I'm looking at a pro 170 or pro team 175 with a 20hp motor. The people capacity is 555lbs and I am curious how would the boat handle with 3 adults close to that weight limit?  It would be on smaller lakes and headwaters etc. Thanks!

With that size motor it will move you from one place to another but with 3 people I doubt you can get it to plane.

As long as the passengers stay seated, wear PFD’s and cast the same direction the same side of the boat shouldn’t  be an issue.

Tom

20 minutes ago, Jig Man said:

With that size motor it will move you from one place to another but with 3 people I doubt you can get it to plane.

Yeah I thought about that too.  Not really concerned with it because it's just going to be me most of the time and 3 people a few times a year. I'm mainly concerned about stability and the draft.

1 minute ago, WRB-2.0 said:

As long as the passengers stay seated and wear PFD’s shouldn’t be an issue.

Tom

Thanks!

1 hour ago, Zachary Guyach said:

Yeah I thought about that too.  Not really concerned with it because it's just going to be me most of the time and 3 people a few times a year. I'm mainly concerned about stability and the draft.

Thanks!

 

A straight 170 with a 20 (sounds like you're in PA) will do about 20 mph and just get up on plane.  My dad has an older 162 or 163 which is basically the same specs as the 170 and that's what it will do with just him in the boat.  Add me and you're down to low teens and not on plane.  We combine for about 400-450lb.  A third person would have you around 10 mph I would expect.

 

Fishing wise, it would be plenty stable for moving around.  I can bounce around the back deck of his while he's up front and vice versa.  I can stand on the back corner to take a leak while he's running the motor.  If I stay all the way back by the motor I can sidearm cast without clipping his seat, I just have to time my casts to not coincide with his.  Put a third person on the boat and you'll have to be friendly.  I'd suggest either straight overhead casts or put two in either the front or back and the 'two' each pick a side.  

7 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

A straight 170 with a 20 (sounds like you're in PA) will do about 20 mph and just get up on plane.  My dad has an older 162 or 163 which is basically the same specs as the 170 and that's what it will do with just him in the boat.  Add me and you're down to low teens and not on plane.  We combine for about 400-450lb.  A third person would have you around 10 mph I would expect.

 

Fishing wise, it would be plenty stable for moving around.  I can bounce around the back deck of his while he's up front and vice versa.  I can stand on the back corner to take a leak while he's running the motor.  If I stay all the way back by the motor I can sidearm cast without clipping his seat, I just have to time my casts to not coincide with his.  Put a third person on the boat and you'll have to be friendly.  I'd suggest either straight overhead casts or put two in either the front or back and the 'two' each pick a side.  

How in the hell did you figure out the PA thing?  Haha. I would have 2 fisherman on the boat max. The 3rd would be soaking up the sun.  10mph does seem dog slow but it's probably not worth the trouble of upgrading for how infrequently that will occur

8 minutes ago, Zachary Guyach said:

How in the hell did you figure out the PA thing?  Haha. I would have 2 fisherman on the boat max. The 3rd would be soaking up the sun.  10mph does seem dog slow but it's probably not worth the trouble of upgrading for how infrequently that will occur

 

I'm from PA originally back when it was a 9.9 state.  Everyone had a 15 or 18 (tohatsu) with 9.9 stickers.  Then the state raised it to 20 and is one of the few in the country that I know of that has a 20 hp limit as the norm.  I'm in NJ now and we are 9.9, hence my current boat.

 

My 16' storm with a 9.9 does almost exactly 10 mph.  It does feel slow if you're used to running by yourself and getting 20 mph, but if you're coming from a slower boat like I am then it's not so bad.  And the longest run I'll make straight is about 4 miles which is about 20 minutes.

I had 4 people in my 175 with 60hp once. Just riding around slowly and not fishing. Didn’t have a bit of trouble.

6 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

I'm from PA originally back when it was a 9.9 state.  Everyone had a 15 or 18 (tohatsu) with 9.9 stickers.  Then the state raised it to 20 and is one of the few in the country that I know of that has a 20 hp limit as the norm.  I'm in NJ now and we are 9.9, hence my current boat.

 

My 16' storm with a 9.9 does almost exactly 10 mph.  It does feel slow if you're used to running by yourself and getting 20 mph, but if you're coming from a slower boat like I am then it's not so bad.  And the longest run I'll make straight is about 4 miles which is about 20 minutes.

Well you were right with the state but not because of the 20hp.  I'm buying used and a few I'm interested in are 20hp.  I'd rather upgrade the trolling motor to a spot lock unit honestly 

11 hours ago, Zachary Guyach said:

Well you were right with the state but not because of the 20hp.  I'm buying used and a few I'm interested in are 20hp.  I'd rather upgrade the trolling motor to a spot lock unit honestly 

 

if you're looking at smaller aluminum boats in PA, you're going to find that there are a ton of 20's because of the HP restrictions.  If you're fishing a mix of lakes with and without them, most people chose to take the small motor to be able to fish everywhere.  I did the same here with a 9.9 but I don't have any 'big' lakes with the biggest coming in at 2700 acres and about 6 miles top to bottom.  And I don't even fish that one.  The other 3 unlimited lakes here are less than a mile and a half across in the longest dimension so a 5 minutes jaunt in my little motor boat gets me anywhere.  

 

And I agree with upgrading the trolling motor first.  Then pick either the electronics or the big motor depending which is more limiting for you.

I bought a 175 TXW last year, ordered it the 9.9 to fish restricted lates primarily. With just me and loaded I get top 7.4mph. With me, my dad, and uncle loaded got about 6.8-7.  That was on Nockamixon. Turns out Casts by fly and me fish many of the same lakes, and I too grew up in PA lower bucks county. 
 

Mine ended up being a 2025 model year because I ordered it late in the summer. 
 

I started out looking at the 170, wife talked me into the 175. I’d highly recommend spending the savings from getting the 20hp motor to go with the 175. The whole boat just feels roomier and fits 3 people better. Plus the storage layout and storage space is way better, and the recessed trolling motor foot pedal. With 3 people you’ll appreciate the space on the 175. 
 

Plan in your budget replacing the TM with a 24 volt 80lb thrust, and adding a second battery for it. Or upgrade to the Tournament package to get the 24 v Maxxum from the factory. As long as you don’t see yourself wanting spot lock/anchor mode, autopilot, etc. 

 

Let me know if you need to know anything else about the 175. I’m very happy with mine so far. 

6 hours ago, kschultz76 said:

I bought a 175 TXW last year, ordered it the 9.9 to fish restricted lates primarily. With just me and loaded I get top 7.4mph. With me, my dad, and uncle loaded got about 6.8-7.  That was on Nockamixon. Turns out Casts by fly and me fish many of the same lakes, and I too grew up in PA lower bucks county. 
 

Mine ended up being a 2025 model year because I ordered it late in the summer. 
 

I started out looking at the 170, wife talked me into the 175. I’d highly recommend spending the savings from getting the 20hp motor to go with the 175. The whole boat just feels roomier and fits 3 people better. Plus the storage layout and storage space is way better, and the recessed trolling motor foot pedal. With 3 people you’ll appreciate the space on the 175. 
 

Plan in your budget replacing the TM with a 24 volt 80lb thrust, and adding a second battery for it. Or upgrade to the Tournament package to get the 24 v Maxxum from the factory. As long as you don’t see yourself wanting spot lock/anchor mode, autopilot, etc. 

 

Let me know if you need to know anything else about the 175. I’m very happy with mine so far. 

Unfortunately I can't afford a new one so I don't have any factory options.

 

I already planned on upgrading the trolling motor to 24v but it has to be a spot lock foot pedal unit. I don't like using the remote. That pretty much points to a $2200 terrova. The 170 I'm debating is about $2000 less than the 175. 

No one who bought a bigger boat ever thought to themselves "I wish I bought a smaller boat."  Plenty of people who bought small regretted it. 

8 hours ago, kschultz76 said:

I bought a 175 TXW last year, ordered it the 9.9 to fish restricted lates primarily. With just me and loaded I get top 7.4mph. With me, my dad, and uncle loaded got about 6.8-7.  That was on Nockamixon. Turns out Casts by fly and me fish many of the same lakes, and I too grew up in PA lower bucks county. 
 

Mine ended up being a 2025 model year because I ordered it late in the summer. 
 

I started out looking at the 170, wife talked me into the 175. I’d highly recommend spending the savings from getting the 20hp motor to go with the 175. The whole boat just feels roomier and fits 3 people better. Plus the storage layout and storage space is way better, and the recessed trolling motor foot pedal. With 3 people you’ll appreciate the space on the 175. 
 

Plan in your budget replacing the TM with a 24 volt 80lb thrust, and adding a second battery for it. Or upgrade to the Tournament package to get the 24 v Maxxum from the factory. As long as you don’t see yourself wanting spot lock/anchor mode, autopilot, etc. 

 

Let me know if you need to know anything else about the 175. I’m very happy with mine so far. 

 

Do you know what prop you have on it?  I played with mine and ended up jumping from 6 to 10 mph.  To be fair, I started with the pro kicker which is intended for low speed and high control and comes with a 4 blade 5 pitch prop and a lower unit gearing for a 15 hp, not the 9.9.  But that’s still a pretty big jump if you haven’t played with yours.  

I think you ended up with the EFI version of the 9.9 Pro Kicker CT. Mine is the carb model, and came with a 10x7 4 blade. At some point I’m going to get the Solas 3 blade props to try. No Mercury 3 blade props come with the right tooth spline to fit.   From the frustrating research I did across all of Mercury’s online info only the EFI model came with the 5 pitch. 

I have a Triton Aluminum VT-17 with a 50HP I can run 28 with full tank and two people and around 31 by myself on slick water.. 

On 6/24/2025 at 7:52 PM, Zachary Guyach said:

Unfortunately I can't afford a new one so I don't have any factory options.

 

I already planned on upgrading the trolling motor to 24v but it has to be a spot lock foot pedal unit. I don't like using the remote. That pretty much points to a $2200 terrova. The 170 I'm debating is about $2000 less than the 175. 

We all have to work with and live within our budgets so totally understand. The 170 will get you out on the water fishing and having fun for sure!  But think about this as an investment for you, what’s that $2000 extra look like over 2 years?  Maybe live with the trolling motor for a season or two to afford the bigger boat. It’s all trade offs. You can always change a trolling motor but you can’t make a boat bigger. Also think about where you might fish occasionally other than Nockamixon. You’re close enough the Blue Marsh, Wallenpaupack, Lake Harmony, etc where you could run with a 20 hp motor, but the larger and better geometry of the 175 hull will make you more stable on the larger body of water among wakes of bigger boats. 
 

I’m sure you’ve looked at the 170 and 175 side by side in person. If you haven’t do so. The difference in size and functionality doesn’t come through in the specs and measurements alone. 
 

Look into some other brands if you’re looking used too.  Cast by flys boat seems like a solid option and they make a 17’ version of that as well. 
 

Take your time if shopping used till the right boat in good condition with what you want comes along. 
 

Best of luck and keep asking the community here for insight and help. 

Elaborate on this hp restriction in Pennsylvania. All waters? Certain areas of the state? Size of body of water? Thanks to any that respond. 

On 6/26/2025 at 6:40 PM, detroit1 said:

Elaborate on this hp restriction in Pennsylvania. All waters? Certain areas of the state? Size of body of water? Thanks to any that respond. 

HP restrictions apply to some bodies of water in PA.  The lake in discussion, Lake Nockamixon, at one time had a 10hp restriction and they’ve since raised it to 20hp. Other larger lakes like Wallenpaupak, Raystown, Blue Marsh are unlimited HP but have speed restrictions that apply during weekdays or weekends and after dark regardless of HP.  I don’t recall if any other PA lakes are out there with a 20 or lower HP rating. There are also a large number of lakes in PA that are limited to electric only motors. 

thank you, k.

On 6/25/2025 at 10:58 PM, kschultz76 said:

I think you ended up with the EFI version of the 9.9 Pro Kicker CT. Mine is the carb model, and came with a 10x7 4 blade. At some point I’m going to get the Solas 3 blade props to try. No Mercury 3 blade props come with the right tooth spline to fit.   From the frustrating research I did across all of Mercury’s online info only the EFI model came with the 5 pitch. 

 

Yes.  Pretty sure mine is the 9.9 pro kicker EFI.  Long shaft and power tilt.  Came with the blade 5 pitch that almost looks like a frisbee it is so flat.  Doing break in with it and limited to 2000 RPM on that first hour was a whole 2.5-3 mph.  The trolling motor was significantly faster.

 

On 6/26/2025 at 6:40 PM, detroit1 said:

Elaborate on this hp restriction in Pennsylvania. All waters? Certain areas of the state? Size of body of water? Thanks to any that respond. 

 

The nock was the one noted above, but there are quite a few in the north west that are limited as well.  Lake Arthur, Wilhelm, Pymatuning, and tamarack all have 20 hp restrictions I think.  There are a couple holders with 9.9 restrictions as well.  Cross creek in Washington county is part of the Washington county parks system as is Ten Mile park on the Mon river.  Cross creek is a 9.9.  Lot of the fish commission lakes are electric only also.  Size matters a little but Pymatuning is 17k acres and HP limited while conneaut lake down the street is unlimited at 900 acres.  The only way to know for sure is to check each lake you plan to fish.  My dad is in western PA and runs a 20 hp for the flexibility, but it sure is slow when he wants to fish the river (which is less than a mile from his doorstep).  

3 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

Yes.  Pretty sure mine is the 9.9 pro kicker EFI.  Long shaft and power tilt.  

Mine is long shaft power tilt as well. I’d love to have the EFI because you can swap the ECU and restrictor plate to upgrade to 15 or 20hp. No such options for the carb version I have. 

1 hour ago, kschultz76 said:

Mine is long shaft power tilt as well. I’d love to have the EFI because you can swap the ECU and restrictor plate to upgrade to 15 or 20hp. No such options for the carb version I have. 

Interesting.  Do you have a link or parts list of how to do it?  It is just an ECU swap and pull the restrictor plate (to hit a 20)?  That would be a pretty sweet upgrade.