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.

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.

Jim wrote in message thlink.net...
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.

Not just carb jetting. Need to add more air to match the increased
fuel from the larger jets to keep the air/fuel mix correct. Thus the
carb venturi is bigger too, so the whole carb body will be a different
part number.

On the Johnson 2 stroke 9.9 & 15, the 15 had (had?) a different tuner
on the exhaust to resonate at higher RPM. Other engine combos have
also had different intake manifolds and/or different cylinder heads.

%mod%

On Sun, 22 Aug 2004 17:39:45 -0400, "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.

A few years ago I did extensive examination of parts microfiches to
find out the difference between my Evinrude 20, and the 25 and 30
models which are all the same block. I posted the details here.
The difference is air/fuel in and exhaust out and maintaining the
balance. I ended up opening the intake manifold restriction with a
dremel tool to equal that of the 25, and installing the main jet
specified for the 25, effectively converting the 20 to 25 hp for the
price of a jet ($7.)
Going up another step to 30 hp would have required enlarging the
exhaust output (drilling a small hole), which would have entailed re
and re the power head, new gasket kit, etc. I didn't want to go that
far.
I suppose it wouldn't be that easy with more modern engines due to the
electronic FI systems, but maybe one could simply replace a control
module in addition to mod.s as above.

Scott W.

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.

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.