Motor Size for 1989 Lund MR Pike

[1989Lund]

I have a 16ft 1989 Lund Rebel Mr Pike, with a 48hp remotly controlled motor and 6hp kicker motor, which I bought last summer. We've had great fun with it but living In NW PA I keep running into the problem of 10hp limit. The 6hp runs OK but is a pain since it's pull start and other than steering is not remotely controlled. I haven't had a chance to try it on any of the larger lakes yet so I don't know what the 6hp will do in a little wind. We have hopes of getting to Lake Erie where the 48hp seems like just the ticket. But so far most the time we end up going closer to home which means 10hp limit (except Pymatuning Lake which is 20hp limit). I'm thinking I should keep my eye out for a 15hp remotely controlled engine (with a 9.9 cover of course), take the 48hp and 6hp off and just have one 15hp but I'm wondering if that's really enough engine for this boat, I don't need to fly around just want to be able to get around the lakes if the wind comes up or something unexpected happens. It's usually just my wife, 8 year daughter and me in the boat.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Motor Size for 1989 Lund MR Pike

You should be fine with a 15 hp for what you want to do. Although I'd be careful about thinking it's so easy to get away with the re-badging of the HP labeling though.

Don't you think most Sheriffs on lakes with hp minimums are smart enough to just look on the plate or label that has the serial number and hp size on it, which can be found usually somewhere on the outside of the O/B?

You might want to check first how much the fine would be on the lakes you go on.

And if you scrape off the serial number how do you prove it's not stolen.

I've had my 9.9 Merc 4 stroke on the back of my 15 Foot Lund and it moves it along pretty good even with the weight of the 40 up in the raised position.

Some 9.9's are heads and frames are the same size as the their 15 hp models. My 9.9 is a heavy sucker.

 

[1989Lund]

Re: Motor Size for 1989 Lund MR Pike

Expidia, You are right about not taking rebadging the engine litely. I've never done it and only hear people talking about it. I think the biggest issue is how you act when using your boat. We have several lakes around that for the size and weight of todays boats 10hp just seems to small to safley get around if the weather were to change. They upped the HP on one lake to 20hp which is great (except there doesn't seem to be many 20hp motors out there). So I'm hoping to find a resonable compromise.

Thanks, 1989Lund