Re: 12' V-hull engine questions
I've got a 12' Duranautic aluminum v hull which I've run an older 9.5hp Johnson on for a few years, I switched to a newer 9.9 Johnson and it was slower due to the added weight, but hanging my 15hp on it made it get up a go. With just me in the boat, and my 15hp on, plus another 100lbs or misc weight in fuel, battery and tackle, it still gets up on plane and goes. A buddy of mine, only about 140 lbs, drove it and the boat flies with him in it, but with me in it, its just sufficient power. I did hang an older 25 hp once, with that motor it was pretty out of control, fun, but out of control. I had to sit on the bow to keep it down and steer it with an extension handle. An 18 hp I tried wasn't much different than the 15hp, just a bit quicker up on plane. Once moving the 15 and 18 would fly, far faster than I felt were safe or under control. The 9.9 hp never got it to that point, it would barely get the boat up on plane. (The same 9.9 however cruises my jon boat at over 20 mph). I should note that the 18 and 25 were full manual motors, no electric start and no battery on board, so the motor itself was as light plus the absence of the battery weight. (Maybe not safe, but definitely fun).
