what size of engine do i need to push my 16 ft fiberglass boat at a decent speed ? just for fishing?

Question

i do have young ones who would like to ski but i would be happy with just fishing and boating

Answer 1

anything over a 125 will push it good,,i have one with a 135 evinrude,and it will run 55 easy,,,that's plenty fast enough to pull a ski,,and i can do good on fuel with it also,,you can go all the way up to 175,,and do good,,anything over,, i think is a waste,,there is truth to the bigger the engine the better the fuel economy ,,up to a limit though,,i had a 65 horse that got terrible fuel economy,because you had to run it hard to get any speed out of it,,good luck with it,,i hope this help,s.

Answer 2

Depends on the weight of your boat and people and gear and what you call a decent speed. I have a 16 ft. and a 25hp runs about 25-30 mph. It takes a lot of hp to move it faster. I means a 50hp will probably go about 35. A 100hp will probably boot it up to 40-45 etc. But you have to remember to look on the tag at the stern (Back) to see how many hp you are allowed.

Answer 3

I had an old 17 foot Glastron with 80 HP Merc outboard. Lake level was 5000ft, so lost about 10-15 HP due to altitude. Could barely pull out a skier and planed with difficulty with more than four people on board. Do not underpower if you plan for your engine to last a while and want to be satified with results. Also, the young'uns will want to go more than 20mph. 60 HP sounds about right.

WHTCAMP had the right idea about checking the USCG placard, usually located near captain's seat, for max people and horsepower ratings to get a good idea. Top HP will pull skiers, but you'll probably be happy with 80% of top HP. Don't go much under.

Answer 4

For simply fishing you could do fairly well with a 35-50 hp. 25 hp may be ok but a fiberglass boat is a little heavy.

Answer 5

Sounds like a throttle cable problem. Maybe broken or vibrated loose and come out of its retainer. There are two cables running from the hand throttle to the engine. One is the forward/reverse cable and the other is the throttle cable. Pull off the engine cowling and check the engine end of the throttle cable first as it's easier to do. With the cowling off work the throttle and see if the throttle arm moves through its entire range. If it does then it's not a cable problem. If it doesn't move but it looks hooked up properly then the problem is in the hand throttle assembly. That will involve pulling the assembly down. It's not a hard job if you take your time and pay attention as you break it down so you know how it goes back together. Good luck.

Answer 6

the older fiberglass boats were quite heavy compared to the new boats of today!! i have a 1979 cimmaron bass boat 16.5 ft that i restored. i have an 85 hp force motor and she has a top speed of about 40 knotts. fast enough for me, but i get passed alot by those deep pocket bass pros with 200hp motors doing 65 knotts across the h20!!

Answer 7

For fishing I would use a 35
If the young ones are not over 14 use a 90

Answer 8

I have a 1985 16 bass boat with a 115hp Rude on her (also a 1985) .... she poops and shoots! Planes real easy. Can t keep up with my buddy s 21 Ranger with a 250, but I m not in the mlf, elite or classic either so it doesn t really matter to me.

Answer 9

It all comes down to personal choice and it's your boat so go ahead and choose. Just keep in mind that anything over a 9.9 hp requires a separate licence.

Answer 10

25 Hp will go fast with 3 people