Author Topic: 5 horse on 16"johnboat (Read 5528 times)

duckmen1 · « **on:** March 19, 2013, 11:01:55 PM »

I plan on getting a motor for my John boat and want to stay under 15 horse. Was wondering if a 5 horse would be enough to get the boat moving decent speed. I want to bring it out to the sound on nice days once in a while but mainly for lakes. Do you think this is enough.
I was looking at the propane lehr motors. The 9.9 I would love but its a little to pricey.

Kola16 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 19, 2013, 11:06:11 PM »

I think a 5 horse is waaaaaaay too much for a 16" boat

My

get the 9.9.......you will want it

duckmen1 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 19, 2013, 11:12:15 PM »

I know I will want a bigger one its just what I'm looking at is another thousand to 1500 dollars more for the 9.9 and that's a steep price difference for my income. I could save longer but I wouldn't be getting the motor this year

bear hunter · « **Reply #3 on:** March 20, 2013, 02:03:33 AM »

I have a 5hp on my 12ft boat it moves about 6 mph. The 5hp would work but I would stay out of flooded rivers and fast moving waters. It isn't fun when the boat looks like it is moving fast. Then you look at the shoreline to see that nothing is moving.

You might only be able to reach a top speed of 3 to 4 mph. I would just spend the extra money and get a 9.9hp or a 15hp. There was a guy selling one on this site I thought. Good luck

Smossy · « **Reply #4 on:** March 20, 2013, 02:25:13 AM »

It will work great. You will actually get some surprising speeds with 5 horses. Just make sure your boats weighted in the front or you could wind up going for a swim

I use a 2 1/2 horse trolling moter i think it is for our 17 foot canoe and 12 foot john boat. Works good enough for me. Dont think id run it in the sound tho, doubt i could fight currents with it, then again it IS a trolling moter lol not a normal moter. For lakes its fantastic though. Atleast for me and my girl. Gonna get a 2-3 horse moter eventually for the john boat so we can actually get somewhere in no tim. Our flat bottom john boats only rated for like 400bs i think though

C-Money · « **Reply #5 on:** March 20, 2013, 06:33:28 AM »

I use a 6hp on my 12ft aluminum boat. Done so for 20 years. Every trip I wished I had saved up a few more bucks for the 9.9. The 6hp got the job done, and got me to shore many time when an unexpected storm blew in, but I sure always wished I had the 9.9. The 6hp won't plane out, it just plows slowly threw the water. In you situation, you will probably just get the job done with the 5hp, but be prepared to wish for a bigger motor every time you go out!

duckmen1 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 20, 2013, 10:59:27 AM »

I think I will save for the 9.9. I like the propane Lehr motors because you don't have to deal with the ethonal and carborator or spark plug build up. You have no choke/priming to deal with. To winterize just simply unscrew your tank. Sounds much simpler for a guy that's not to big on dealing with stuff on motors. Propane is also cheaper than gas to run and you will have less servicing with this because of things like I mentioned.

Smossy · « **Reply #7 on:** March 20, 2013, 11:05:09 AM »

Quote from: duckmen1 on March 20, 2013, 10:59:27 AM

I think I will save for the 9.9. I like the propane Lehr motors because you don't have to deal with the ethonal and carborator or spark plug build up. You have no choke/priming to deal with. To winterize just simply unscrew your tank. Sounds much simpler for a guy that's not to big on dealing with stuff on motors. Propane is also cheaper than gas to run and you will have less servicing with this because of things like I mentioned.

Great point, Didnt even know those existed, Might have to look into one myself

duckmen1 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 20, 2013, 11:33:46 AM »

Ya the 9.9 are running 2700 to 3100 depending on it you get long or short shaft. Electric or manual pull start.
If things are this simple I will just get the manual pull and save 350 dollars.
It will be a couple months before I can get it though. Have to finish up some taxidermy bills and get all the fishing and hunting licenses and apps done.

Bullkllr · « **Reply #9 on:** March 20, 2013, 12:07:13 PM »

So, you're not even considering a used but reliable 2stroke/4stroke 9.9 for a grand or well under?

They're really pretty simple.

lokidog · « **Reply #10 on:** March 20, 2013, 01:13:29 PM »

A neighbor swears by his Tohatsus. Not a bad price. I also think a 5hp is way too small for a 16' boat.

http://www.boats.net/outboard_motor/Tohatsu/parts.html

Kola16 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 20, 2013, 01:34:30 PM »

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,120600.0.html

I like Johnsons

lokidog · « **Reply #12 on:** March 20, 2013, 01:44:18 PM »

I had an 87 and have a 93 15hp, they are good engines!

gaddy · « **Reply #13 on:** March 20, 2013, 02:05:33 PM »

been kind of watching this one. any particular reason you are set on these size mo's? hp restricted waters ? how wide a beam is your jon boat & how much weight are you typically going to have on board? i run a 25 on my 14' v-hull.

lokidog · « **Reply #14 on:** March 20, 2013, 02:10:21 PM »

Quote from: gaddy on March 20, 2013, 02:05:33 PM

been kind of watching this one. any particular reason you are set on these size mo's? hp restricted waters ? how wide a beam is your jon boat & how much weight are you typically going to have on board? i run a 25 on my 14' v-hull.

I think his biggest concern is budget.

I've used a 15 on a v-hull 14' with good effect, until I put two people, a dog and camping gear in it. Wish I had a 25 for that boat then.

duckmen1 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 20, 2013, 03:40:05 PM »

I am on a budget, want a reliable motor that I know will work when I go, which makes me nervous buying it used, and really like the idea to make things more simple and cheaper to run. I also don't want to deal with the states boating education card because there are several different users using the boat and we would all have to get that to run it. Depending on whose using the motor.
I would defanitly like a big motor and to buy it used for the cost savings, but I am hesitant doing so.
I also was told I need a long shaft motor because the depth of the boat.

duckmen1 · « **Reply #16 on:** March 20, 2013, 03:47:13 PM »

I also did look at the tohatsu motors and that is pretty good prices lokidog. I will keep it in mind.
Good price on the Johnson too but not sure I want to go that old on a motor and it is all the way across the state from me too.

bear hunter · « **Reply #17 on:** March 20, 2013, 05:43:10 PM »

Quote from: duckmen1 on March 20, 2013, 03:40:05 PM

I am on a budget, want a reliable motor that I know will work when I go, which makes me nervous buying it used, and really like the idea to make things more simple and cheaper to run. I also don't want to deal with the states boating education card because there are several different users using the boat and we would all have to get that to run it. Depending on whose using the motor.
I would defanitly like a big motor and to buy it used for the cost savings, but I am hesitant doing so.
I also was told I need a long shaft motor because the depth of the boat.

You don't need a boater ed card if you keep the motor under 15 hp

duckmen1 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 20, 2013, 06:01:32 PM »

That's why I don't want a 15 horse

gaddy · « **Reply #19 on:** March 20, 2013, 06:33:23 PM »

whats the problem with getting the boater ed card? bolth my boys got em & can run anything i own. not than im for additional registrations, but it does teach boating saftey & rules of the road so to speak.

duckmen1 · « **Reply #20 on:** March 20, 2013, 06:44:16 PM »

I just don't want to worry if someone I know wants to use the boat and hasn't taken it. Cost of the boat Ed card, which isn't to big of deal, but mainly I can't afford a large motor anyways.

Bullkllr · « **Reply #21 on:** March 20, 2013, 06:55:51 PM »

Sounds like you have your mind made up.
Depending on the beam and weight of your boat, and load, you'll likely be well under-powered with a 9.9. Good troller. Be ok on lakes, maybe near shore calm waters in the Sound with little tidal current. Not going to be able to do a whole lot of traveling. Jon boats are not made for that, anyway.

duckmen1 · « **Reply #22 on:** March 20, 2013, 07:15:39 PM »

The front is semi v haul so that helps
After nothing but a trolling motor I think I will show a big difference to me.

fish vacuum · « **Reply #23 on:** March 21, 2013, 02:45:53 AM »

I've worked out of 16' Jons with 9.9 to 25-horse outboards. With a 9.9 it would move ok with a load of 3 people plus gear, but it wouldn't plane. With a light load it would plane off but still wasn't quick. I would not go smaller than 9.9.

snocohunter · « **Reply #24 on:** March 22, 2013, 07:54:47 AM »

I agree with everyone, get at least a 9.9. Just ask saltwaterhillbilly on here about the limitations though. He bought a 9.9 for his 14ft boat, went out duck hunting with him on a windy day and couldn't make it out of the mouth of the skagit. We were getting swamped it wouldnt get on plain at all. I wouldn't trust a 9,9 out on the sound on a boat that size personally. It can turn so nasty so quickly. I've had some *censored*ty days getting back in with a 25 on a 14 ft Jon boat before. 9 and we would have been really screwed.

turkeyfeather · « **Reply #25 on:** March 22, 2013, 08:11:36 AM »

I had a 12 footer with an 8 hp and I wouldn't have went any smaller.

Kc_Kracker · « **Reply #26 on:** March 22, 2013, 10:22:44 AM »

no, i had a 5 on a 9' and it was about 8 knots. its get a 9.9 at the least or a 15

hunt_fish · « **Reply #27 on:** March 22, 2013, 11:30:05 AM »

Quote from: Bullkllr on March 20, 2013, 06:55:51 PM

Sounds like you have your mind made up.
Depending on the beam and weight of your boat, and load, you'll likely be well under-powered with a 9.9. Good troller. Be ok on lakes, maybe near shore calm waters in the Sound with little tidal current. Not going to be able to do a whole lot of traveling. Jon boats are not made for that, anyway.

Yeah I wouldn't do a 5 hp. We were out on our 14 foot aluminum, or maybe it was our old 12 foot aluminum boat at Goose Island years ago with a 9.9 when a storm blew in. Let's just say if it wasn't for the fiberglass boat that was running by the dam, we wouldn't have made it back to the launch.

Bofire · « **Reply #28 on:** March 25, 2013, 08:02:19 AM »

The boater ed card kicks in OVER 15 hp not at 15. I have a 15 on a 14 WC lund, with me and stuff it planes well, with more folks it takes longer to plane, full boat it will not plane.
Carl

lokidog · « **Reply #29 on:** March 25, 2013, 08:28:43 AM »

An underpowered, overloaded boat is a sure way to increase your chances of having an incident occur. Just take the online boater safety class, and have anyone else that might use your boat do the same, even if you only have a 15 on it! I took the class when I was 12, and had to do it in person. I am positive the WI class was tougher than the online one here.

That 1980's 15 is probably a good deal, those engines are easy to work on if needed and a lot lighter than the four strokes of today. I have a 93 Johnson, which is pretty much the same as an 87, it has spent a couple of months on the bottom of the Newaukum River as well as being submerged several times in the salt and with a little cleaning, still runs great.

If you are on the sound, or in a river, you need to be able to deal with ALL conditions.

duckmen1 · « **Reply #30 on:** March 25, 2013, 09:48:13 AM »

I might end up taking the class for the heck of it.
Like you said lokidog why not.
And yes bonfire if you don't have the card you might want to re look at the regs. I just rechecked and it says 15 horse and larger. Just letting you know what I saw.
Depending on what deal comes along in the next few months will determine what size I get. But it isn't going to be any smaller than 9.9.

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Author Topic: 5 horse on 16"johnboat (Read 5528 times)

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