Small Outboard Power Upgrade

[McDink]

I'm reaching out to the knowledge on here.

 

I live in an area with quite a lot of really good fishing lakes, but they are all restricted to 25hp limits for our boats.  naturally that leaves a lot of boat and loading options out of the mix.  I primarily fish with my 3 children out of a 2003 Lowe 170W Alum bass boat powered but a Johnson 3cyl 35hp with 25 stickers.  After a lot of tuning with different props & engine height we can run that boat with a full fishing load, full fuel, 70lb thrust trolling motor and 3 batteries on board at 23-25 gps mph depending on water using a 12p 4 blade prop.

 

my question is this,...what models of outboards with power tilt and trim are out there in the 25 hp arena that can be built and tuned to push more than what I have now reliably?

 

ideally looking to get 40-50hp out of a platform that is still stamped and stickered as a 25.  it wouldn't be conducive to have a motor that originally started life as a 50hp, as ole green jeans would sure view it as easy money.

 

thanks in advance  

[Scott F]

Those lakes have 25hp restrictions because they don't want guys running 50hp motors. If you have no intention of following the law, you deserve whatever the guys in the "ole green jeans" decide to do with you.

[MN Fisher]

I don't know what kind of penalties they have there for running an outboard that's larger than allowed on a lake. I do know that here it's a pretty big fine, and if you run a gas outboard on a lake designated 'electric only' (small trout lakes) they can even confiscate your boat - like getting your car towed for illegal parking...and the 'bail out' fee can run pretty expensive.

[slonezp]

A performance motor shop can flash the computer on the larger outboards to squeeze more hp from them. Not sure if they can do the smaller ones.

[Team9nine]

The other thing to consider is if you can't do the mods yourself, you likely won't get a reputable shop to do them either. The liability risk is too great.

[OnthePotomac]

Your boat, like all boats, are designed for a max HP for safety.  It is not wise to exceed that rating for your own safety and insurance, if insurance is involved.  No a good idea, especially if you are responsible for other lives in the boat.