Around 4/14/2005 3:05 PM, Chris wrote:

This old 80hp has powered a 15.5 ft fiberglass boat. But could a newer
motor of a smaller HP do an equal or pretty good job? Perhaps a 40hp of a
newer vintage?

Though a 40 would probably work on a 15.5' depending on weight, you
should probably stick with at _least_ a 50. I'd personally prefer a 70
or higher, but that's just me (see disclaimer below).

As an aside, what's the boat's max HP rating? A good rule of thumb is to
get as close to that rating as you can afford.

My 14' used to have a 50 Merc, and frankly, though I _love_ my current
40 Nissan, I do occasionally miss those few extra HP.





Disclaimer: My family has a long history of overpowering small boats. I
grew up bombing around in my great uncle's barebones 14.5' Livingston
powered by that same 50 Merc... Let's just say that I know what a
skipping rock feels like.

--
~/Garth - 1966 Glastron V-142 Skiflite: "Blue-Boat"
"There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing
as simply messing about in boats."
-Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows