I'm buying an 18' pontoon that weighs 1050 lbs. I decided on the 40hp
Honda but I'm wondering if the 50hp would be better for pulling my
kids on a tube. Besides tubing, I'll also be trolling for walleyes,
trout, etc. Both motors weigh 212 lbs.

Any recommendations? I need to decide soon.

If you are pulling toys you should probably go for the 50. I imagine it is
really the same motor, just one that "breathes" better.
I have a 60 merc (highest HP for that block) on my pontoon and it runs out
about 24@ 5500

Definetly get the 50hp. Depending on the tube - it can be a load.

--
Tony
my boats at http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com

"Marko" wrote in message
om...
I'm buying an 18' pontoon that weighs 1050 lbs. I decided on the 40hp
Honda but I'm wondering if the 50hp would be better for pulling my
kids on a tube. Besides tubing, I'll also be trolling for walleyes,
trout, etc. Both motors weigh 212 lbs.

Any recommendations? I need to decide soon.

I know nothing about these engines.

It is interesting that they weigh exactly the same, this tells me that
they may BE the same, much like some of the Evinrude/Johnson engines are
the same (9.9 and the 15, for an example) minor differences in carb
jets, and so forth.

I'd do some research and see if you could save some money with the 40
and get the performance of the 50 with the turn of a screw driver.

Anyone know?
Jim

Marko wrote:

I'm buying an 18' pontoon that weighs 1050 lbs. I decided on the 40hp
Honda but I'm wondering if the 50hp would be better for pulling my
kids on a tube. Besides tubing, I'll also be trolling for walleyes,
trout, etc. Both motors weigh 212 lbs.

Any recommendations? I need to decide soon.

If your boat is rated for max 40hp then go for the 40hp (or actually the
40hp Yamaha 4 stroke is a little lighter ).

If it is rated for 50hp, then go for the 50hp Honda or maybe the 50/60hp
Yamaha because it is fuel injected for 2005.

I would recommend the new FI 60hp Yamaha (237#) or Mercury FI 60hp (248#)
because they are fuel injected 4 strokes as long as you are rated for at
least 60hp.

--
Bill Kiene

Kiene's Fly Shop
Sacramento, CA, USA

Web site: www.kiene.com


"Marko" wrote in message
om...

I'm buying an 18' pontoon that weighs 1050 lbs. I decided on the 40hp
Honda but I'm wondering if the 50hp would be better for pulling my
kids on a tube. Besides tubing, I'll also be trolling for walleyes,
trout, etc. Both motors weigh 212 lbs.

Any recommendations? I need to decide soon.

There is a lot more to it than just carb jets. For instance a kit to upgrade
a 9.9 to a 15 runs you about $800.00. That is according to my local Johnson
dealer.

--
Bill
Chesapeake, Va


"Jim" wrote in message
ink.net...
I know nothing about these engines.

It is interesting that they weigh exactly the same, this tells me that
they may BE the same, much like some of the Evinrude/Johnson engines are
the same (9.9 and the 15, for an example) minor differences in carb
jets, and so forth.

I'd do some research and see if you could save some money with the 40
and get the performance of the 50 with the turn of a screw driver.

Anyone know?
Jim

Marko wrote:

I'm buying an 18' pontoon that weighs 1050 lbs. I decided on the 40hp
Honda but I'm wondering if the 50hp would be better for pulling my
kids on a tube. Besides tubing, I'll also be trolling for walleyes,
trout, etc. Both motors weigh 212 lbs.

Any recommendations? I need to decide soon.

I had looked into the 6 to 8 horsepower engines. The answer I got was
carb jetting. Otherwise exactly the same engine. I thought the 9.9 to
15 might be the same issue.

This was a couple of years ago, and probably is arguable, but this is
what my research showed me.

My next engine will be a Honda, a 15 (or so) will replace my Johnson 25.

Jim

IBNFSHN wrote:
There is a lot more to it than just carb jets. For instance a kit to upgrade
a 9.9 to a 15 runs you about $800.00. That is according to my local Johnson
dealer.

On 22 Aug 2004 08:36:40 -0700, (Marko) wrote:

I'm buying an 18' pontoon that weighs 1050 lbs. I decided on the 40hp
Honda but I'm wondering if the 50hp would be better for pulling my
kids on a tube. Besides tubing, I'll also be trolling for walleyes,
trout, etc. Both motors weigh 212 lbs.

Any recommendations? I need to decide soon.

Four stroke? The fifty hands down.

If you can, look around at other brands. Suzuki is pricing their four
strokes very competively at the moment and I believe the Yamaha
four strokes in this horsepower range are direct injection. Not sure
about that though.

And of course, look at the Evinrude E-Tecs in this range.

In any case, I would try to stay within 20% of your max for that boat.

Good luck.

Later,

Tom
S. Woodstock, CT
-----------
"Angling may be said to be so
like the mathematics that it
can never be fully learnt..."

Izaak Walton "The Compleat Angler", 1653

I'm prepared to go with the 50hp if my dealer is willing to work with
me. My boat is rated for a max of 75hp so no problem there. My only
question is can I troll as slow with the 50hp as I can with the 40hp?
I have little experience with 4-strokes but I hear you can idle right
down to 1 mph.

Thanks for the responses.

In theory you will not be able to troll as slow w/ the 50 as w/ the 40.
Both engines should idle in gear at about 600 to 700 rpms. The 50 will have
a slightly larger prop in terms of pitch so you will be moving faster.
Probably only by 1 mph or so. However, your minimum speed is based on this
rpm.

On a boat rated for the 75 - I would personally not go lower than the 60 but
you have to decide. W/ the 50 chances are you will be wide open the whole
time you are pulling the tube. Do you really want to run the engine wide
open all the time.

--
Tony
my boats at http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com

"Marko" wrote in message
om...
I'm prepared to go with the 50hp if my dealer is willing to work with
me. My boat is rated for a max of 75hp so no problem there. My only
question is can I troll as slow with the 50hp as I can with the 40hp?
I have little experience with 4-strokes but I hear you can idle right
down to 1 mph.

Thanks for the responses.