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How big of motor for Jon Boat?

Posted on 9/12/23 at 9:16 am
Posted by Nannyslayer
Member since Jan 2019
145 posts
Posted on 9/12/23 at 9:16 am
I have an older 14' x 4' jon boat I will use for hunting this season since our access to camp is out due to a bridge. I'm looking at both 15 and 25 hp motors. I'll obviously be carrying all sorts of hunting stuff/food etc. I'll running several miles in an oxbow but not in river.

I don't want to be underpowered but at same time don't want to put something too big on older boat.

any advice/experiences would be great. thanks.
Posted by RATeamWannabe
Baton Rouge
Member since Sep 2009
25982 posts
Posted on 9/12/23 at 9:17 am to
quote:

I'm looking at both 15 and 25 hp motors.


quote:

don't want to be underpowered

quote:

don't want to put something too big


Sounds like you need a 20
Posted by bluemoons
the marsh
Member since Oct 2012
5636 posts
Posted on 9/12/23 at 9:19 am to
As big as you can go. I had a Yamaha 25 2 stroke on a 1442 and it was great. I'd have gone 30hp if I could've.
Posted by Shexter
Prairieville
Member since Feb 2014
15289 posts
Posted on 9/12/23 at 9:23 am to
I had a 25 Merc on a 14x4 and it would run around 30mph.
Looks like you'd only be around 30 lbs. heavier with the 25.

quote:

15 HP 95 – 140 lbs (43 – 64 kg)
20 HP 95 – 150 lbs (43 – 68 kg)
25 HP 130 – 170 lbs (59 – 77 kg)
Posted by Nannyslayer
Member since Jan 2019
145 posts
Posted on 9/12/23 at 9:23 am to
bluemoons---I'm actually looking at the exact motor. Of course everyone says 4 stroke blah, blah.

How did it run etc? was front end straight up in air?
Posted by The Last Coco
On the water
Member since Mar 2009
6861 posts
Posted on 9/12/23 at 9:24 am to
If it's a legit 14x48 welded boat, you want a 25hp.

If it's a 14x36 riveted boat, the 15hp will be fine.

You could split the difference and get a 20hp. I know with suzukis, it is built on the 15hp frame so you get the weight of the 15hp (about 100lb) but way more power. The 25hp zuks are about 130lbs by conparison.
Posted by lowhound
Effie
Member since Aug 2014
8037 posts
Posted on 9/12/23 at 9:25 am to
Posted by GoAwayImBaitn
On an island in the marsh
Member since Jul 2018
2313 posts
Posted on 9/12/23 at 9:27 am to
I have a 2 stroke Tohatsu 25 bumped to 30hp with a timing mod on my 14' Alumacraft. It goes 36mph with just me in the boat. It is a little sketchy wide open but it rolls. I think a 20hp is all that is probably needed but if the weight is the same between a 20 and 25...I'd go with the 25 and just use full throttle when needed.
Posted by Nannyslayer
Member since Jan 2019
145 posts
Posted on 9/12/23 at 9:31 am to
I had a honda 15 hp 4 stroke that is giving me issues. best I can tell from reading online, both the honda 15 4 stroke and yamaha 25 2 stroke are around 105-110 lbs.

Posted by Shexter
Prairieville
Member since Feb 2014
15289 posts
Posted on 9/12/23 at 9:47 am to
quote:

How did it run etc? was front end straight up in air?


The boat sat perfectly level when floating. Just adjust the manual trim setting until it runs right. 25 will get you on plane faster. If two people sat in the back of the boat, it would porpoise above 25 mph. As long as someone near the front, we could run full throttle. Having that little bit of extra power was nice when trying to beat a rainstorm back to the landing.
Posted by bluemoons
the marsh
Member since Oct 2012
5636 posts
Posted on 9/12/23 at 9:50 am to
quote:

How did it run etc? was front end straight up in air?



Not at all - it ran like a scalded dog. This was on a 1442 Weldcraft, so the boat was welded and I had floor in it. It was one of my favorite boats I ever owned and I wish I never sold it. We actually welded a wakeboard tower on the thing to wakeskate .

Posted by reds on reds on reds
Birmingham
Member since Sep 2013
4312 posts
Posted on 9/12/23 at 9:50 am to
Find a Yamaha 25 3 hole 2 stroke and mod it up to the power of your liking with Hydro Tec parts.
Posted by Nannyslayer
Member since Jan 2019
145 posts
Posted on 9/12/23 at 9:58 am to
outstanding. Thanks for all the info!
Posted by keakar
Member since Jan 2017
30152 posts
Posted on 9/12/23 at 12:17 pm to
quote:

I don't want to be underpowered but at same time don't want to put something too big on older boat.


with 2 people, a 15 wont be able to get on a plane

go with a 25 and thats the perfect size for it

since its an older boat, just take it slow beating on waves and you will be fine
Posted by mach316
Jonesboro, AR
Member since Jul 2012
4810 posts
Posted on 9/12/23 at 12:28 pm to
Definitely a 25. If you can find a 2 stroke Yamaha in good condition, that should get you where you wanna go. I’d stay away from a heavy 4 stroke IMO. That weight adds up quick in the back with battery, gas, motor and arse.
Posted by Tridentds
Sugar Land
Member since Aug 2011
21685 posts
Posted on 9/12/23 at 1:58 pm to
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Posted by SkintBack
SoLo
Member since Nov 2015
1776 posts
Posted on 9/12/23 at 3:23 pm to
25hp or 30hp. I had a 1442 riveted with a 25hp 2 stroke that ran like a bat out of hell. Also had a 1236 with a 15hp 2 stroke that did pretty good. That wider bottom will have some drag, go bigger if you can.
Posted by Dock Holiday
Member since Sep 2015
1676 posts
Posted on 9/12/23 at 3:32 pm to
As others have said, get the 25. I bought one many years ago that came with a 15 hp and within a few trips you knew it was underpowered. Went to a 25 merc and was very happy I did.
Posted by deeprig9
2023/24 B2B GSB Riboff Champ
Member since Sep 2012
67051 posts
Posted on 9/12/23 at 4:34 pm to
If it's just one person and their gear, 15 should be just fine. I ran for years with a 7.5 on a 1436 riveted.

It's as soon as you add that second person and their gear that the lower horsepower rears its head. If you are traveling in pairs with lots of weight, definitely go with the higher HP. 15hp will still get you there, you'll just be a little slower and throwing more wake. Even if you are only going 13 mph, that's still 2 miles in under 10 minutes. How fast do you really need to get there? How far are you really traveling?

Hell, I've got a 2.5 on that same boat right now, and with just me in the boat, it will still make a cracker wrapper fly out of the boat.
Posted by gumbeaux
Member since Jun 2004
4569 posts
Posted on 9/12/23 at 5:31 pm to
Will we have ducks this year? USFW said duck numbers are still declining (even more than last year) compared to long term average.
This post was edited on 9/12/23 at 6:07 pm
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