What size outboard???

[storms72]

Hey guys.....Am starting to have a look around at motors for 'Dark and Stormy' she's approx 15ft, believe a brooker, quite heavy, hull shape is v at bow coming down to very slight v at stern......Looking for a tiller steer engine that will be big enough to comfortably plane with my missus, 3 children and myself on board....am thinking somewhere between a 15 and 25 should be fine, anyone able to offer some words of wisdom...

Thanks
Jason

Should add mainly interested in how a 15 would go as most fishing will be myself + 1 so if it will plane with the 15(have 1 available through a mate at a very good price) loaded up I would be more than satisfied!

[fishinf]

my first boat was a 4.3 mt trim craft and it was allmost the same as the 4.3 brooker (witch you prolly have )any way i had a 25hp mariner tiller
it was a good match
i miss that boat
dont go 15 hp its to light

[quintrex101]

yea like fishinf said 15hp is underprowned, 25hp is prefect, it light and easy to life up cause the 30 hp ( well my one ) weight lots more and a pain in the butt to lift by myself, i know you be able to lift it cause your older but there a big weight different and it alot easyier on your back to go with the 25hp

[imnotafish]

jase have you got a pic...? depends a bit on the hull as to whether it will plane at lower speeds. if its a bit of a heavier hull with a deepish v then my guess (same as those above) would be no with a 15, esp with 2 people/ live tank etc etc.
Can you not test her out if its just a tiller steer?
also adding a hydroplane off the back of the outboard could help get it on a plane at lower speeds

[Dog Catcher]

I think 25 hp is underpowered to be honest it will get you around but you'll be canning it to get any sort of performance

[quintrex101]

what do you think then dc ?????????????/ 40hp maybe maybe a bit too big

[garth]

dc is maybe right.

my 15ft boat has a 60 and its a good match.

but if yours is a tinnie just get a 40

[jacobvz]

Look up the minimum spec from the manufacturer and stay within that range if affordable.
I like my 40 on my 4.2 tinnie which gets going when need to.

Jack

[Dog Catcher]

what do you think then dc ?????????????/ 40hp maybe maybe a bit too big

Well I'm running a 50 HP 2 stroke on my 4.8 meter & sometimes I wouldn't mind a bit more hp when there's 3 on board which is very rare dont like more than 2 on board that boat.

My 50 hp would produce similar performance to say garth 60 hp 4 banger 2 strokes have the torque over the 4 bangers & less weight to boot & on a small boat weight plays a huge role.

Esp as storms puts it

with my missus, 3 children and myself on board

Kids may be wittle but they're still weight add to that all the gear it all adds up.

Also talking tiller steer here so you wont have the luxury of power tilt & trim to get the boat planning easily esp with a 25 hp.

[BONECRUSHER]

we had a 50 on that boat jason and it went like the clappers. anything under that should be fine. its not about how fast you can go. when your important people wait for you.

[storms72]

Thanks guys.....Years ago had a 14ft trimcraft deep v which happily got along with a 6hp, I upgraded to a 15 when mates started heading out with me and it was enough to get us planing when there was 3 on board with fishing gear and surfing gear.......

Stef-its an older style hull with a fair bit of weight(guess round 200-250kg maybe more) the alloy is quite thick-not plate but not too far from it. The hull is almost flat from the mid point so I think it will plane easily.

DC I would love to throw a 40 or 50 on the back but I really don't think I need that much power. WOuld be suprised if a 20 or 25 didnt get along fine with family on board---my kids and missus arent heavyweights so total body weight for all of us would be round 250kg + gear say 150kg so total max weight it would have to push including hull weight and engine would be no more than 700kg.

Yeah BC right on brother, I would right now be happy with a seagull on the back doing 2kts with a strong tail wind and catching mullet!:1yikes: :yahoo:

[nimrod]

Jason. I have just caught up with this thread and like DC I agree that the boat would need a 40hp for it to be suitable.
I assume your transom would be 20" to suit long shaft.
Tell you what.
I have an old 35hp johnno here, long shaft, some time when you have a spare 1/2 day or so, we can arrange to meet at a ramp somewhere,
you take your boat and I'll take my motor. we will put my motor on your boat and see how it performs, bring your wife and children if you want to see for sure with their weight.
I will govern the motor down so it's equivelant to a 25hp and you can test it and see the difference.
Better to know for sure then buy a 25hp only to find you need to upgrade.
Frank

[xtosea]

40hp is a good start.
Kamil

[Dog Catcher]

DC I would love to throw a 40 or 50 on the back but I really don't think I need that much power.

It's not about having power to generate speed having extra HP allows you not to thrash the hell out of the motor just to get the boat moving.

More HP means you can rev less & in the long run you'll get a far greater life out of the outboard sitting on lower revs.

Why thrash a motor @ 5800 rpm when you can achieve the same speed & get there easier with a extra 15 hp doing 4000 rpm ????

You may think your saving money & fuel by going smaller HP but you're not & it's quite the opposite you'll use prob more fuel with a smaller HP motor simply because you're canning it.

[storms72]

No worries DC, I see your point and get it....kinda like trying to pull a 20ft boat with a ford laser!

Frank I will PM you re the offer mate.

Jason

[Dog Catcher]

kinda like trying to pull a 20ft boat with a ford laser!

More or less YES

If you take Frank up on his offer do your a favour & a fair conparisment dont just clamp on the motor jump in by yourself take it for a run & think WOW this is heap of power.

Takes a few mates along get them to hop in as well go for a run then come back kick them out then go for another run solo & you'll know exactly what I was on about earlier about how extra weight puts strain on a motor.

Another thing you may want to consider & alot of my logic comes from driving boats offshore for so many years, you may think to yourself yep I'll only fish the rivers etc but if you do venture outside then the extra hp is a must not for speed but for shear power to get you out of holes & you dont need a big sea to create holes either.

[storms72]

Yeah, will take enough ppl along to see how she goes....And definately will escape outside when conditions allow....

Thanks again.
Jason