30hp:vs:16 boat

[BigDogRob]

How decent will a 30 hp push a 16' deep V through the water with 2 guys? Just kind of curious if anyone has something similar.

Thank you,

Rob

[Hafnutz]

I have a 25 Suzuki 4 stroke on a 16.5 Lunker. It shows about 25 on my speedo with 2 people in it and some gear. Seems about right. A 40 would be my first choice. I guess it depends on the boat..

[BigDogRob]

Thanks Hafnutz, I was wondering what kind of speeds that this combo would get for an approx... I am thinking a 30 or 35hp should do just fine...

[delcecchi]

Thanks Hafnutz, I was wondering what kind of speeds that this combo would get for an approx... I am thinking a 30 or 35hp should do just fine...

I had a Alumacraft classic 16 with 40 merc (82 so now a 35 merc). Bout 27 mph with me and all my fishing junk. It was a semi-vee.

[BoxMN]

FWIW, in that HP range, the 4strokes will be very doggy compared to 2 strokes as you add weight to the boat. My bro-in-law had a 16' with 40 Honda, and the darn thing struggled to get out of it's own way... put a 40 2 stroke on it and you could waterski with ease.

Not sure if OP is talking 2 or 4 stroke, but if 4 stroke, you have been warned

[TruthWalleyes]

I would go 40, having bought my 16' boat with a 40hp and the last two years ran it with a 25hp, now i'm back to the 40hp and loving it. Both 2 strokes.

The 25 with boat fully loaded would get me about 21 on a calm day. Toss in some wind and it's 18mph. Heavy wind or add a friend 10mph.

With the 40hp i can go 25mph through 3' rollers with 2 people on board and FULLY loaded! My boat isn't light like many 16 footers are but that extra horsepower sure came in handy saturday.

[BigDogRob]

Trust me if the wind is blowing like this past saturday, I will be sitting on shore with a beer in my hand instead of a pole...lol I am thinking 2 stroke. I have heard that the 4-strokes act like a tired hunting dog when adding just a bit of weight... Never owned one so can't really say I'd know the difference. I figure I don't need to be the first one there as long as I make it. Might be a different story if the best bite was a 8' area and there were 8 boats at the landing getting ready to go.

[brushrifle]

I few years ago I had a 14' Lund with a 25 hp merc 2-stroke. One weekend someone stole the outboard off it. I replaced it with a Merc 25 hp 4-stroke. I had found one that was 2 years old. In my experience the 4-stroke was far better than the 2-stroke on that boat. Went a little faster, got on plane faster, burned less fuel, no smoke. Downside was it was heavier. I had to relocate the batteries and fuel tank to balance the boat out. Personally I wouldn't go back to mixing gas for anything. Just my 2-cents.

[SkunkedAgain]

But you don't get the sweat-smelling aroma of 2stroke gas. I keep around a couple 1950s and 60s motors just so that I can get my fix!

[BigDogRob]

OK, so what I take from all the info is as long as I go 25hp or larger I can pick any brand, 2 or 4 stroke, and just move some weight around if needed and start throwing out some lures...lol Gonna go look at some motors this weekend and just make a decision. On the plus side the pedistals for the seats should be here next week... Then on the lake it goes.

If I could find a decent 40hp that would be my first choice, but nothing around that I have seen.

[Ufatz]

Eventually you will discover that it is not as important how FAST you get there as WHETHER you get there.

Four stroke.

[BoxMN]

Eventually you will discover that it is not as important how FAST you get there as WHETHER you get there.

Four stroke.

Eventually you will fish with a fat buddy, or bring a cooler, or a full livewell, and it is not WHETHER you get there, but will you have to troll the WHOLE way.

Two stroke.

[TruthWalleyes]

Being underpowered is no fun! I'm glad im not anymore, even if my 25hp was incredibly good at starting every time; it was no fun being caught in a storm or fishing in big wind/waves and not having a chance to get up on plane.

I suppose i could sell you my 25 hp though if interested. Starts 2nd pull at the landing and 1st pull each time after. I still think you want to go a little bigger than 25 though; though you can get by with the 25.

I won't be heartbroken if you don't want the 25hp, that's a gem i don't mine having around for the day my lower unit disappears from my 40hp.

[SkunkedAgain]

Back in the day, my wife and I got caught on the wrong side of a bigger bay on Lake Vermilion. We crashed through waves so hard that it actually put a 4" gash in my hull right along the keel. We stopped midway to heal up behind an island when we noticed the water coming up. I flipped on the bilge but it struggle to keep up as it was now raining as well. With all of the extra water in my 16' Fisher, my 1979 40hp Evinrude struggled to get on plane. With the bow in the air and still not on plane, I gambled and pulled the boat plug. Water flowed in and out, in and out, until it finally flowed out more and more. We eventually got on plane and limped back to our boat trailer.

Lesson learned about having enough HP for rare situations

[TruthWalleyes]

I've got 2 bilge pumps just in case too

Don't want to have to use them though

[BigDogRob]

Skunked, You make a very valid point that I never really even gave a thought about! I bet that really sucked! I was using my dad's old boat one time maybe 16 at the time and with a 15hp had the plug on the outside of the boat and it came out while we were fishing... I didn't notice until my feet all of a sudden got kind of wet. I did the similar thing of trying to motor my way out of as much trouble as possible to head towards the trailer. There was two of us and no wind and it really struggled to get back to shore. I guess on the positive side the floor got cleaned from it. One more person in that boat, and I wouldn't have wanted to drive back home...with only a trailer. I know I am staying pretty light for the boat and I added in floatation under the whole floor to help eliminate some of that problem I hope...well enough to keep it afloat to make it back to the trailer, and also will be putting in a bilge even if I olny need it when it is on shore during a rain. Maybe a few led's on the inside for some night fishing also as I seen some that are even peel and stick. I am going to look at a couple 30-40hp motors and will make my decision. If one of the 40's are decent then that is what I will go with...I just need to get it on the water...the anticipation is killin' me.

I would like to say thanks for all the info from everyone it is helping make my mind up on what I want :vs: what I need. I may need to get a 2nd job just to buy accessories...lol

[BigDogRob]

O.K. so I am now navigable, and love the boat! I decided on a 25hp 2-stroke with electric start for now. I took it out to the lake today on it's maiden voyage, and it's first fish was a nice little walleye. My daughter caught the second one, and she had a good time and told me she was glad she went with. I was really surprised on how fast it gets up on plane... about 3 seconds. She topped out at 25mph and that is quick enough for my boat Just with trying out the boat today I know it will easily pull my daughter in a tube behind the boat! Hopefully I will get a few good years and memories out of it! I know there are a few other items I will be getting or adding eventually, but she is now ready to catch fish and take some trips... Thanks everyone.I will try and post some pics soon.

[BoxMN]

Enjoy Rob! Sounds like a great rig for you and your family, and you started it out right!

[BigDogRob]

Thanks Box, it sure was a quite a bit of work, but The pride in re-doing it myself (with some help) really made the first and all the rest of it's trips more meaningful. Just seeing my daughter's smile when she caught her first fish out of it, and the boat going by cheering for her after she got it in the boat made all the blood, sweat, and $ to build it worth it!