My 8 ft Baby basshunter is rated for 2hp. I have found some screaming deals on some new Merc 2.5 4 strokes and am seriously considering pulling the trigger. My question is what kind of speed you are able to get out of yours. My boat with a 40lb minnkota on the front will start splashing water over the bow on the number 5 speed. I am considering taking mine with me next year to the White and Spring rivers over in Ark on a couple of trout fishing trips and using it if the current isn't too swift at the time. Just wondering if I go down river a little ways if it will push fast enough to get me back up. Just me in the boat BTW.

my basshunter

It will probably get you back up, but in a river, with such a shallow boat, the motor would stick down far enough that you will be in the rocks too much, I am afraid. I would think you would like it in a pond or lake, but not in a shallow river like the White or Spring.

Jeff

Yeah too bad that don't make a 4hp jet! Or a motor with a shorter shaft than 15 inches.

Just install a prop guard. There are several types available.

Some even make their own from a pitch fork.

Just install a prop guard. There are several types available.

Some even make their own from a pitch fork.

The Bass baby he has is a total of 18'' tall. So saying it sits in the water half its height, only 9'' are under water. With a 15'' shaft motor, too mch is sticking out the bottome for a river that at some points is knee deep on me (5'3'' tall)

Jeff

The Bass baby he has is a total of 18'' tall. So saying it sits in the water half its height, only 9'' are under water. With a 15'' shaft motor, too mch is sticking out the bottome for a river that at some points is knee deep on me (5'3'' tall)

Jeff

With the proper "prop guard" you can drag the lower unit along the bottom with the motor running. I used the pitch fork type for years in shallow rivers using a Merc 2.2. Occasionally a rock would get by the fork and shear the prop pin, but I carried spares "just in case". Some places I have been, the bottom of the boat was dragging. You expect that in rivers.

The skid plate types work better though.

Good info here so far!!! Thanks. Not so much worried about the lower unit since this will not be going very fast reguardless, (prob 5mph tops) but not sure how resilient the plastic props are that come on these motors. I have never been to either of these places, some friends go occasionally and youtube videos are about all I have to judge from.

With the proper "prop guard" you can drag the lower unit along the bottom with the motor running. I used the pitch fork type for years in shallow rivers using a Merc 2.2. Occasionally a rock would get by the fork and shear the prop pin, but I carried spares "just in case". Some places I have been, the bottom of the boat was dragging. You expect that in rivers.

The skid plate types work better though.

Good to know. Never realized they would take that much abuse!

Jeff

The motor doesn't get any abuse at all with a properly designed guard. It's the guard that makes contact with the bottom.

Just do a web search for "outboard motor prop guard", there are dozens of models.

I meant the guards. Just thought they were a backup "oops" type of dummy guard. Not a drag until it wear out and then replace and do again type of thing.

Jeff