I'd say 5hp to 10 hp in your price range. When I had a tin can I ran a 5hp Briggs and Stratton ($800 brand new) and a 6 hp Mercury. Even the 5 hp Briggs got me around Diamond Valley. For Arrowhead, don't complicate it by doing a bunch of hand wringing. Just get whatever small motor comes along in your price range.
As a lad I had a 14 ft fiberglass tri-hull that weighed a ton. Two of us could not lift it off the ground. Had a trusty 9.9 Johnson on it that gave us plenty of power for all the local lakes and traveling down the coast from Santa Barbara to fish the oil rigs that used to be off of Carpinteria. Even got us out to Anacapa Island once! ONCE, that is, until our parents found out what we did! I would think a 10 hp would push you around just great. A 15 would get you zipping.
You guys gave me a lot to think about. Some conflicting thoughts though. I thought a 10hp was the minimum needed, but now I'm hearing maybe a 5 will do? It's not a huge lake, pretty mellow most of the time, but there will be 2-3 people in the boat. I think I'll try to find a 10hp used for now. If you know a good online used outboard source to shop for one, let me know.
Thanks again guys!
15ft 3 people, 15hp bro
At least...
Cm
i dont have boat or motors ect. but for your trolling motor if you can mount it to pull your boat it will be better off for it. it will pull your boat easier then pushing it. you can always save more and use the trolling motor around where you launch to cruise shorelines and save and get a motor you really want. get a couple oars too and do the cheap way till you have enough to get what you want. 3 people with paddles can move that boat if you really wanted to be out fishing.. but also hit those other two up for some cash also if they are always gonna be out with you. gl.
Thanks guys, great help. Still searching for a 10hp motor. For some reason it's real hard to find. if you know of a good online source for used motors, let me know. Thanks!