10 hp enough for tri-hull

[skolman]

listers,<br />I am buying a used 10 hp, 4 stroke Evinrude for use on a terrific fishing lake which limits motor size to 10 hp. A relative of mine is offering to me an old 14' fiberglass tri-hull. Without too many specifics regarding the boat, it seems to me that this boat will be much too heavy for the motor. Do you see it the same way?<br /><br />If so, will this be harmful to the motor, in the long run?<br /><br />I thank you in advance for your time<br />skolman

 

[ChampionHead]

Re: 10 hp enough for tri-hull

10 HP will push it along if it's long enough to reach the water. As far as hurting the motor, I don't think the extra load will do much to the motor over the short term. (I'm assuming that the boat is fairly heavy.)<br /><br />The real problem will be that you'll be going a whole lot slower than you could be going in a lighter boat.

 

[Capn Mike]

Re: 10 hp enough for tri-hull

You can't hurt the engine any more pushing a heavy boat than you can a light boat. Cruise away. The only difference is that, with the way your engine is probably geared, the prop is lower-pitched, having been generically designed for lighter boats. What you'll get in higher RPMs is the "eggbeater" effect, with lots of bubbles foam,and and it'll still push the boat, just not as efficiently. Better might be a geared-down, higher pitched prop found on those motors designed for sailboats and pontoon boats, etc..... but those are all long shaft which you probably wouldn't want anyway. Out of curiosity, I asked on another post if anyone knew of a source for used lower unit gears, and no one answered. So use what you have; unless you can find someone with Evinrude Sailmaster (?) gears that'll fit your motor.<br />Most lakes which limit the horsepower do so because they deem higher speed boats as undesirable.....so don't worry about it. Go fishing!!!!