will a 9.9 h.p. mercury be adequete on a 16 foot sea ark flat boat?

Question

i am not the person who is in a hurry, i like to take my time...however, i will be using this boat above lock and dam 13, mississippi river....it is a couple miles wide here and gets pretty ornory...

Answer 1

That's more than enough. Our rescue boat only has a little 2 hp motor on it and it moves out.

Answer 2

Not being in a hurry is o.k. but, you want to be able to get the Hell out of the way of something in a hurry if you have to, adequate H.P. is also needed to fight the current, I'm a south shore Long Island boy, so rivers are not my thing, I'm more of an "Ocean guy" but, the way that we figure out motor's is we take the max. motor rating from the Hull capacity plate, and stay at 75% of that, this provides economy, and a good power balance.
Example: If the max. H.P. of the boat is rated for is "100" H.P., you would want nothing smaller than a 75 H.P. motor.

Answer 3

I've fished that stretch in a 14 foot john boat with a 9.9 mercury. The only time you will have problem is when a barge comes by. Those tows can swamp a 14 to 16 foot boat unless it has deep gunwales. When I saw the barge comming I'd beach my boat til it went by.

Answer 4

Your both should have a maximum capacity plate near the engine mount where the suggested hp is listed. 10 is probably fine but I would go for 15 or more myself.

Answer 5

I bought one of these last year for my 42' Egg Harbor when my engines blew up. I mounted it on my swim platform and i can get 14 knots going up stream .

Answer 6

those little 9.9 kickers are pretty good. Just don't have too many people in your boat.

Answer 7

a 9.9 should be fine for normal use,you won't be able to ski behind it [lol]I have a 9.9 on my 26 ft.[6000lb] sailboat and it does great

Answer 8

no!! at least a 20hp.