 60hp but I would not have installed that motor on my 14' open style (row boat type).

 

[southkogs]

Re: motor size?

^^^^ right on! ^^^

If you've got benches and oar locks on that boat, most likely you're going to want to stay in 10HP territory. If you've got a helm, seats, live-wells and other "structure," you can probably look between 35 - 70 HP (which is a VERY wide range ... and very different).

Also, overpowering a boat doesn't necessarily give you much of a speed advantage in trade for the control you'll sacrifice.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: motor size?

Go for it, Mercury 15 HP weights same 114 lbs and has same 350 CC like his older 20 HP brother. A modern alum 13" V hull rib that weights 90 Kg accepts 20 HP engines as standard. Don't worry, have fun and be happy!!

Happy Boating

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: motor size?

"A modern alum"

It is not a modern boat. It is from 1960.

It's irresponsible to give specific advice without first knowing exactly what the boat is. Like southkog said, "benches and oar locks on that boat...a helm, seats, live-wells. Two very different boats. Is the transom 3 feet wide or 6 feet wide. Your best bet man and boat is to send a picture or give a better description.

just sayin...

 

[nwcove]

Re: motor size?

i agree with others, post some pics, do your homework! 20hp may be ok, but 10hp might be all it will handle. play safe.

 

[JB]

Re: motor size?

My 1960's 12' semivee riveted tinny is rated for 9HP. Unless you can find a reliable source giving you a higher rating go to the USCG site and use their formula to estimate.

 

[steelespike]

Re: motor size?

+1 That is very light for a 13 footer A 1960 12 ft Crestliner light weight at 85lbs is rated at 6 hp.
I think a 9 is plenty. If you look up similar size new boats keeping in mind weight,depth,width etc.
you'll get the idea.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: motor size?

I think a 20 tiller will be too fast and should only be run by a responsible and experienced operator (ie no teenagers!). go for a 9-15.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: motor size?

Go for a 9-15.

If that 13" footer is truly a light boat, go max for a Mercury 9.9 HP, the 15 HP is much heavier.

Happy Boating

 

[steelespike]

Re: motor size?

Actually the Johnyrude 9.9 and 15 are esentially the same motor even having the same size prop.
Imo a 9.9 would be the absolute max for that boat both for the health of the boat and the safety of the occupants.
We had a 57 14ft Crestliner Utility that w4eighed 180 and was rated for 35 we ran with a 57 Johnson 10.
It was rated for about 21 mph back then and power at the prop was probably 9 hp.I was 14 and about 100lbs.
The boat would come out of the water when jumping waves especially the monster tourboat waves from the very fast Canadian tour boats. Your boat would be close to airborne most of the time with a 9.9
When my kids were about 5 we had an old flat bottom steel boat with a 5 hp Bucaneer.With the 2
kids and a 125lb adult it would jump on plane and run about 10 mph.It was rated for 12mph on a light reasonably fast boat.The flat bottom helped it perform but the weight was close to the 14 ft aluminum boat.