Outboard Suggestions?

[TaperSteve]

I fish almost exclusively freshwater lakes trolling for trout during the winter and for cats during the summer.

I have a 14ft aluminum boat. When I purchased it it had a 1973 Evinrude 25hp 2 stroke on it.

That motor didn't run that good so I ended up taking it off and putting my 1999 Evinrude 8hp 4 stroke on it instead. That motor worked great but always left just a bit more to be desired when making runs from one spot to the next especially when I had a person or two on the boat with me.

As some of you may know the oil pump on my 8hp went bad and it ended up doing damage to the motor so it's no longer working.

I'm getting my tax return soon so I'm looking to get a new (to me) motor.

The spec plate on my boat calls for a 20hp max with a 200lb allowance.

What I need to know is what HP motor I should look into getting. I'm thinking something in the 9.8hp/9.9hp to 15hp range.

Some have told me a 15hp might be too much for my boat especially when trolling.

I want something with a little more "umph" to it and one of my concerns is a 9.8hp/9.9hp won't be much of a difference from the 8hp I used to have on it.

What would y'all suggest?

TaperSteve

[drifter023]

I would go with the 15hp. if trolls to fast add a trolling plate hate them on big boats but they do work good on the smaller boats and motors.
The 15hp. should troll just fine I would think thou.

[STRIPER HUNTER]

A 15 is a great choice & use an electric trolling motor to enjoy the quiet on trout lakes !

[Kevman]

Steve - What's your budget, and are you going 2-stroke or 4-stroke? A 2-stroke 15HP will run like a bat out of he*l and have a lot of balls, but a 4-stroke 15HP won't have a lot more torque than a 9.8/9.9HP 2-stroke. If you go 4-stroke and want a noticeable difference over your 8HP, you probably need to go 18HP or 20HP. If you want speed and light weight for your money, go 2-stroke. If you want cleaner, quieter, more economical to run, and likely newer (though more expensive), go 4-stroke.

[TaperSteve]

Steve - What's your budget, and are you going 2-stroke or 4-stroke? A 2-stroke 15HP will run like a bat out of he*l and have a lot of balls, but a 4-stroke 15HP won't have a lot more torque than a 9.8/9.8HP 4-stroke. If you go 4-stroke and want a noticeable difference over your 8HP, you probably need to go 18HP or 20HP. If you want speed and light weight for your money, go 2-stroke. If you want cleaner, quieter, more economical to run, and likely newer (though more expensive), go 4-stroke.

Def 4 stroke so I can take it out to DVL, Castaic, etc.... plus they're better on gas and you don't have to worry bout mixin oil. I can spend about $1000 or so, maybe a bit more.... hopefully less.

TS

[trollmiester]

cdhcheapest place is shopoutboards.com my 2011 was eleevn hundred cheaper than any fred hall goo guy price.2275 delivered

[Askwhy]

cdhcheapest place is shopoutboards.com my 2011 was eleevn hundred cheaper than any fred hall goo guy price.2275 delivered

Of it was me I would go with a Yamaha 15 horse that engine gives you plenty of power when needed and trolls just fine for me when I'm trolling.

[Stalker Of Fish]

His budget is $1,000.oo or LESS ! I searched my local Craigs list and did not find anything big enough for you.
Keep looking on Craigs and maybe E-bay . ! would avoid any motors used in salt water though just my two cents
it rules out many issues if it's been used in fresh water only .
good luck it will be tough finding any 4 stroke over 9.9 hp at that price point though .
I hope u get lucky . I need a bargain 9,9 hp 4 stroke myself !

[Kevman]

$1000 is gonna be tough, Steve. SoF has the right idea--search Craigs night and day. I got $1,150 for a used 2007 Tohatsu 9.8 4-stroke with 100-200 hours on it. Those used 4-strokes are like gold. Rock bottom price for used is usually over $100/HP for the smaller 4-strokes. You might wanna look for an older (80s, 90s) Honda 100 (10HP). Those are 4-stroke and a little cheaper since they are older.

[DockRat]

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/bod/3609375350.html

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/boa/3603724201.html

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/boa/3533889040.html

[muskyman]

I owned a tohatsu for years and it performed perfectly.

http://racine.craigslist.org/bod/3595548655.html

[TaperSteve]

Thanks for all the replies y'all. I've been watching both Craigslist and Ebay for a few weeks now and have zero'd in on a few motors.

One is a 2011 Tohatsu 9.9hp, 4 stroke, short shaft, electric start, remote steering, power tilt/trim, claims less than 10 hours total run time on it. I'm hoping I can talk the guy down to around $1200.

2nd is a 2003 Honda 15hp, 4 stroke, short shaft, electric start, remote steering, power tilt/trim, hoping I could talk the guy down to $1000 or less.

Only downside is based on their location one could only assume they were used in saltwater. Guy with the Honda claims he used it in both fresh/salt but always flushed the motor after use. With how new the Tohatsu is and if the guys telling the truth about only having 10 hours on it I would think it'd have little to no salt build-up/damage.

When I go look at these motors what's the main thing I should be looking for related to saltwater use? Steady/strong pee stream? Anything else?

TS

[TaperSteve]

Bump.... I plan on looking at these motors tomorrow any input would really help out. Thanks for the help y'all!

TS

[Kevman]

You can't go wrong with a Honda or Tohatsu. I agree with MM that Tohatsus are awesome. I've owned 4 of them and only sold one because I was moving up. My main concern about the Honda would be if it has high hours/low compression. Do you know how to check compression and do you have the proper gauge to do so? Another thing is a 9.9 Tohatsu 4-stroke does not have a lot of torque. I owned one and had it on a 14 ft. wood and fiberglass boat so I know the performance well. We had to change the prop just to carry 2 guys and gear. Our boat was certainly heavier than yours, but something to keep in mind. You'll probably like the extra HP a lot if you go with a larger motor.

[TaperSteve]

How do you think the torque on the Tohatsu is compared to the (1999 Evinrude 8hp 4 stroke) I used to have?

TS

[TaperSteve]

I know you pull the plugs out and test them one by one with a gauge. Just did that on one of my cars. Don't have any gauges though had to go to my buddy's mechanic shop to do the test on my car. Maybe I can find a cheap gauge at Harbor Freight?

TS

[Kevman]

Should be roughly the same torque as your old motor. Your old motor had a displacement of 12.8 cu in. The 9.8/9.9 Tohatsu also has a displacement of 12.8 cu in. Usually the only difference between an 8HP and a 9.9 4-stroke is the carburetor jetting and the peak RPM. The Evinrude was made in China; the Tohatsu is made in Japan.

The Honda 15 should have a displacement of about 21.4 cu in. Size matters. Yeah, use a gauge in the spark plug holes.

[TaperSteve]

Wonder what the compression should be on that 2003 Honda 15hp 4 stroke I'm looking at? Anything else to look for if I do a compression test?

TS

[casting call]

I know you pull the plugs out and test them one by one with a gauge. Just did that on one of my cars. Don't have any gauges though had to go to my buddy's mechanic shop to do the test on my car. Maybe I can find a cheap gauge at Harbor Freight?

TS
pep boys will loan you a compression tester. Basically buy and return.

[NFCD I]

Make sure the short shaft will work on your boat. I had to cut about 2 inches off the transom on a 12 foot Gregor I had to make a short shaft work.