Here what I got.

My big motor 150 Evinrude lower unit froze, and broke the casing :'(.

My boat is a 1990 285 pro Stratos 18'6".

I fish a lot of 10h.p. Lakes , and I can not run the big motor on then.

So I am thinking of removing the big motor and replace it with a 9.9hp. :

With the weight of the big motor off the boat (500+-).

Will the 9.9h.p. push the boat OK?

I'm not convinced a 9.9 will push my boat around a lake especially during moderate to high winds.

I need some input from some boaters that have a kicker on ther boat.

I already have a 14' Jon boat but it set to low in the water, and would like to use my bigger boat.

Thanks for all your help

Will it work?  Don't see why not.

Will it look funny?  Absolutely.  

I'd suggest looking into those smaller OB's made for sailboats.  You could hook up your steering and throttle and still be able to run the boat from the drivers console.  As for the power?  I'd rather have a 9.9hp motor on my 18 1/2 foot Champion pushing me around on a windy, 10hp lake than a trolling motor.  

It's a shame Illinois can't see the light and allow those 10hp lakes to be no-wake/unlimited HP like Missouri.  It was explained to me that they tried that and there was too much abuse but honestly,  the wake thrown by a typical john or semi-V with a 10hp motor is far worse than an occasional abuser of the rules.  Just write tickets.  

I would get a small jackplate if you don't already have one, bolt a plate or 3/4" plywood to it and mount the 9.9 on it.  Yes, the 9.9 should push the 285 around but be sure to get a very low pitch prop, dry hull weight on that boat is close to 1,600 pounds.   Don't let the dual cable steering throw you either, it works just fine only using one cable, just be sure to fix the other one so water can't get in it.  You may have to come up with an adapter for the steering and not sure it the control cables are going to connect up.  It will take a little research and improvising and talking to a dealer to work out all the hookup aspects.  

To change out the control box and controls for a smaller one that works on the 9.9 will be a major job.

you see a 9.9 on those walleye boats when trolling next to those big 150's so i dont see why you couldnt do it, it might help if you took a look at something like that.

Thanks for your input

I hate to take the big motor off, But the way I see it is, $1,500.00 for the lower unit.

And only fishing 3 Lakes,with water skiers and party boats.

Or spend $1,500.00 on a 9.9 H.P. and fish 20 different Lakes

And if it looks funny then so be it , Because I'm fishing! not going out for a beauty contest.

Yes I wish Illinois would go for the No wake zone.

But until they do, we will have to have the 9.9H.P..

Coming up with an adapter for the steering is nothing, I have all the tools to do about anything.

Just like Way2Slow said I will just have to improvise.

I will not take off the control box for the bigger engine in cast I sale the Boat later.

You are right TMC7 that the wake of a small boat is worse than a big boat going four times the speed.

Thanks for all your help Just add Water

I wonder how the boat would sit without the big motor and all that weight back there? That could Possibly be an issue... but I'm not sure.  Obviously, the back end wouldn't sit as low in the water, and 9.9hp engines aren't very long. I guess a jack plate or something would help that... ? :-?

You could always get a 15HP and buy some stickers.....  

You could always get a 15HP and buy some stickers.....

Hey, thats my trick!