To Much Power?

[baconbiscut]

I'm pretty sure I asked this I while ago but I just wanted to bring it up again. This summer my grandpa and I are goeing up to north to pick up a sail boat but thats beside the point. On the way back down we're going to stop in Illnois to pick up a 1965 20 H.P. Mercury that my Great uncle george has in his basement . It belonged to his father who used it once a year to go on a fishing trip up in Canada. He last used it about 10 years ago so its goeing to need some work which I will do with ofcourse a manual. But heres my question or questions. My boat is a 14' Starcraft Sea Scamp I think its a 1975 or 65 not quite sure. Anyway it has a 1955 johnson 5.5 hp on it and it does alright with me about 12 mph but with a friend it strugles but gets on a plane. When you add the weather to all this it gets worse. Its also kind of scary when you goe with the waves because the boat struggles to stay on a plane over them and when your goeing over them the boat makes a giant wake which makes me nervous to look at when goeing over waves. but heres my question my boat is rated for 18 H.P. And I wanted to know what procautions should I take how fast will I be goeing and what problems might come up and is it even safe to do. OH and by the way my boat is bare ribs no floor so the boat by itself ways about 160 pounds plus me 120lbs don't worry I don't have eating problems i'm 13 about 30lbs of gas 40 pounds of gear and every so often a buddy so plus or minus 135 lbs. Any advice is appreciated thanks Dan

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: To Much Power?

Dan,,,,,I did that once. Put on a bigger motor than what the identa plate said. A bud and myself was out fishing and the local lake patrol did a safety check. It was obivious to him the motor was too big and hence the inspection. Towed us in and said if he caught us again on the lake with that set up he would right a citation. He also said that the fine for that citation is very big.

No problem, there is other lakes to go to,,,,,,yeah right,,,,they have patrols there also that spotted the same problem.

If you do it, don't be surprised that you will be checked and rechecked. Thats not my idea of fun each time of going fishing by having lake patrol breathing down your neck. Besided you might not get a officer that is as easy as what I experienced.

My suggestion is get it running and trade it for the right size. An 18hp Johnny or Rude will work excellent for you. That is still plenty of power for that size boat. Good Luck

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: To Much Power?

yes we discussed this before, and i said you will need to put forward controls on it. if you ever plan to run it alone. by the way, how are the grades.

 

[baconbiscut]

Re: To Much Power?

yes we discussed this before, and i said you will need to put forward controls on it. if you ever plan to run it alone. by the way, how are the grades.

Just fine passed I passed with A-Bs. Any way my dad recomended a hydrofoil before controls because he said that is you put controls on it its goeing to be harder to take the motor on and off. which I do alot because I launch my boat from my grandparents bulk head on a ramp that I built and with a 100lb motor hanging of the back its hard to pull up but what I will do is instal a whinch that I have with a 1200lb load capacity to help pull it up now my nexy question is should I install a hydro foil to learn myself how good or bad it is or should i just stick with controls. Oh and I have 267$ to spend on normal parts like coils,waterpump,carburator kit,sparkplugs,manuel and all the other things all need to get it running because I know It has Low hrs and turns over and all the parts are there and i was just wondering if 267 bucks would cover the tune up parts and a manuel because I plan on working on it by myself this time around.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: To Much Power?

honestly, i don't know a lot about the small mercs, and there parts pricing. go the maxrules, and price out what you think you need. there is a store on Blanding Blvd, near 103rd st. Boathouse Discount Marine, they carry a lot of mercury parts, and other goodies. i call it the 'toy store'. there prices are usually better than the regular dealers. and they will order for you. my power pack was $40 cheaper there.

 

[Solittle]

Re: To Much Power?

Forget the hydrafoil for now. Many boats don't need it if set up right.

 

[Lucrestyle]

Re: To Much Power?

just get some 15hp or 18hp stickers and put them on the engine, no cop is going to check. you'll be good to go, we would do that all the time, i have a 12 ft aluminum that is rated for a 9.9 i have a 15 on it with 9.9 stickers she hauls ***!!!

 

[baconbiscut]

Re: To Much Power?

Does the merc 20 tie up with a smaller motor for example like the 9.9 and 15

 

[CATransplant]

Re: To Much Power?

just get some 15hp or 18hp stickers and put them on the engine, no cop is going to check. you'll be good to go, we would do that all the time, i have a 12 ft aluminum that is rated for a 9.9 i have a 15 on it with 9.9 stickers she hauls ***!!!

Bad advice. You're incorrect, as well. While this boat might well not be unsafe with a 20hp motor on it, the first time the Coast Guard Auxiliary does a spot safety check on the boat, they're going to recognize that it's engine is over the boat's placard rating.

Slapping a sticker on it won't change that. In fact, putting an incorrect sticker on it, with the intent to deceive, could well end up costing this person a bunch of money.

Putting the 20 hp on a boat rated for 18 probably wouldn't raise anyone's eyebrows too much, frankly. It's not a significant overpowering. If he wants to use the 20, he should just put it on the back as it is and explain that he couldn't find an 18 hp outboard at the time. He'd probably skate by with that explanation.

It's bad form to advise people to break the law, or to do something unsafe. The iboats.com boating forums are designed to help people with problems they're having with the boats and engines, not to encourage people to do the wrong thing.

At least, that's my take on the forums.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: To Much Power?

Cat totally agree, Baconbiscuit, the guys around here are not going to hassle you, unless you are doing something stupid, and i know you are smarter than that. you have your safe boating card. whe you get it here, you know i'm in Jax, if you need help.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: To Much Power?

Thanks! From my understanding, this poster is a youngster. I hate to see folks giving young people advice like that.

As far as I know, nobody makes an 18hp motor anymore anyhow, so the 20 makes a decent compromise. I can't imagine too much problem...unless there is intent to conceal it.

I suppose I probably shouldn't tell people they're giving bad advice, but sometimes, especially with these overpowering issues and deceptive decals, I just can't help it.

Kids need real, honest, and logical advice, not advice that they simply ignore the rules.

I do notice that it's usually fairly new members of the forums who give that bad advice, though.

 

[baconbiscut]

Re: To Much Power?

Thanks! From my understanding, this poster is a youngster. I hate to see folks giving young people advice like that.

As far as I know, nobody makes an 18hp motor anymore anyhow, so the 20 makes a decent compromise. I can't imagine too much problem...unless there is intent to conceal it.

I suppose I probably shouldn't tell people they're giving bad advice, but sometimes, especially with these overpowering issues and deceptive decals, I just can't help it.

Kids need real, honest, and logical advice, not advice that they simply ignore the rules.

I do notice that it's usually fairly new members of the forums who give that bad advice, though.

Don't worry people will tell there opinion on what they think you should do with your boating problems and wether you take it or not is what you think. I come here for advice not answers and my Dad wouldn't approve of me changing the h.p. stickers on my motor any way he rather me get In trouble by being honest than being a phony and i'm smart enough to know that doing that and getting caught trying to hide something would be worst than get in trouble not trying to hide something. Plus I have also heard of alot of stories about people getting in trouble for doing that anyway.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: To Much Power?

Have you put the boat together yet?

I don't think there will be an issue anyway, if your boat is rated for an 18; in 1965 the HP ratings came from the powerhead so at the propshaft it's probably doing less than 18 anyway!

Have fun with the boat, and let's see some pics of it when the motor is on!​