Motor size for 12-14’ aluminum boat

[gutsnthegrass]

What motor size is recommended for a 12-14’ aluminum boat.  I am possibly purchasing a used boat that doesn’t have a motor for it.  This boat will mostly be used on small/medium sized lakes and if the conditions allow, maybe a larger lake like potholes.

Thanks for any info.

[Bofire]

Boat should have a label on it saying max horse power. I would think 10 hp would work well, you might look at electric.
Carl

[Dhoey07]

Just depends on what you want to do.  I have a closed bow 14' aluminum with a 40hp merc and I have a 12' throw in the back of a truck that i use an electric or my 6hp kicker.

[gaddy]

I have a Merc 25 on my 14' aluminum v-hull. Not a tiller, has remote steering and controls.  Works fine for everything. Weight concerns ? 2 or 4 stroke ?

[smdave]

I have a Lund WC14 have used it for everything crab, ling cod, small lakes. I originally had a 2 stroke 15 tiller worked great in the lakes and out in open water by myself. Put another person in there some crab gear and it still worked not as well. A third person in the boat it would only troll. Put a 25 2 stroke tiller on it and it moves without any problems 3 people and gear.

If you are only going in lakes to put around you don't need a bigger motor, it all depends on what you really expect it to do for you.

[BD1]

I have a 25 2 stroke on my 14ft. Smoker Craft V-hull. Halls Jiblits (as my son would say) 

[boneaddict]

big enough so a crackhead cant cart it off, small enough not to sink her......   Mo' Power!

[dilleytech]

A good rule of thumb if you want to be happy with your purchase is to find what the maximum allowable HP is for the hull and MAX IT OUT. If you need to troll slow and only want to have one motor attached maybe go with a smaller 4 stroke. Like a 8hp might not get up on plane however. If your not trolling max it out.

[h2ofowlr]

Look at the plate in the boat and max it out!  If your only wanting it for trolling, your better options are a 8hp, 9.9hp or the 15hp kickers.  Those are good trolling motors.

[Stein]

I would do a 25 unless you never have other people with you or you like going real slow.


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[N7XW]

8hp puts my 12' aluminum on plane with just me in it just fine.  It has a 58" beam and weights 150 lbs.

[gaddy]

The 25 is plenty fast enough and depending on the prop you have on will do what ever you want it to do. I have even pulled tube's with it, I dont't recommend doing that with a 14' aluminum boat, but it has been done.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

I was researching this awhile ago and a guy was steering me towards a 20 HP versus the 25 HP due to the weight difference and better fuel economy.  Just a thought.

[Mudman]

Years ago. my friend and I got a 12ft sears roebuck 12ft alum.  We scored on a 15hp Evinrude 4 stroke for it.  First time in water he cranked full throttle and we almost buried it.   35mph skipping like a crazy idiot was no problem.   I think a 5-9.9 would do job easy....

[Alchase]

My 13 ft Smokercraft deep-V, had a 4-stroke, 15hp Yamaha. It would do 28 mph @WOT.
Any chop or wind, and that speed would be a handful at best. More than enough for that boat.
If it was a heavier boat I would suggest a bigger motor.
My Sister has a 13ft  Boston Whaler with a 40hp Mercury on it.
But that boat weighs a ton compared to the Smokercraft.

[lokidog]

There is a huge range of boats 12-14'. A lot of it depends on what you have.  I have a 12' Starcraft that works great with a 15 hp engine on it.  I had a 14' Sylvan that worked fine with same 15 hp two stroke when only two people a dog and light fishing gear were in it. But, if you put same two people, dog, fishing and camping gear in it, it was a scow. A 25 would have been much better. An old 1940's five horse pushed the 12' along fine with one person, but any gear in it and it would have plowed.

[Caseyd]

[Crunchy]

To give a better opinion we would need to see a pic of the boat.  For just fishing lakes I would guess an 8-9 hp would do just fine. 

[PA BEN]

I have a 25 hp on my 60's model 14ft aluminum. When your running 5 miles to get to your fishing spot it doesn't take all day to get there with a 10hp. Less gas to. My will do 27 mph.

[Bullkllr]

Years ago. my friend and I got a 12ft sears roebuck 12ft alum.  We scored on a 15hp Evinrude 4 stroke for it.  First time in water he cranked full throttle and we almost buried it.   35mph skipping like a crazy idiot was no problem.   I think a 5-9.9 would do job easy....

  Been there. Put a 25 Johnson on a light 14ft Klamath and it was way too much motor. Was much happier when I went to a 9.9.

As stated by Loki and Crunchy, there is huge variance in 12-14 foot aluminum hull designs and the motors that work best on them.  In that size range an only slightly beefier hull makes a big difference in HP rating.

If its a "standard"light boat and use is mostly on smaller lakes, Mudman's idea of 5-9.9hp is plenty.

[Blacklab]

Had a 15’ smoker craft rated for a 35hp. Had a 30hp 2 stroke 25-26 mph depending on water. Get the most power your boat can handle you won’t regret it. Have fun