FormerParatrooper
Well-known member
May be a dumb question, but I am trying to decide what motor size to get. I currently have a 9.5 hp Johnson, runs well but slow on the river. My boat is a 14ft Semi V, weighs about 175lbs. Max rating is 25 hp. With everything on a typical trip, I figure about 500 lbs of added weight (me, dog, gear, fuel, battery, motor etc).
The river current is slow generally, it is the Illinois River in Peoria area. I am thinking to get a few places I want to go in a reasonable time, need to move about 25 knots or so. The 9.5 is pushing about 14 knots per GPS going up river. Where I fish off river and in lakes, max Hp is 25, so that is not a concern.
Would a 15 Hp have the power if set up appropriately? My 9.5 weighs about 60 lbs, so wondering about the extra weight of a newer motor as well, since boat is a 1979.
The river current is slow generally, it is the Illinois River in Peoria area. I am thinking to get a few places I want to go in a reasonable time, need to move about 25 knots or so. The 9.5 is pushing about 14 knots per GPS going up river. Where I fish off river and in lakes, max Hp is 25, so that is not a concern.
Would a 15 Hp have the power if set up appropriately? My 9.5 weighs about 60 lbs, so wondering about the extra weight of a newer motor as well, since boat is a 1979.