Here is my Boat. It is a 16' Crestliner Angler 16. Right now it has a 25HP Mariner outboad on it with a 11" pitch prop. If I am by myself it will go 25 MPH if I put another person and their gear in it will go 20MPH. If I switch to the 13" prop it will still go 25MPH, with a slower hole shot, by myself but it will only go about 15MPH with another person. So I use the 13" when I am alone and switch to the smaller one when I bring a friend. These speeds are OK on the river where I mainly fish. But I go to Canada once a year on a good size lake and would like to go a little faster.

So here is my question. The boat has a HP rating of 50HP max. Does anyone here have a similar boat with a 50 on it? What size prop do you have? How fast does it go? I want to get a 50HP if it is worth it. I do not want to use twice as much gas only to gain 5MPH. I have looked around but could not find the data I was looking for. It seems there are many types of boats around here someone might have my answer.

Paul

I have an 16' aluminum Ranger Cherokee with a 40hp Merc. on it, the hull design looks quite a bit different then yours but I imagine they are close to the same weight.  Mine runs about 28 to 30 with two in the boat.  I get around 32 to 35 by myself, but I usually run around 25 or so since I'm seldom in a hurry.  I haven't tried any other props yet and would have to check to see what I even have on it now.  I have thought about going to a 60hp.

I think you will notice a huge difference with two people and a load in the boat.  It may not be bunches faster with just you but loaded, I think you will love the difference.  I have a friend that has a Fisher just like my old river boat, same year and model, with a 25 on it, mine has a 48 and there is just no comparison between the boat with both of us in them.

Bigger is better.If you want more speed ,upgrade.

I was going to do what you were going to do with my current motor. I have a 40HP Merc that I was having problems with. I called one of the dealers in town and they asked what year my boat was. Its a 91, they told me that puting a new motor wouldnt be a good idea for a boat that old. I have fixed the problems with the motor I have and I wouldnt change it out. So you may want to take that into consideration before buying a new motor.

nb1226,

Did the dealer say why it would not be a good Idea to put a new motor on and older boat? I am curious to find out why that would be a problem.

My boat is a 2001, the motor is a 1985. I do not think a brand new 50 is in the cards right now anyway. But I would get a used one if I could find a good deal.

Paul

if you are looking to sell that 25, it would look good on my 14'. maybe we could help each other get Bigger motors.

just a thought.

Mo_Tick,

If I get a 50 I would definitely get rid of the 25. I just need to come across a good deal for a 50 that runs as well as my 25. For a 20 year old motor the 25HP runs like a top. It gave me a little issue at the end of last season. Fuel pump diaphragm. But I rebuilt the carburetor and she, once again, runs great.

Paul

The dealer told me it would be a waste of money, I would be putting 4 or 5 K into it and it wouldnt be worth it in the long. So basically resale was the reason.

nb1226,

OK, I thought there was something like the boat could not handle it or something like that. I am looking for a used 50 I do not think it would hurt resale. I am not looking to get rid of the boat anyway.

Thanks,

Paul

I think they refer to it as putting a expensive saddle on a old horse.

I dont plan on getting rid of mine any time soon, but Im glad I didnt buy a new one since it was a $12 fix for the problems I was having.

All the wise cracks out of the way, a friend has a 16 Lund like your Crestliner and it has a 40 on it, mine is a 16 jon with a 25, he walks away from me so bad I have to stick my hand in the water to see if we are moving. A 50 would be even better. I am in the same shape as you as far as motors, I want to step to a 40 or 50 and my boat is a 2003, got a 1988 Merc off a poontoon from a friend for $500 and is great, but before retiring I want a new motor. The boat is great, set up for me I just want to go faster sometimes. $5000 for a motor or $11,500 for a 170 Lowe Stinger with a 50 on it. That extra $6500 will buy a lot of tackle and gas.

Flatfish,

I agree My boat is great for the kind of fishing I do now. But that big lake in canada. It would be nice to go to other end in 15 minutes versus the 25 or 30 it takes now. The scenery along the way is great though.

Back to my original post. Is the increase in speed worth the extra cost in fuel? Or the money spend on another motor. I guess i'll have to ponder that some more.

A used, long shaft, tiller, 50 HP is rare around here. Ones that run anyway.

These guys http://www.smalloutboards.com had military surplus Johnson 55HP tiller outboards for $2250.00. I should have jumped on that. but they had this pump jet technology I was unsure of. http://smalloutboards.com/pumpjet2.htm

they have brand new ones now http://smalloutboards.com/etec405060.htm but they are way out of my price range.

Maybe they will get the used ones in again.

since I brought it up. What do you guys think about the pumpjet technology?

When I inquired about them the owner said they where more efficient than a prop because the trust is more directed. He said the rest of the motor was the same. only the lower unit was different.

Paul

I might be wrong but I'm not sure you will see a big change in your overall fuel costs unless you travel alot more then you do now or at least high operating costs. The performance and handleing might even help alittle. I don't consider my costs bad at all with the 40 at least compared to the big ones. I guess I burn somewhere between 6 - 10 bucks on gas on a lot of trips that's counting playing around a little although $3.00 or $4.00 isn't uncomon on the small lakes or fishing in a general area where I put in. Sometimes less, sometimes more. I thought I could do a simple search in Money and come up with a close estimate, but didn't work. I do know I usually spend more on cokes, ice and such then gas on the avarage trip. I've never broken it down into HPG or miles traveled since it wasn't an issue. With a larger motor you wouldn't have to run it as hard as the one you have now when fishing your normal areas. Most of the lakes I fish are around 2,600, 5,000 and 26,600+/- ( it's still slow on these and I don't usually run from one end to the other ). The larger motor might help the resale value of your boat at least I think it might down here. If the boat I looked at online is like yours that seems it could handle a larger motor. True it won't absorb the cost of a new one, but might help. I wouldn't want any smaller motor on my boat then I have now and wish I had a larger one. I have considered getting a newer larger boat but can't justify that even as well as just a new motor at this time, so for now I do nothing and droll out advice. Maybe I am just trying to talk myself into one.

I checked into some of the jet conversions kits a while back and after talking to a couple of people on here then discarded the idea. I think they are wonderful on rivers, but you loose up to 20% of your present speed with a prop. I also fish a lot of slop at times and was told that isn't the conditions were they perform at their best because of the filters and weeds. But I have seen some manufactures in Lousiana that are now putting them on there boats for these waters so who knows.

Muddpupppy,

Like you I am trying to justify a bigger motor is well. I am very satisfied with how my boat performs now. But I guess I am like everyone else, always looking for something  a little better. Or, perhaps I am just trying to talk myself into it as well.

As far a fuel usage if I get the bigger motor I could always throttle back.

Paul

Here is one more thing before I go tell my wife that you talked me into getting anouther one ;D A well constructed aluminum will most likely outlive your next motor. As long as you don't smash it into a bunch of rocks and rip the hull open or in my case back into many more trees, it will still be dependable and look good with just a little polish, some carpet and paint for years to come. So unless you have a bunch of kids or grandkids that want to tag along your boat may continue to fit your needs for quite awhile to come. Although you probably could pull one around with a 50 on a tube, or maybe skies if they are small enough at least a little bit to keep them happy - of course the operating cost just went thru the roof.

Regardless of the type of boat. Rigging with the manufacturers max. HP engine ensures you're going to get the most out of that hull as is possible. Prop type will obviously be the difference once you've made the switch but going up 100% in HP is a good thing.   Look around on the net for a nice used 50. You should easlily find one for under $3k.

My last bote was a 1963 14' aluminum V hull with a 1985 Suzuki 40hp. It was a blast to drive and I could fish all day and never use up the 6 gallons of fuel in the can. It would jump up on a plane with 15% throttle and would run almost 40 mph. The only time I brought extra fuel was when I ran the St. John's river and spent most of the day cruising.

Currently own a '98 Scout 155 (deep V center console fiberglass) with a 60 Yamaha. Much heavier bote and it uses a bit more fuel. Spent 8+ hours on the river one day last week and burned about 11 gallons of fuel.

Here is an update to an 11 month old post.

Well I got a used 40HP tiller two weeks ago. It is a 1990 Evinrude. I got it out on Saturday for a test run. On the first try motor motor would not go over 2500 RPMs boat would not move. Made a phone call to Bob at Dave's Sport Center, Where I bought it, for some Ideas. Tried a few things nothing. Put boat on trailer, off to Doylestown. Some trouble shooting later suspect a spark plug. It did not look "used". Changed plugs. went back to river. Start motor, open her up a couple of hiccups then right up, and I mean right up, to 5300 RPMs and 32 MPH with a 17" pitch prop. I ran if for 45 minutes shut down, start up, run slow, run fast, she seems to be a good buy. I will see if I can find a 15" prop to try.

Goes to show you spark plugs can be bad right out of the box. I was never a fan of champions anyway. I switch those out to NGKs ASAP.

How much did you buy your new (to you) motor for? I have an 80somethin 50hp johnson that i am considering selling.

Congrats on the new working motor.

How much did you buy your new (to you) motor for? I have an 80somethin 50hp johnson that i am considering selling.

Congrats on the new working motor.

When I have looked at the prices on ebay, other websites and www.smalloutboards.com  I got it for what I think is a steal at $950.00.

There's no substitute for more HP!