what size motor for 14ft alumacraft?

[senkoskipper]

Wondering what size motor to get? would a 9.9 hp motor be too big? or would a 5hp motor push it along just fine? and what about long shaft or short shaft...whatever that means. thanks

[Guest]

ummm..

Get a tape measure and get the height of your transom.. if its around 15"-17".. it requires a short shaft, a 20" transom is a long shaft.

I am assuming this is a bench type older alumacraft? Most of them were rated at least to 20hp. Look for a metal plate, or a tag somewhere in the boat and the HP rating will be on there.

If its a small, light boat.. a 10 hp motor will push it around fine. A 5 hp would work for putting around and trolling.. but dont expect to get anywhere fast.

If this boat is a long shaft boat, it will be a little heavier and will handle more HP. If its a basic boat a 15 would probably keep you happy. If the boat has floors, decks, etc.. 25-40 hp is what your going to need to get that boat up on plane.

[Slyster]

I have a 14' Lund "rowboat" converted to a not so bad fishing boat!.. complete with carpeted deck and storage areas, electronics, Minn-Kota etc...

I got a Johnson 2-stroke 15hp motor. THAT is the minimum for this sized boat in my opinion but ALSO the maxiumum! 9.9 would NOT plane in my case... and the maxiumum sized 25hp would be TOO heavy for an adult sitting in the rear.. with the battery and Minn-Kota etc..

Here are some pix- is this like what you got?

http://www.slyster.com/temp/boat/page_01.htm

[Ralph Wiggum]

Quote:

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I have a 14' Lund "rowboat" converted to a not so bad fishing boat!.. complete with carpeted deck and storage areas, electronics, Minn-Kota etc...

I got a

Johnson 21 stroke

15hp motor. THAT is the minimum for this sized boat in my opinion! 9.9 would NOT plane in my case.

I WOULD have gone with the maxiumum allowed 25hp but it would have been too heavy for me sitting in the back... with the battery and Minn-Kota etc..

Here are some pix- is this like what you got?

http://www.slyster.com/temp/boat/page_01.htm

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A 21 stroke? WOW

[PerchJerker]

Love the pics Slyster. My first two boats were pretty basic when I got them, I also did several improvements to make them more fishable and fun to use. Looks like your kids are having a blast out there!!!

Re: the HP question, I would think 9.9 would be the minimum you would want to go, otherwise you'll be so slow you'd never get anywhere.

[Slyster]

Yep.. a 21 stroke.. and I get 1000 MPG too. (OK.. I fixed that post!)

[senkoskipper]

HEY SLY YES THATS PRETTY MUCH THE BOAT I GOT CEPT W/O THE CARPET. I ACTUALLY PLAN ON MOVING THE MINKOTA AND THE BATTERY UP TO THE FRONT OF THE BOAT SO IT ISNT SO BACK HEAVY. I DONT NEED NEED TO BE MOVING TOO FAST. JUST NEED SOMETHING TO GET ME MOVING FROM SPOT TO SPOT FASTER THAN THE 55# MINKOTA. PLUS I DONT WASTE MY BATTERY SO QUICK IF I GOT AN OUTBOARD.

[Slyster]

The 15hp in the back is kind of balanced out by the fuel tank way up front.. but with my Maxxum T55 in the back and battery ALSO in the back (under my bench).. the weight adds up!.. with a Minn-Kota AND battery up front that would be amazing!... But I didn't do that and since the gas tank is hidden in the front.. I dared NOT put the battery there too.. (spark + gas = bad day) so my boat is a bit heavy in the rear end- considering I am bit heavy as well!

But even for such a small boat.. it has worked out SO well for me and my two kids (4 and 6 y/o)... but I have already decided in two years or so.. I have to get a new boat... as the kids get bigger etc...

[Guest]

Slyster.. a 25 doesnt weigh much more than your 15.

It is possible to move your battery forward in that boat. You would have to cut an access panel to get to it. You dont want to go too far forward either or your boat will be a submarine if you have someone with weight towards the front of the boat and a big deep cycle under them in rough water.

A battery box should fit quite nicely in the bench at the rear of your deck, and would move that 60 lb peice of lead and plastic forward away from the transom improving your performance and letting your boat get on plane much easier, and not weighing the nose down so much it becomes a hazard when you have passengers in the front.

You did a nice job of remodeling the boat.. I have remodeled a few 14' Alumacrafts and ran into the same weight distribution issues you have now.. I am simply passing on how I resolved them, and I couldnt have been happier with the increased performance of getting eveything evened out.. its not much fun when you have to go into a panic when boat/barge wakes are coming towards the transom.

[Slyster]

HEY!!!! (Lots of CHEERING and FANFARE...)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This post way my 1000th here on Fishing MN!... can I be a 'PRO STAFF' yet?

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That Guy.. I thought of the middle bench.. but now, this spring, I have added lure lockers in that bench. So I can't put it there.. but there's always the next bench up! I still have some tweaking to do.. but now by the time I get to that.. I'll have a new boat! (I am thinking of getting a bigger Lund or Tracker or the like soon)... but it sure is fun to modify small boats eh? Lots to work with if you have imagination.

BUT.. I believe you are wrong on the motor weight issue.. the Johnson 25 weighs 212lbs (available in 4 stroke only) compared to my Johnson 15hp (available in 2 stroke only) at only 74 Lbs.. a HUGE 138 Lb difference! Although looking beyond Johnson, one could probably find a 25hp motor that weighs less than that.. perhaps a 2 stroke 25hp?

[Guest]

Slyster..

4 strokes are much heavier and beyond that much of the weight is distributed further back which is worse for a small craft.

All I know is I borrowed a 15 hp Merc short shaft 2 stroke(mid 90's model) last fall from I Da man and my current 25 evinrude 2 stroke with a long shaft weighs about the same or possibly less than that little black monster(Merc).

[Slyster]

I hear ya... the 2 strokes are lighter.. I was only comparing Johnsons.. and Johnson doesn't make a 25hp 2-stroke.... I myself probably should have looked into a 25hp 2-stroke of a different brand for my boat... since with 3 adults- I can hardly plane out... sad indeed.. but that's usually not an issue since I usually fish either alone or with just two little people.. my 4 and 6 y/o kids.. but as they grow.. this is what is making me think of selling the 'starter' boat and getting a bigger one... hey.. that's just what we did with houses a few years ago!

[MuskyNutz]

I would say 15 is the minimum you would want to go and still get on plane with two guys gear and t. motor/battery. A 9.9 will be tough to get on plane with a load like that. Although it can be done in a big enough lake! As for the short vs. long shaft....if you look at the transom and it is lower in the back than the side(gunnels) of the boat, it is a short shaft transom. If it is the same height as the sides it will require a long shaft.