Boat motor

[grid]

I have a 12ft aluminum boat with three bench seats.  I have bolted 2 swivel type chairs in the front and back.  Great boat to throw in the back of the truck and take off.

All we have aound my area are large ponds or small lakes. Whatever you want to call them.  I have been using my trolling motor and it scoots it right along.  I'm thinking of getting a small motor for it now.

Boat is 12ft X 5ft.  I want a small motor.  What size will be best?  Weight wise and go power.  4HP?  6HP?

[Wayne P.]

The best size OB is the maximum the boat is rated for. The second best size is the largest HP allowed on any HP restricted waters that you fish. The third best size is the highest HP you can afford within the HP rating of the boat.

[grid]

The thing is I don't want the max this boat or sm. lake can handle.  I have a motorglide trolling motor.  the cost of that was around $100.00.  It does a great job scooting the boat around the water.  i want an outboard that has more HP than that and is NOT to big for these small lakes.   with my big a** in the back(220lbs) the boat front is already tipping up some.  I don't need a motor that will lug the back end too much.  I never ran a 4-6 HP motor.  So I don't know the speed it has.  when I was a kid ole' pops had a Green flake fiberglass cobra with a 85 HP Johnson on it.  coolest boat i have ever seen.  We called it Kermit.  Boat never was stored outside.  

So, poor boy like me needs to know what HP would be a good ole' motor for this aluminum boat I have.  

Thanks guys

[bassboy1]

My 12 foot Vee has an Evinrude 4hp deluxe.  With me (135#) and dad (220) it will push us at about 5 mph.  It wont plane, but gets us around.  Many would agree that a 4 deluxe is the second best motor ever made.  Passed only by the 1960s - '70s 3 hp.  But any old Johnson or Evinrude will serve you for many years.  

[grid]

I watched a evenrude 4 Hp made in 1970 short shaft with a weed guard go for $265.00 today on ebay.  Looked like a good motor for the price.

[Wayne P.]

Today's small HP outboards are way less heavy than those of the past as some of you have mentioned (60's-70's). From 6HP to 15 HP pretty much weigh the same. Just because you have a 15HP motor doesn't mean you have to run it wide open, they do idle well and are used for trolling when attempting to catch many species of fish. I have a 12' jon boat and although it's rated for 15HP, I use a 9.9HP because two of my favorite lakes have a 10HP max limit. I run it from idle speed to 20.4 MPH when fishing alone, most of the time around 1/2 speed. A friend of mine has a 14' jon boat and I use my 9.9 on his when we fish together on those two lakes. Another important piece of advice is to get a motor that has through hub exhaust and not a shear pin type prop. Those shear pin propped motors are just an on-the-water breakdown waiting to happen. My advice is based on the ole saying "been there and done that".

[timmyswetarded]

dont mean to hijack but why is a shearpin bad?

[HPBB]

A 6hp will push it better than a TM, but you still will be pushing the boat around, will not get up on plane. I had a 12 foot semi v starcraft and it had a 6hp johnson on it. ran good, but then I got a 9.9merc. the motor was only abot 20lbs more and it ran that boat great. was way better than haveing the 6hp. Like was said just cause you have the bigger motor you do not have to run it wide open. but it is nice to have that extra power there incase you need it, ex our running a storm.

If your looking for small motors check out http://www.smalloutboards.com/

[bassboy1]

Today's small HP outboards are way less heavy than those of the past as some of you have mentioned (60's-70's). From 6HP to 15 HP pretty much weigh the same. Just because you have a 15HP motor doesn't mean you have to run it wide open, they do idle well and are used for trolling when attempting to catch many species of fish. I have a 12' jon boat and although it's rated for 15HP, I use a 9.9HP because two of my favorite lakes have a 10HP max limit. I run it from idle speed to 20.4 MPH when fishing alone, most of the time around 1/2 speed. A friend of mine has a 14' jon boat and I use my 9.9 on his when we fish together on those two lakes. Another important piece of advice is to get a motor that has through hub exhaust and not a shear pin type prop. Those shear pin propped motors are just an on-the-water breakdown waiting to happen. My advice is based on the ole saying "been there and done that".

I beg your pardon!!

Why is a shearpin bad?  I am basing my reply that Johnnyrude 3s and 4s are the best motors, not only by my personal experience, but from the opinions of many other proud owners.  There are 100s of thousands of people who own shearpin propped motors and have never had a problem with them.  

Also, we are assuming he is not on an unlimited budget.  Buying modern technology may not be practical.  Plus, the weight is the only bad thing about these old smaller motors.  The durability of these things far exceeds that of its modern counterpart.  These are bullet proof.  Many Johnnyrudes have lasted from the 50s and 60s and show no signs of dying.  Our modern motors arent gonna last 55 years, and still show no signs of dying.  Try dropping a new one overboard in salt water, leave it for 72 hours, come home, change all grease, oil and spark plugs and then starting it.  

Rant over.  Moral is, a 4, 5 or 6 will be much improved, and you will be satisfied.  And, you buy an old Johnnyrude, and take standard maintenance, the motor will possibly outlive ya.

[SteveFinMD]

If, as you say, an electric motor scoots the boat along well then a 4 or 5 hp will make a big improvement in moving the boat.  To my knowledge 55# is the largest 12v motor available.  It is no where near as powerful as a 5 hp outboard.  Cabelas has a very nice one that has a good reputation and the price isn't too bad.  Good luck.

[grid]

Short shaft or long?  What's reconminded

[SteveFinMD]

That depends on the height of your transom.  Most small aluminum boats would use a short shaft.  Measure it to be certain.

[bassboy1]

If, as you say, an electric motor scoots the boat along well then a 4 or 5 hp will make a big improvement in moving the boat.  To my knowledge 55# is the largest 12v motor available.  It is no where near as powerful as a 5 hp outboard.  Cabelas has a very nice one that has a good reputation and the price isn't too bad.  Good luck.

If the Cabelas one you are talking about is the Briggs and Stratton, don't bother.  That thing is a lawnmower engine on a LU.  It is so noisy and vibrates.  Trust me, you want twin cylinders.  Otherwise it will vibrate your arm off.  If you are talking about the Nissan, I have no clue.  But, best money spent would be to get an old Johnnyrude.  They are better than new motors, not only in my opinion, but everyone else who I know that owns one, used to own one, or had borrowed one.  

[Dennis22]

well, i kno im the new guy here and all, but i have a 9.4 Basstender and i run a 24lb thrust trolling motor, and i also have a 200 Mercury 3.3 2 stroke motor that does very well.  Just thought id put my .02 in

[Wayne P.]

Reply to shear pin observation. The motor part of those shear pin models are excellent and durable. It's the simple fact that the prop has a shear pin and it WILL shear. Have any of you with one had to replace a pin out in the middle of the lake? I fish several timber filled lakes and had a shear pin prop motor. I used to carry a dozen or so pins all the time because about every two stumps hit even at idle speed would lead to a sheared pin. I've even had to have the rubber hub replaced on a thru hub prop because of occasional contact with stumps, I carry a spare prop just in case. I'm glad all you guys that have those shear pin motors enjoy them, but I would not buy another one and certainly would not advise anyone to buy one.

[cart7t]

Well it sounds like the shear pin was doing it's job.  While changing a pin on the lake is something of a pain it's a lot cheaper than replacing a bent or broken prop or a spun hub. Worse yet, a bent prop shaft.  

[bassboy1]

If you don't have a shearpin, there could be major damage to the LU or prop on contact with stump or sumpin'.  Do you carry 3 or 4 extra props with you through the stump beds?  Alum. ones are not cheap.  For my 4, they are 50 bucks a pop.  For my 50, they are about 200 a pop.  Not exactly disposable.  And, if you are running a SS prop, a stump could stop, but not break a prop, and could damage the LU gearcase.