I'm looking to buy a gas motor for my boat. Here is a little background. I have a 17 ft alum. boat with a side console and I fish mostly small ponds/lakes under 400 acres.The ponds are all no wake,but we do a couple of river TX. I was wondering how small a motor I can get away with? Would a 20 hp be good enough? This forum has always given great advice. Thanks Jeff

Do any of the ponds you fish have horsepower restrictions?

Most of the small ponds around here have either a horsepower limit, or no gas powered engines.

If you only fish "no wake" ponds you shouldn't need a twenty horsepower outboard.  It's capable of creating a wake on a boat that size.

But, if there is a chance that you might fish unrestricted ponds, the 20 won't set any speed records, but it should move your 17 foot aluminum boat at least 15 mph, depending on the load, passengers plus gear.

If it is just a wake limit (not a hp limit) I would opt for the maximum hp motor allowed for your boat for the following reasons; 1. If you go to bigger waters you will be able to handle longer trips across the water and 2. If you decide to sell the boat it will be much easier with the boats max motor.

Boats and motors last a long time if well maintained

and by going with the larger motor you will be pretty well set as circumstances change.