How much of the max H.P. do you need?

[carySE406]

I'm currently looking at a 17 ft. fiberglass boat with a max horsepower rating of 150.  However, the boat is equipped with a 75 horse motor.  How much of the max horsepower rating is necessary?  I mean, 75 out of 150 seems pretty weak.  What do you guys think?

Gracias.

[alger319]

i've been told(by my mechanic->>ex-boat racer :) you can safely get away with 20-30+ hp. my boat is rated for 115 but i went ahead and put a 140 just for kicks. it does void the warranty-but my boat is so old it doesn't matter.

[Long Mike]

Well, I guess it all depends on how fast you want to go and how much money you are willing to spend to get there. I have a 17' Tracker with a 60 hp on it. It' will run about 40 mph. That's as fast as I want or need to go, so I'm not willing to spend any money to make it go faster. The choice is up to you.

[Skitterz]

No less then 30% of max rated HP

[bassdocktor]

Just to go along with this putting too much on could get your mechanic is some trouble. I think you might get into some insurance issues if there is ever a claim. Can't the Coast Guard and I'd assume most law agencies write you a ticket?

Back to the question. Most of what I've read is that you should always try to be at the max not for the speed but it puts less stress/starin on the engine. I don't know if it is true but that's the most common feeling on the topic.

[MemphisFisherman]

Ive got the same sized glass boat with a 90hp on it.  Runs 44mph by the GPS.  Dropping down to a 75hp wont make it much slower, the boat will still get up on plane and go fast enough to get you around trust me.  Besides new engines cost WAY too much.

[CGH]

Hey! ask MemphisFisherman if he will swap motors with ya and see if their is any proformance loss/gain to either boat.

Their are some good used motors out their that are closer to the rated HP for that boat. Then again no one fishes at 80 miles per hour ;D

But if you are happy with the speed and the hanling of that boat with the 75er then buy it and just go fish, elsewise get more HP till your happy then go fish 8-)

Either way, Just GO FISH, Besides the Bass want care if you run a 75 or 300 on your boat

[cart7t]

At 50% rated hp, the performance of that boat will be pretty bad.  Depending on load, your holeshot will probably be awful to barely OK.  If you work on the setup to maximize the holeshot, you're top end speed will drop pretty bad.  

The top end speed isn't so much the issue, you're not going to get much out of any boat under-rated like that, what will be at issue is how the boat will run through the water.  You're unlikely to get sufficient lift to get the hull much out of the water and thus, you'll basically be plowing water.  Not a good ride if the water gets rough and you will get wet.

Oh, and your re-sale value will be weak.  

[Jig Man]

At 50% rated hp, the performance of that boat will be pretty bad. Depending on load, your holeshot will probably be awful to barely OK. If you work on the setup to maximize the holeshot, you're top end speed will drop pretty bad.

The top end speed isn't so much the issue, you're not going to get much out of any boat under-rated like that, what will be at issue is how the boat will run through the water. You're unlikely to get sufficient lift to get the hull much out of the water and thus, you'll basically be plowing water. Not a good ride if the water gets rough and you will get wet.

Oh, and your re-sale value will be weak.

And you will have to run WOT to get anywhere so kiss gas mileage good buy.

[ba7ss3in]

Don't worry about it, you have something to put you out on the water. Have a good time. btw 75hp is good for a 17fter. I had a 75 merc on 16 1/2 foot Hydra sport and it was great for me. I have a 150hp V-Max now and would not even think about putting it on that boat. IMHO think safety first

[PDB]

I have a novel idea.  Test run the boat to see what you think.

[Wayne P.]

There is not such thing as "good enough" when it comes to boating. Don't settle for anything less than the maximum HP it is rated for but do not go over that because if an accident occurs, you are liable for having an unsafe boat by overpowering your boat and it will be treated as such by insurance companies, lawyers, and jurys.

With the max. HP, you can get on plane faster-saving fuel, run the engine at 1/2 throttle and get better fuel mileage than a lesser motor run WOT going the same speed.

[MemphisFisherman]

Don't worry about it, you have something to put you out on the water. Have a good time. btw 75hp is good for a 17fter. I had a 75 merc on 16 1/2 foot Hydra sport and it was great for me. I have a 150hp V-Max now and would not even think about putting it on that boat. IMHO think safety first

Hydra Sport is a very light boat tho, but I still agree with ya, 75 should be plenty enough for any 17 footer.

[bassboy1]

General rule of thumb is 75 to 100 percent.  More if you are feeling lucky. ;D

[Cajun1977]

i've been told(by my mechanic->>ex-boat racer :) you can safely get away with 20-30+ hp. my boat is rated for 115 but i went ahead and put a 140 just for kicks. it does void the warranty-but my boat is so old it doesn't matter.

it might void the warranty, but it aint gonna void the ticket :

[Bassn Blvd]

Get the most that the boat is rated for.

[Way2slow]

You only need enough to push the boat and a 9.9 will do easily do that.  From that point it's what you are satisfied with.  If you can put two or three people in the boat with the rest of the gear and it will get on plane and go fast enough to suit you, that's all you need.  If you want the boat to shoot out of the hole with a load, and get up on the pad at WOT, blowing your checks back to your ears, you need all the max rated HP and sometimes even more.

I'm the latter, I've over powered almost every boat I've ever owned.  The last bass last time I owned a bass boat that would not run at least 60 mph was back in 1985 and the last time I owned at least one that would not run 70 mph was in 1992

I've had 15 foot boats with 150 hp, 17 foot boats with over 200 hp, 18' boats with over 300 hp.  I currently have two motors that make over 300 hp, one of those is over 345 hp I run on a 20 foot boat when I get board with the 225 on it.

[IneedAnewScreenName9886691]

no expert but from my experiance max HP should actually read recommended HP.

I think they put max so the dealerships can sell cheaper with a smaller engine.  

Just my .02 but nothing sucks worse than 3 guys a cooler full of goodies and having to have a guy run to the front to get it on plane.  

[Matt Fly]

USCG rating plate formula for figuring Max HP.

(2 x L x W)-90

Example.    19' long and 7' 5"

          (19 x 7.42 x 2)-90

         281.96 - 90 = 191.6

You are allowed to round up to "5"

Max rating for this boat would be 195.

Most dealers won't install a motor rated higher than the plate.  Most.  Some warranties are voided on boat by exceeding max rating.

It is not illegal to put a larger motor than boat is rated for, but in some states, it is illegal to do so, and some insurance companies won't touch you if you exceeded the USCG rating plate that is affixed to all boats.

In Tx, most Tournament trails will deny you entry if exceeding max hrs rating.

[ThomasL]

I've mentioned this before but when i was young,14-15 me and dad went boat looking and went to jefferies in raleigh,nc no longer there and there was a man as some know that boats is all he ever did in life!

He said if at all possible come between 75-100 % of the hp rating,in other words if it calls for a 100 don't put anything under a 75 on it for holeshot,topend and lastly longivity.Resale will effect it also,you ever see those bass trackers in 17 1/2' with 25's on them that never sale?

[NAILER]

Try it and see what it does. You want to test run it before you buy it anyway.

[luckyinkentucky]

Just remember that the more HP you buy the more fuel you will be buying too.  I have an Evinrude 200hp on my 20 ft. Skeeter, and there are times when I wish I had a 150hp motor!  

There is the other thing that gets me here locally.  I can't fish 2 popular smaller impoundments 4 months out of the summer because it has a 150hp MAX allowed motor size limit on it.  I miss fishing there from Memorial Day to Labor Day, because I will get a ticket if I use my outboard there, and I surely don't want to troll around all the time!

[cart7t]

Just remember that the more HP you buy the more fuel you will be buying too.  I have an Evinrude 200hp on my 20 ft. Skeeter, and there are times when I wish I had a 150hp motor!  

Simple fix.  Don't run the 200hp motor wide open.