Outfitting boat with new outboard max horsepower

[millerwheeler]

Got a 16.5 foot older blue fin boat (aluminum ) sold my boat during Covid and pick up if for a great deal it’s completely open  I put one pedestal seat in and boys sit in camping chairs for now it’s rated for a 90hp I wanna stick with a tiller motor and I got it with no motor  had a 30etec sitting and with 2 adults and very little gear gets ya up on a plain . I plain on pulling floor refoaming and setting up boat better this winter

My question is as I redo it . Max hp is 90hp and I feel like I should  set it up  at that just so I never a worry about hauling gear or worrying about being under powered. Lots of tiller options out there but lookin for opinions

[JBG]

If your budget permits then send it.  I had a 115 jet (so 30% loss due to jet) on a 17 ft heavy gauge welded North River Scout that pushed it along just fine.  I think a 90 with a prop will be plenty.  I would say 50 - 60HP would be the workable budget friendly option if your not looking to break the bank.

[GWP]

My last boat had a smallish outboard (40 on a 16’) for the weight. Found with 3 bigger guys and gear it would not get on the step. I put on a ‘Piranha Prop’ and while I lost a few top end mph it would get on the step and had a better hole shot even loaded down. I really liked what a gas sipper it was. Since I was using it 95% by myself it worked fine the vast majority of the time.
Changed to a different boat with 4 times the HP (175 on a 19’) and promptly ran it out of gas because the gauge did not read accurately and it sucks WAY more fuel. About twice the speed (could prop it for more) than the other one had, but that was not really why I bought it.
If I had it to do over I would stick with the lower HP powered boat and fill it up once a year instead of every other time I go out. The power is nice at times, but not for the fuel consumption trade off.

[fishngamereaper]

You'll be pleased with a 60. 4 stroke Yamaha or Zuk for efficiency and weight.

[millerwheeler]

Appreciate the advice on trade off as far as fuel goes , and as well as go with what the budget allows , I don’t want  it to be a slug either , might weigh it now. With average gear , then when I refoam , build a storage option or 2 reweigh and see the  difference. I  definitely want to stick with tiller as there is so much more room

[fishngamereaper]

I ran a 16.9 hewescraft for years with a 60 on it.
Took it 50 miles of of Westport for tuna. 30 miles out of neah for halibut.
Great fuel range and enough power for 3 adults and gear.  Would a 90 been better. Probably but the 60 was a workhorse..

[millerwheeler]

I ran a 16.9 hewescraft for years with a 60 on it.
Took it 50 miles of of Westport for tuna. 30 miles out of neah for halibut.
Great fuel range and enough power for 3 adults and gear.  Would a 90 been better. Probably but the 60 was a workhorse..

Thank you for the advice I appreciate it !

[trophyhunt]

Yamaha all the way!!

[SeaRun1]

Always put the most hp you can put on a boat.  No one ever regrets having more horse power.  Been through this before as well as many friends.  Get a 90 Yamaha or Honda and enjoy!

SR1

[Crunchy]

My old boat was rated for a 115hp but had a 90hp Honda and matching 8hp Honda kicker.  The 90 was plenty for the 18ft Hewescraft. Although I would have liked more speed it sat in the water fairly stern heavy.  My new boat is rated for 250hp but has a 200hp Yamaha with a matching 9.9hp kicker.  The 200 is perfectly fine with me.  The Honda's seem a bit quieter but definite difference in size.  The Honda kicker seemed a bit smoother as well.  If it were me I would get something close to max rating and call it good.  No matter what motor you put on it you will always want to go faster.

[BD1]

I just bought a 1860 Lowe Roughneck. I opted for the 60 hp Merc. We just finished up with the break in process and I love the motor. It is a tiller setup so yeah it is certainly bigger than the 25 hp on my last boat. There was only about 40+ pound difference between that and the 40hp that is the stock option. The bout weighs about 670#. It is a very powerful motor. I won't debate motor makes on here...they have all come a long way since I last had one. It flies. I do have the rear pods on the boat which helps with the weight of the motor. Good luck with the project.

[trophyhunt]

Well since you won’t debate boat motors, I won’t ask what makes people choose something other than a Yamaha or Honda??  🤣🤣. 

[hiway_99]

If your boat is older then the it was probably rated for a 2 stroke which are lighter then today's 4 stroke engines.  For example a yamaha 70hp outboard weighs 253 lbs and a yamaha 75 horse weighs 353 lbs.  I would be more concerned with how much weight you add to the transom then horse power.  My suggestion is the yamaha 70 horse.

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[jeffitz]

I must be diverse- Honda main and Yamaha kicker on my boat - love em both

[hiway_99]

I must be diverse- Honda main and Yamaha kicker on my boat - love em both

Honda makes great outboards.  But the honda bf75 weighs 359 lbs.  That's a lot of weight on the transom of a 16' boat.

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