LoneStar63
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- Joined
- Dec 29, 2015
- Messages
- 6
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Hello everyone. . . My friend and I have both modified and rebuilt a couple classic boats in recent years with some inspiration from this board, but this is my first post.
The past few seasons, my outboard has started to show signs of aging. Amazingly, after the New Year, I’ll have the budget (and permission from the wife) to purchase a new (or lightly used) outboard. . . So, I’m looking for advice on what I can (or should) do.
The boat itself is a riveted aluminum 1963 Lone Star Commander. It’s a slip over 14-feet long from bow to stern, and it has a 48-inch wide wood transom that’s connected through various bolts and rivets. The depth of the transom is 16.5 inches tall at the “well” where the motor sits, but 18.5 inches tall on the flanks. . . The plate on the inside of the boat says it’s rated for up to a 25 hp motor, and a weight capacity of 1,065 pounds.
I’m currently running a 1970 Johnson SeaHorse, 25 hp, 2-stroke with an external 6 gallon tank. Because of the age of the motor, I’m having a hard time finding the motor’s specs, but my best guess is the motor weighs approximately 85 pounds.
I know that’s a lot of info, but here’s my dilemma—a lot has changed in motors and boats since the early ‘60s and ‘70s. When I use the formula provided on the motor’s main page, I get a calculation of 20 hp, and after reading the responses, the math isn’t perfect. . . But if my current motor's 85-pound spec is correct, a modern 20 hp 4-stroke weighs nearly twice what my current motor weighs. That seems dangerous to me.
Does the 25 hp rating from 1963 mean the same thing in 2016? How heavy of a motor can I (safely) carry on my transom? Can I (safely) get a 30 or even 40 hp motor that weighs close to 175 lbs?
Thoughts?
(if it makes any difference, I also travel with a deep cycle tolling motor battery in the bow which is great ballast).
Thanks for the help.
The past few seasons, my outboard has started to show signs of aging. Amazingly, after the New Year, I’ll have the budget (and permission from the wife) to purchase a new (or lightly used) outboard. . . So, I’m looking for advice on what I can (or should) do.
The boat itself is a riveted aluminum 1963 Lone Star Commander. It’s a slip over 14-feet long from bow to stern, and it has a 48-inch wide wood transom that’s connected through various bolts and rivets. The depth of the transom is 16.5 inches tall at the “well” where the motor sits, but 18.5 inches tall on the flanks. . . The plate on the inside of the boat says it’s rated for up to a 25 hp motor, and a weight capacity of 1,065 pounds.
I’m currently running a 1970 Johnson SeaHorse, 25 hp, 2-stroke with an external 6 gallon tank. Because of the age of the motor, I’m having a hard time finding the motor’s specs, but my best guess is the motor weighs approximately 85 pounds.
I know that’s a lot of info, but here’s my dilemma—a lot has changed in motors and boats since the early ‘60s and ‘70s. When I use the formula provided on the motor’s main page, I get a calculation of 20 hp, and after reading the responses, the math isn’t perfect. . . But if my current motor's 85-pound spec is correct, a modern 20 hp 4-stroke weighs nearly twice what my current motor weighs. That seems dangerous to me.
Does the 25 hp rating from 1963 mean the same thing in 2016? How heavy of a motor can I (safely) carry on my transom? Can I (safely) get a 30 or even 40 hp motor that weighs close to 175 lbs?
Thoughts?
(if it makes any difference, I also travel with a deep cycle tolling motor battery in the bow which is great ballast).
Thanks for the help.