Main use is cruising around in the water don’t intend to use it as a fishing boat. Will be taken out on rivers not just lakes
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Main use is cruising around in the water don’t intend to use it as a fishing boat. Will be taken out on rivers not just lakes
Nathan,
There really is no one correct answer here. It also depends on the kind of boat and hull you have. I strongly recommend you find one like it on the Internet, and see what they are using, and or look your vessel up on NADA guides > http://www. nadaguides. com/Boats < and see what the boat came with new.
As is, we don’t know if this is a 15′ jon boat, or a 15′ tug boat. . . or something in-between, and weight, hull shape and design, all make a big difference, and the speed you want to cruise around at, all make a big difference in the hp you need.
John
If the 15 ft boat is all fiberglass then:
A 15hp will move the boat through the water at a reasonable speed. A 35hp is about the lowest to use if you plan on any water skiing.
That is what I have found to be the approx size – more HP = more speed and power.
If it is fiberglass over wood then I would increase the HP by about 10 to 15 hp.
Hope this has helped
i would get a 25 hp caus eanything smaller would be under powered and you wouldnt have fun
a 9. 9 would be ok if you just want to putter around but i would get a 25 myself
there is a rating plate in the boat that should say the maximum it can handle. exceeding that ranges from risky to suicidal.
minimum, lake only use, an electric trolling motor putting out 50 lbsa of thrust (roughly 1/2 hp) will move it around. a strong wind may make it hard to go up wind though.
river, you have current to deal with. without knowing what that current is, i cant say how much you’d need to power through it.
but, for river use, jet drive is often the better choice. i believe 40 hp is the smallest jet drive outboard, but there may be a smaller one.
if your boat can handle the power and weight, and your going with merc, i’d recommend stepping up to the 50 hp. its has an extra cylinder to it and runs much smoother because of it.
if you can handle the weight of the 50 hp merc, teh 60 hp merc weighs a whopping ONE pound more. same motor, but 10 more hp, if you can handle that power.
fiberglass, take it with you when shopping for a new outboard and have the transom inspected. fiberglass boats also have wood as the main materials used, and moisture eventually rots and weakens it. it may not be able to handle what it once could, it may not be able to handle anything anymore.
30 years is OLD for fiberglass boats.
It’s amazing!Good Luck, cheers
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