Good rule of thumb on motor size?

Is there a good rule of thumb for HP rating for say a 16ft aluminum boat?

To be used in rivers, creeks, etc. Could possibly used in the intercoastal waterways here in NC.

Personally I wouldn't go above a 50hp, but thats just me

That's what I'm thinking 40 or 50. The boat is setup for a capacity of up to 4 people and while speed isn't an issue I do want to be able to move around.
There usually will only be 2 of us in the boat anyway.

With 2 people in the boat you should be ripping with a 50hp, I have a 14 1/2 alum. and with 2 people and minimal gear we do just fine with my 15hp Johnson

I'm looking at a couple of different packages that include boat, motor, and trailer.
Most of them offer a 40 or a 50 horse motor and one of them is offering a 25horse on a 17ft

Brands I'm looking at are G3 with a Yamaha motor and Fisher or Tracker with Mercury motors. The Tracker (17ft with side console) has a 25hp mercury and that would probably be plenty, I think?

I'd say so, all the trackers i've ever seen are very low profile boats so I'd think they'd be pretty light weight

I like going fast on top of water, but when i'm in my fishing boat, i'm here to fish and don't really give two craps about how fast I get to my next spot

Originally Posted By IdahoJohnny: I'd say so, all the trackers i've ever seen are very low profile boats so I'd think they'd be pretty light weight I like going fast on top of water, but when i'm in my fishing boat, i'm here to fish and don't really give two craps about how fast I get to my next spot

I have to say I agree with you on the speed issue. This will be the first boat I've bought and I want to make sure I get the right one.

Years ago my father in law gave me a 16ft tri-hull fiberglass boat with a 90 horse Johnson on it and it was too fast for it's own good. It was getting old and no one wanted to ride in it so I got rid of it.

Whenever I purchase a boat I always make sure the motor is at least 75% of the max HP rating and preferably more. It is much easier and faster to get on plane which is critical in rough water, if your bow rides up for 1/2 a mile in heavy chop you will struggle to maintain control of your boat and if your on the other end of the lake when a chop kicks up you don't want to go all the way back to the landing at trolling speeds. I am somewhat a speed freak with my current setup, a fiberglass bass boat with a 150hp does low to mid 60's and handles great at those speeds. My last bass boat was a 17 foot alum. with a 50 hp and it was great when the water was calm and you had a long time to get on plane but I got slammed when the water was rough. (Bass boats are heavier than an open fishing boat so it may not be as big of a factor on that application)

Don't forget prop choice, too.


My bass boat is a 1992 17' Nitro with a 115. One prop I have will give the boat a top speed of close to 60 MPH. The one I usually use limits the top speed to about 40 but gets up on plane quicker and doesn't lug much when idling around a lake.

I'm a little more conservative I guess.

Every boat should have a motor size rating by the manufacturer. If its not on the boat stickers you can get it from the manufacturers site. I do not exceed that rating.

Each boat hull depending on boat manufacturer and model is a little different and how the boat handles for a given speed and performance varies a lot. Too much motor can be just as dangerous and hassle as too little. I match the maximum recommended.

The motor will come typically with an aluminum prop. Personally I would rather occasionally change a sheer pin than constantly massaging an aluminum prop with a file or hammer. I run the boat a while with the stock prop and see if under my conditions I'd like a little more out of the hole performance or more at cruising speed. You sometimes get lucky depending on the boat and where you boat with the stock prop.

After I figure that out, (also gives you the time to get over buying the motor financially), I then buy a performance prop with the pitch that suits my taste.

I personally really like Stilleto performance props. They're stainless and since I'm a pretty careful boater and only hit small stuff, I have yet to replace one or for that matter replace a sheer pin. Now when I was younger and less experienced, I went through some sheer pins but that still costs less than replacing a prop.

Tj

I use a Piranha composite prop www.piranha.com/ with blade sets in two different pitches. Really easy to fix if you break a blade by hitting something, slight trade off in top speed.

You can try different pitch sets to see what works best for you; they'll accept return of undamaged blades.

I also have the aluminum prop that came with the boat when I got it; I keep it stowed as a backup in the forward locker.

Thanks for all the input folks- I think for a 17ft I'm going to go with something right around 50hp. If all I wanted to do was go up and down the creek something as low as 25hp would be probably be okay, but I plan on some intercoastal fishing in it as well.

Now I've just got to decide if I buy one now or wait for the season to be over. I'm really in no hurry and I think I can get a better deal come winter.

I have a 16ft Lund tiller with a 30hp. I can cruise alone at around 25mph or so, maybe a tiny bit faster. Fast enough for me.

You may want more hp if you live in an area with unpredictable weather and big water. I fish in a bay of Lake Superior and I wouldn't venture too far with what I have.

You must have enough HP to get the boat on plane.... If not it will ride on the transom and the bow will point to the sky. Not a good idea to skimp on motor size. Get the biggest motor recommended by the manufacturer.

Assuming it isn't cost-prohibitive, I would get the largest motor for which your boat is rated.


You dont have to run WOT just because you have it, but when you need it, it is there.

Visit a few boating sites. How many complain their boat is underpowered vs overpowered?

Originally Posted By IshootARs: Assuming it isn't cost-prohibitive, I would get the largest motor for which your boat is rated. You dont have to run WOT just because you have it, but when you need it, it is there. Visit a few boating sites. How many complain their boat is underpowered vs overpowered?

Ditto

I have a 16ft, .100" welded hull that is rated for 40 max hp. I have seen other guys with 50's and 60's on the 16 ft boats.

I said screw it and went with the 60hp E-tec. I put a jet lower unit on it which is cutting my 60hp to around 46hp. Have not got her wet yet, but I think its going to be cool!

Originally Posted By SHADI: I have a 16ft, .100" welded hull that is rated for 40 max hp. I have seen other guys with 50's and 60's on the 16 ft boats. I said screw it and went with the 60hp E-tec. I put a jet lower unit on it which is cutting my 60hp to around 46hp. Have not got her wet yet, but I think its going to be cool!

If it's rated for 40, just what is your plan of action when Fish and Game, the Coast Guard, or some other entity (of which there are too many... for both fresh and salt water), inspect your boat and find the discrepancy? Paddle the boat back to the dock?

?

Originally Posted By The_Floridian: Originally Posted By SHADI: I have a 16ft, .100" welded hull that is rated for 40 max hp. I have seen other guys with 50's and 60's on the 16 ft boats. I said screw it and went with the 60hp E-tec. I put a jet lower unit on it which is cutting my 60hp to around 46hp. Have not got her wet yet, but I think its going to be cool! If it's rated for 40, just what is your plan of action when Fish and Game, the Coast Guard, or some other entity (of which there are too many... for both fresh and salt water), inspect your boat and find the discrepancy? Paddle the boat back to the dock?

If you special order the motor/jet lower unit package I have it will have a 40HP sticker on it. I just bought the motor and jet lower separately to avoid a long wait. It is actually putting out 46HP according to the jet manufactuer specs. Now if I put the standard lower unit on with a prop, I would be pushing 60HP and therefore over rated, the jet is a rather inefficient mode of propulsion, but neccesary in shallow water. Mine will run in 3" of water with two people in it.
ETA: The game wardens that are likely to see me in this boat won't think a thing about it anyway, because they will be in a similar rig and will know the figures on the jet drive.

Probably closer to the maximum rating will keep you happier in the long run.

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