Courtney_Dallas
Cadet
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2016
- Messages
- 17
I have a 1978 Starcraft Seafarer 12 foot v-hull aluminum boat. I have attached some photos. I want to buy a new motor (currently I have a 1956 Elgin 5.5) and am trying to determine the maximum appropriate horsepower that I can purchase. The 5.5 doesn't push it very fast (and I would like a less smoky, less loud motor).
I have a couple of considerations, first, I will hopefully upgrade my boat at some point and would like to buy a motor large enough to push a larger boat but not overload the 12 footer. Second, the plate says it can handle up to a 10 hp. Understanding that plate is presumably for motors manufactured at that time, I researched and found that 1978 9.9 Evinrudes ranged from 77 lbs to 82 lbs. Does that mean that any new motor that I purchase should stay in that range, give or take?
I have been looking at some 9.9s that range around 100 lbs. Would that be too much for the 12 footer? What about 90 lbs?
The Tohatsu 9.8 manual is 82 lbs, and the electric is 89. Would these weights be okay? Does Tohatsu sacrifice something to come in at that weight given that other manufacturers are several pounds heavier?
Tohatsu seems to have a reasonable following of folks that like the brand. Any thoughts on their 2016-2017 small outboards? Their warranty seems pretty good.
How would you all go about deciding this question?
Thanks in advance for your input.
Courtney
I have a couple of considerations, first, I will hopefully upgrade my boat at some point and would like to buy a motor large enough to push a larger boat but not overload the 12 footer. Second, the plate says it can handle up to a 10 hp. Understanding that plate is presumably for motors manufactured at that time, I researched and found that 1978 9.9 Evinrudes ranged from 77 lbs to 82 lbs. Does that mean that any new motor that I purchase should stay in that range, give or take?
I have been looking at some 9.9s that range around 100 lbs. Would that be too much for the 12 footer? What about 90 lbs?
The Tohatsu 9.8 manual is 82 lbs, and the electric is 89. Would these weights be okay? Does Tohatsu sacrifice something to come in at that weight given that other manufacturers are several pounds heavier?
Tohatsu seems to have a reasonable following of folks that like the brand. Any thoughts on their 2016-2017 small outboards? Their warranty seems pretty good.
How would you all go about deciding this question?
Thanks in advance for your input.
Courtney
