outboard weight

[jonboatdude]

Hi, I have a 1232 tracker jon boat rated for 6hp,440lbs motor persons,gear.I want to put a 6hp motor on this boat but the 6 yamaha 4str weighs 84lbs and the suzuki,mercury,nisaan,honda are all about 56lbs.I would prefer the yamaha[2-cylinder].Is the extra 28lbs to much. Thanks

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: outboard weight

Welcome to iboats.

You should be okay. That is the weight of a 12V battery added to the stern...... I would just watch the weight distribution of everything else.

 

[jonboatdude]

Re: outboard weight

Hi Bob,Thanks for the reply. I already have a battery mounted behind the middle seat.I was thinking I could move itin front of middle seat if needed to balance the extra weight. Thanks again

 

[coolguy147]

Re: outboard weight

thats pretty heavy for a little 6hp. u should be fine but man is that heavy. my 10hp weighs about 75-80

 

[Wee Hooker]

Re: outboard weight

I've owned a 1/2 doz jon's and over a dozen small outboards. I currently own a 1232 Sea Nymph which is sized like yours but a bit lighter and rated for a 3 hp. I tried a 6 on it last year and nearly flipped it on a short white knuckled ride!. IT was out of the water as much as in. Point being , before you settle on a 6, you might borrow a 4 or 5. FWIW, I had a 5 hp evinrude 4 stroke (60#) and didn't like it. The extra weight made the boat squat badly.
IMHO, a boat of that size is better served with a light 4-5 hp 2 stroke. These run 33-44# , often have self contained tanks and really scoot along.

Lastly, if your boat is rated @ 440#, I assume your only using it solo? ( You+60# motor+50# battery,+ gear, trolling motor etc don't give you much left for a buddy.

 

[F_R]

Re: outboard weight

I've owned a 1/2 doz jon's and over a dozen small outboards. I currently own a 1232 Sea Nymph which is sized like yours but a bit lighter and rated for a 3 hp. I tried a 6 on it last year and nearly flipped it on a short white knuckled ride!. IT was out of the water as much as in. Point being , before you settle on a 6, you might borrow a 4 or 5. FWIW, I had a 5 hp evinrude 4 stroke (60#) and didn't like it. The extra weight made the boat squat badly.
IMHO, a boat of that size is better served with a light 4-5 hp 2 stroke. These run 33-44# , often have self contained tanks and really scoot along.

Lastly, if your boat is rated @ 440#, I assume your only using it solo? ( You+60# motor+50# battery,+ gear, trolling motor etc don't give you much left for a buddy.

I was seriously considering buying a 1232 jon. Tracker or Alumacraft in mind. But you guys are very quickly talking me out of it. Seriously, danger of flipping it with a 6hp? Holy dang!!!! I'd better reconsider. Anybody have any opinions on the Alumacraft 1236?

 

[jbjennings]

Re: outboard weight

F-R,
You'll hate the 12' 36" if you want it to plane and go decently fast. There's no room in 'em either. I think a 14' 36" boat is my favorite, easily. I prefer a little higher sides than the alumacraft, myself. But the 14' 36 alumacraft looks like a good boat to me for a lightweight built jon boat. I think the 14' 36" war eagle boat is really nice, but too danged expensive. I might try and get one, though, because it'd last me the rest of my life.
JBJ

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: outboard weight

Why not a 12' V-hull aluminum- are the flat-bottoms that much more stable?

I've never been on a jon boat and have wondered what the attraction is. I draw about 5-7" of water in my 12' aluminum and I could throw an 8hp on WOT and not worry about flipping anything off except jetskiiers.

 

[jonboatdude]

Re: outboard weight

Hi all, Thanks so much for the replys,Yes the boat is pretty much set up as a one person boat.With two people nothing else you pretty much max it out.Just lokking for a nice little motor{new for dependability] and still be safe and legal. Thanks a lot

 

[coolguy147]

Re: outboard weight

i got a 12 foot john with a 10 hp on it runs like a dream. well it flys with the john. i plane easily even with a buddy onboard even though he is a bit light about 110. but still i got my other buddy to come he weigh like 200 plus maybe. tall really tall. something like a 12 foot by about 3-40 inches beam i think would be good? put a 10 and u get 20mph easily. im not sure of the name but something flat on the bottom with rivets along the bottom with a v bow. is this a v hull?

 

[jonboatdude]

Re: outboard weight

Hi coolguy, The boat is a flat bottom jon.32inch at the bottom.Fun little boat.Right now with a 3.5 tohatsu 4str fully loaded,batt,trolling motor,anchor,tackle box,1 gal of gas, and myself [185lb] leaning as far foward as possiable it will do 13mph with a hand held gps.But I want a 6hp on it. Thanks

 

[jbjennings]

Re: outboard weight

jonboatdude,
If you are getting 13 with the 3.5hp 4-stroke, I think you would really like a 6hp 2-stroke. Every little bit of weight counts in any boat, but especially a 12 footer. I'd look for any johnson/evinrude that is a 6hp 2-stroke that is in really good-looking shape. You can get it far cheaper than a new 4 stroke, and you just can't really wear them out if the lower unit is sealed and the water pump is working good, and you mix the gas right. According to the overall condition and condition of the lower unit oil and how it ran in a barrel, I'd get any OMC 6 or 5.5hp from ANY year and expect it to be a good one. It should crank up incredibly easy on the first or second pull cold, or one pull warm. One pull warm, without exception. I've even seen some NOS 6hp motors here and there for far less than a new 4-stroke 6hp. You just can't beat an OMC 6hp for reliability. I also wouldn't overlook an old 7.5hp OMC from the 50's or 60's, although that would be your call since your boat is rated only for a 6. Personally, I think you'd just absolutely love an old 7.5hp if it had been gone through as far as ignition and lower unit seals. But as you can see, I'm biased toward the old 2-strokes. Definitely an older 2-stroke for your 12-foot lightweight boat and you'd be pleased. I have complete confidence in that statement! Don't be scared of an older motor. Just make sure it looks taken care of, don't buy it if you can't run it, and pull that lower unit oil plug and check it for water intrusion, and you'll most likely be very pleased. It's been quite a while since I've seen 185lbs., myself, but maybe even I would like a 12-footer if I was at 185 again.
Just some thoughts,
JBJ

 

[jonboatdude]

Re: outboard weight

Hi jb, thanks for the advice.I would like to have a 6 2stroke if I could find one in good shape.A lot of salt water here. Most every one runs aleast a 9.9. I will use this boat just for fresh water[combahee river and a few swamps. Thanks