How big Tiller w/out tilt and 1992 40HP Yamaha ok?

[MnCooper]

Been looking for a older Alumacraft, Lund, etc.

I found a 1991 16' Alumacraft with a 40hp Yamaha tiller.

Have two questions:

Is a 40hp to big to deal with w/out tilt/trim?

Is that motor worth the snot?

I have used a 14' boat with a 9.9 Johnson for the past 30 years, it still runs like a top, it was my dads old boat, lots of good memories with him and my kids, don't plan on ever selling that one, hope one of my kids will run it some more. Being I'm getting close to 50 I'm thinking of a little upgrade, tied or tripping over benches and not having a live well!

I fish mostly smaller lakes for pan fish, don't troll. About the only time I will tilt the motor is getting in and out of the water.

Thoughts?

Thanks

[marine_man]

40 HP is getting up there for no trim & tilt... I don't recall that Yamaha had one, but Johnson used to have an air cylinder / shock that would assit, which helped quite a bit. On the flip side, that's old enough you might be able to find the needed parts at a outboard motor scrap yard to refit it to be trim & tilt.

The motors were pretty bullet proof as I recall...

marine_man

[Bobby Bass]

I have a 40 hp Mariner on the back of my boat it weighs 143 lbs and I still have to pull it up by hand and I am on the other side of sixty... They do make assist, a handle that you can attach to the top of the motor to give you more leverage if needed. I like you drop it in the water when I launch and pull it up at the end of the night, have not even really thought about it being a problem.

[Down Deep]

With no tilt an trim the motor will be less efficient and run at higher RPM's and develop less thrust. A 40 without a gas assist tilt will be be a pain to lift if you are in the boat.

[cylinder]

I also have a Mariner 40 on one of my boats. I've never had a time I wished I had tilt/trim - never thought about it.

[Bobby Bass]

And yet there are thousands and thousands of boats rigged this way, Poor me, guess I don't know what I am missing. Of course I am actually running a set up like this not guessing on how it would or does work..

[MnCooper]

Sounds good all, I'm going to give it a look. If it looks to run ok I'm going to make an offer on the rig.

Thanks again.

[20lbSloughShark]

Make sure it has electric start. I have no problem at all with my '84 40hp johnson, but I'm strong. Someone just a little older than you tore a muscle one time trying to start my motor. Most people can't even get it to crank over twice in one pull. As for tilt, mine has a cylinder to assist. It is very easy to tilt.

[MnCooper]

I never gave the electric start much thought, not sure how though a 40hp would be to pull by hand. I have pulled a few older 25hp and some of those can be fun if they don't start in a pull or two.

[Bobby Bass]

Electric start. now that would be something I would have to have on a 40.

[MnCooper]

I talked to the seller and it does not have electric start, its a 3 cylinder motor and according to the seller it take both hands and 2 or 3 pulls, I'm going to pass on this one.