Maximizing my HP

[Cubbyblue22]

So I'm hearing a lot of people putting 150+ h.p. motors on their pontoons. I'm not sure if they are newer but I have a 1989 Lowe 24' and it's max rating is 100. I'm looking to put a 150 outboard on but I want to know if I can even achieve this. If it's something where I have to upgrade my transom I'd def. spend the money. Thank you!

 

[Cubbyblue22]

Re: Maximizing my HP

So i've been looking around and a lot of the newer boats with bigger motors I see have the all aluminum transom and mine still has the wood. Wondering if upgrading to aluminum or any other type of metal would be better. Thanks again!!

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Maximizing my HP

So i've been looking around and a lot of the newer boats with bigger motors I see have the all aluminum transom and mine still has the wood. Wondering if upgrading to aluminum or any other type of metal would be better. Thanks again!!

All i'll say is i have a 1986 20' Tracker that is rated for a 60hp that i put a new wood transom on & installed a 1986 110hp Johnson
I'm VERY happy with it
Not saying you should do the same

 

[lakegeorge]

Re: Maximizing my HP

If something ever happens, Injury, Ins claim,et'c you better have a lot of cash in the bank because your ins company will disown you.

It's a totally bad idea.

 

[Mr Crabbs]

Re: Maximizing my HP

If something ever happens, Injury, Ins claim,et'c you better have a lot of cash in the bank because your ins company will disown you.

It's a totally bad idea.

Rule #1, always follow manufacturers recommendations.


Lakegeorge is right about the insurance too. Your premiums will go up even if it is OK to put that OB on.

 

[Cubbyblue22]

Re: Maximizing my HP

How do they determine the rating though?? I thought it all depended on your transom and what it could hold??? I don't see a difference between a newer boat that can handle a 150 and mine if I do a little upgrading?? Or is it all in the logs??? Let me know, thanks!!

 

[Rancherlee]

Re: Maximizing my HP

On pontoons it's mostly the transom that's the limiting factor. My 20' was available with 2 different transom pods. One was rated for 50hp the other 90hp both pontoons had the same tubes, crossmembers, and playpen area. Also most states go along with the coast guard rules of anything 20' and longer isn't required to have a plate. If your state follows that rule then beef up the pod and make the plate "disappear"

 

[Cubbyblue22]

Re: Maximizing my HP

Any clue on where to find that information about Illinois??? Or would I just call my insurance man???

 

[Rancherlee]

Re: Maximizing my HP

http://www.boater101.com/Course/documents/IL/ILstatelaws.pdf
Bottom of page 2 under SL5

Looks to be the same requirements as the Coast Guard. Granted you could still get in trouble BUT by law you are not required to have a plate on a boat 20 or longer. A lawyer would have to be damn good to prove that your boat had a plate from the factory and that YOU removed it.

 

[Racerjoe56]

Re: Maximizing my HP

I guess the lawyer could just search the internet and find this thread .............

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Maximizing my HP

Sir -- the transom is not the only measure of how much power a pontoon (or any other boat) can handle. Design of the entire boat plays into that as well. How do you know the cross members that connect the pontoons are strong enough for the added strain on the hull. How do you know the welds and number of them for the pontoon attachment points can handle the strain. How do you know the pontoon metal is thick enough to prevent weld pull out due to the added strain. How do you know the attachment of the engine pod to the hull is strong enough?

If you carry insurance on this boat, how do you plan to convince your insurance company that this is ok. They have the maximum HP numbers. If you fail to tell them about the swap and have a serious incident, especially one involving personal injury, they will very likely hang you out to dry. If you don't carry liability insurance, shame on you. Sorry, but there is too much of the "uninsured" stuff going on today and innocent people get hurt because of it.

 

[Rancherlee]

Re: Maximizing my HP

I guess the lawyer could just search the internet and find this thread .............

yes, yes they could. Its up to him to do the research on the boat and decided if it will handle more hp or not, I was simply stating what the laws were in his state. Just like my boat, I did the research and found all the tubes/welds/and cross members were identical between the 50hp and the 90hp rated toons and the only difference was the 50hp rated one had a really cheezy adjustable transom (and lower quality furniture).

 

[Cubbyblue22]

Re: Maximizing my HP

Well with it having a rating of 100 hp and with so many 115 hp motors out there I just figure what's the harm of 15 extra horsees. Plus I just recently found that they have steerable tubes and with what i've read on here a 115 pushing a 24' pontoon should pull a couple tubes pretty nicely. Just trying to get the best performance I can.