Hp Rating for Sears 14ft boat

[Mathew15]

Hello Everyone. I have a 1980 Sears Aluminum Flat bottom boat. Its 14ft long and it does not have a plack on the back of the boat, that says what the maxium hp motor I can use is. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions. Any help would be great. Thank You<br /><br />PS I have a Mercury 10hp I want to use but I don't want that to be to much for the boat. Thank You again..

 

[chris in va]

Re: Hp Rating for Sears 14ft boat

That's funny, I had a Montgomery Ward 14' jonboat, complete with the (defunct) trolling motor and trailer. I had a friend look at it, and honestly you do NOT want anything over say...4hp on the back of that without major reinforcement. Even my 36# minn kota makes it flex.

 

[22WRF]

Re: Hp Rating for Sears 14ft boat

Your Merc 10 will be fine on the 14'er.<br />Tighten down the clamps crank it and let her rip.<br />Just watch the tight turns & coming off high speed to fast as you don't have a lot of freeboard.

 

[chris in va]

Re: Hp Rating for Sears 14ft boat

LCM, I don't think you understand about these boats. They aren't the normal jons, but rather flimsy things with oarlocks (at least mine is). They were never meant for gas power. Maybe the Sears version is more robust, but I doubt it. One person can comfortably lift this thing...

 

[roscoe]

Re: Hp Rating for Sears 14ft boat

I've got 3 boats with oarlocks, one is rated for 60hp.<br /><br />YB- you could try contacting Sears to see who manufactured the boat for them. But I would use the 9.9. I haven't seen a 14' flatbottom that was rated lower than 10hp.<br />My brother in law has a 12' rated for 20hp.<br />As with any boat, use caution and don't be embarassed to slow down if it feels uncomfortable.

 

[KenOhki]

Re: Hp Rating for Sears 14ft boat

I hve what I beleive to be sears gamefisher of the 14 foot variety. ( has no crital info plate ). I run a 85 pound johnson 15 hp on it with no problems. I know my boat is more then a few years old.

 

[Walleye-man]

Re: Hp Rating for Sears 14ft boat

I have an old Sears 14'- its not a John Boat but its very shallow. I have a 15 hp Johnson on it and it works fine- be careful in the chop

 

[mikeandronda]

Re: Hp Rating for Sears 14ft boat

I own a 1974 14ft flat bottom and the plate on the back says its rated for up to 20 hp

 

[SeaMasterZ@aol.com]

Re: Hp Rating for Sears 14ft boat

My cousins had a 12 foot flat bottom Grants (remember the old Grants stores?) jon boat with an old old 18 horse speedtwin, at the time I had a 12 horse mc culloch (electric start, damn nice motor til it froze, lol) mounted on a 14 foot Nichols (another defunct discount dept. store), and on a dead calm day they would eat me alive ... off in a cloud of smoke and spray, but the moment there was the slightest chop, that ol boat started spittin rivets. Mine walked right on past, they hated that, hated it more cause I got the engine at a flea market for five bucks WITH A SPARE PROP, hehehe ( I love berkebile carb cleaner!)<br /><br /> I would suggest putting the gas tank midship, cuz if you think of going anywhere but in a river, you need all the freeboard you can get. besides, here is another thought, that ten horse running at 50% will last forever, better than running a four baIIs to the wall flat out - and ya already have the motor <br /><br />GO FOR IT!