Cost effective? Have you priced new outboard motors? They are flipping expensive. And for a 15 ft aluminum boat you can’t put too big of one on anyways, stick to a 5 to 10 horse motor.
I would suggest 25 to 35 hp. it better to have more power in case you get in a jam. you
don’t haft use all the power,but it’s nice to know in case there’s a emergency.
I have a motorcycle with over a 100 hp. i never use all of it. I might need it to get out of jam.
91/2 horsepower is what I had once for my aluminum boat, which if I remember correctly was about that size. It didn’t go fast, but it went fast enough to not drive me crazy, yet slow enough to enjoy the journey to my destination. And it was cheap on gas.
I have a Lund 14′ aluminum with a 20hp Honda, but i have a trailer. If you will be hand bombing your motor, you might want to stick with a 9. 9hp or so. You should have a plate on your boat with engine size recommendations. I believe mine is good up to 35hp. But i get around nicely with my 20hp.
Safe ta’ say that a 15hp would be the max. There’s a lot to be considered when increasin’ hp ie. , widest point of beam (hull), length of hull, transom condition etc. . Problem with the larger engine, they can cause boat to have improper planing. We’ve got a 14 Semi-V Jon and even though I’m runnin’ over rated ie. , 20hp (U. S. Coast Guard Standards), she’s quick, planing is great and runs safely what with my addition of a hydrofoil to outboard. http://www. boatingsolutions. com/Doel-Fin-Hydrofoil-Stabilizer–P10210C1296. aspx
Link below will give ya’ an idea as to proper hp in conjuction with size of boat. Might add that your boat should have a weight capacity as well as hp ratings plate on it (usually on the transom, if not then you’ll have ta’ do some lookin’ elsewhere). . http://www. smalloutboards. com/choose. htm
Am, sure that I’ll get considerable disagreement on hp for the size of your boat, but I have no problem with the 20 on the Jon and run with a 6 gallon tank . . .
A motor as small as 5 hp will push a 15′ aluminum boat even while carrying 3 adults at decent speed. I have a 5 hp on my 10′ Jon boat that works very well. I have a 15 hp on a14′ Jon boat that works much better. Anything below 5 hp would likely be too small on a 15′ flat bottom or V hull. It doesn’t take much to get these lightweight boats up on plane.
you can put a 25 hp on it no problem. that’s what most people around here have on their 15′ boats. you should b able to get a good used one for under two grand. check the local classifieds and local motor repair shops for good deals on used motors. tohatsu makes a heck of a motor but they can be a lil pricy.
buy a briggs& straton 5 hp out board, there around $800 i have one on my 14 ft john boat does a great job getting around,
besides that it wont foul the water, its a 4 cycle,
Really depends on the rating on the hull.
This 16′ boat can go as high as 40hp http://www. trackerboats. com/boat/index. cfm?boat=2270
This 14′ boat only 15 hp http://www. trackerboats. com/boat/index. cfm?boat=2268
This 14′ boat only 6hp. http://www. trackerboats. com/boat/index. cfm?boat=2262
I have a small inflatable rated for 4 hp (SeaEagle SE9) I chose a 3. 5 hp Tohatsu/Nissan because it was 40 lbs and the boat is rated 4 hp or 45 lbs. Tohatsu/Nissan has a nice 4 hp, I would have preferred it, but it is also a good 12 lbs too heavy.
The Yamaha 4 hp was 3 lbs too heavy. The Suzuki 4 hp was 10 lbs too heavy and Honda doesn’t have a 4 hp, but their 5 hp is also very heavy (and expensive). Tohatsu is a really good deal. http://www. tohatsu. co. jp/en/boat/index. html
I have a 15 foot Gregor(aluminum0. It’s rated for a 35 HP. I have a 28hp Johnson on it. It does very well. But you have to consider many things. Will you be towing the boat on a trailer? If so stay with a 15HP or smaller. Will you be trolling with it? Sometimes the smaller motors do better than the bigger motors. My first boat was a 12 foot Western Aluminum with a old 10HP Evinrude on it. . . . . that was almost to fast with one person in the boat. But it was great with two. But if it were me I wouldn’t go any smaller than a 15 HP and I would go up to 30 if you have it on a trailer. Keep in mind that the newer 4 stroke motors are a lot more efficient than the older 2 stroke motors. As far as cost-effective? Serious sport fisherman don’t worry about that kind of stuff.
A 14 foor polymer portabote is lrated for 9hp. An aluminum boat is heavier and and has more drag in the water. I love my 4 stroke Suzuki.
When in Canada Ileased a 16 foot Lund with a 9 hp motor and there were three of us.
Granted we did not have to deal with much current but even on idle speed we were moving a tad to fast to troll for walleye. At 3/4 throttle it zipped in the lake quite nicely.
Best bet is go to a local marina and ask their advice for yorur area. The current you will encountering is also a factor. 25 hp may be a little large for a 15 footer.
Cost effective? Have you priced new outboard motors? They are flipping expensive. And for a 15 ft aluminum boat you can’t put too big of one on anyways, stick to a 5 to 10 horse motor.
I would suggest 25 to 35 hp. it better to have more power in case you get in a jam. you
don’t haft use all the power,but it’s nice to know in case there’s a emergency.
I have a motorcycle with over a 100 hp. i never use all of it. I might need it to get out of jam.
Phillip
Thats a small boat you can’t go bigger than 10.
91/2 horsepower is what I had once for my aluminum boat, which if I remember correctly was about that size. It didn’t go fast, but it went fast enough to not drive me crazy, yet slow enough to enjoy the journey to my destination. And it was cheap on gas.
Most boats manufacturer’s plates have a rated HP- this may be on the transom- But you can’t go wrong with a 9 to 10 HP.
whats it rated as surely it should say but i would go for 15 as the engine will not be too heavy then
I have a Lund 14′ aluminum with a 20hp Honda, but i have a trailer. If you will be hand bombing your motor, you might want to stick with a 9. 9hp or so. You should have a plate on your boat with engine size recommendations. I believe mine is good up to 35hp. But i get around nicely with my 20hp.
Safe ta’ say that a 15hp would be the max. There’s a lot to be considered when increasin’ hp ie. , widest point of beam (hull), length of hull, transom condition etc. . Problem with the larger engine, they can cause boat to have improper planing. We’ve got a 14 Semi-V Jon and even though I’m runnin’ over rated ie. , 20hp (U. S. Coast Guard Standards), she’s quick, planing is great and runs safely what with my addition of a hydrofoil to outboard. http://www. boatingsolutions. com/Doel-Fin-Hydrofoil-Stabilizer–P10210C1296. aspx
. . .
Link below will give ya’ an idea as to proper hp in conjuction with size of boat. Might add that your boat should have a weight capacity as well as hp ratings plate on it (usually on the transom, if not then you’ll have ta’ do some lookin’ elsewhere). .
http://www. smalloutboards. com/choose. htm
Am, sure that I’ll get considerable disagreement on hp for the size of your boat, but I have no problem with the 20 on the Jon and run with a 6 gallon tank
A motor as small as 5 hp will push a 15′ aluminum boat even while carrying 3 adults at decent speed. I have a 5 hp on my 10′ Jon boat that works very well. I have a 15 hp on a14′ Jon boat that works much better. Anything below 5 hp would likely be too small on a 15′ flat bottom or V hull. It doesn’t take much to get these lightweight boats up on plane.
you can put a 25 hp on it no problem. that’s what most people around here have on their 15′ boats. you should b able to get a good used one for under two grand. check the local classifieds and local motor repair shops for good deals on used motors. tohatsu makes a heck of a motor but they can be a lil pricy.
buy a briggs& straton 5 hp out board, there around $800 i have one on my 14 ft john boat does a great job getting around,
besides that it wont foul the water, its a 4 cycle,
Really depends on the rating on the hull.
This 16′ boat can go as high as 40hp
http://www. trackerboats. com/boat/index. cfm?boat=2270
This 14′ boat only 15 hp
http://www. trackerboats. com/boat/index. cfm?boat=2268
This 14′ boat only 6hp.
http://www. trackerboats. com/boat/index. cfm?boat=2262
I have a small inflatable rated for 4 hp (SeaEagle SE9) I chose a 3. 5 hp Tohatsu/Nissan because it was 40 lbs and the boat is rated 4 hp or 45 lbs. Tohatsu/Nissan has a nice 4 hp, I would have preferred it, but it is also a good 12 lbs too heavy.
The Yamaha 4 hp was 3 lbs too heavy. The Suzuki 4 hp was 10 lbs too heavy and Honda doesn’t have a 4 hp, but their 5 hp is also very heavy (and expensive). Tohatsu is a really good deal.
http://www. tohatsu. co. jp/en/boat/index. html
I have a 15 foot Gregor(aluminum0. It’s rated for a 35 HP. I have a 28hp Johnson on it. It does very well. But you have to consider many things. Will you be towing the boat on a trailer? If so stay with a 15HP or smaller. Will you be trolling with it? Sometimes the smaller motors do better than the bigger motors. My first boat was a 12 foot Western Aluminum with a old 10HP Evinrude on it. . . . . that was almost to fast with one person in the boat. But it was great with two. But if it were me I wouldn’t go any smaller than a 15 HP and I would go up to 30 if you have it on a trailer. Keep in mind that the newer 4 stroke motors are a lot more efficient than the older 2 stroke motors. As far as cost-effective? Serious sport fisherman don’t worry about that kind of stuff.
9-15 HP
A 14 foor polymer portabote is lrated for 9hp. An aluminum boat is heavier and and has more drag in the water. I love my 4 stroke Suzuki.
When in Canada Ileased a 16 foot Lund with a 9 hp motor and there were three of us.
Granted we did not have to deal with much current but even on idle speed we were moving a tad to fast to troll for walleye. At 3/4 throttle it zipped in the lake quite nicely.
Best bet is go to a local marina and ask their advice for yorur area. The current you will encountering is also a factor. 25 hp may be a little large for a 15 footer.