Fishing Q&A
2 stroke vs. 4 stroke on a 14' fishing boat. Wondering if 15 or 18hp 4 stroke will be enough?
Hello I've spent plenty of time with 2 stroke outboards and know what kind of thrust I'm going to get for the hp. I bought a little 14' aluminum boat with a max 67” beam and put a little late model 8 hp 2 stroke Merc I had on it that I had been on a smaller boat. It does ok and can plane with just me in the boat, and sometimes even with a second person, but doesn’t have the top end speeds I’d like. I had 3 guys out fishing and it was a dog. I know a 15 hp 2 stroke would do fine but have heard that the new 4 strokes don’t have the torque. I’m thinking about getting a 15 or 18 hp (Merc or Nissan) 4 stroke. But don’t want to be disappointed when I have 750 pounds of guys and gear onboard. Any one have any experience with this size 2 and 4 stroke or have any suggestions. Thanks bw
Public Comments
- If you are familiar with 2 strokes and like them, stay with them by all means. I would not own a 4 stroke OB for my tender. For your fishing boat I would say 9.9 hp 2 stroke or even a 15 hp would be plenty. I have a 10 foot hard bottom tender and use a 9.9 hp. With 4 people on board I still plane quickly and can reach 30 mph in no time. You are correct about the thrust with the new 4 strokes. They are nice and quiet, less vibration, no mixing fuel, but they weak in the thrust department and weigh a lot more then 2 strokes. A friend of mine has a 2007 Mercury 9.9 hp 4 stroke and mine is a 2004 Mercury 9.9 2 stroke. I blow him away when it comes to planing and top end.
- i actually own a 14' corson(fiberglass) and currently run a Johnson 33hp Supper Seahorse and it in no way is over kill .keep in mind fiber glass is significantly heavier than aluminum or wood .aluminum 9- 20 hp is ok id recommend 15 ,for wood 12 -18 hp is more than efficient
- i have a 14 ft lund row boat with a 20hp merc 2 stroke and it flies it was faster than my buddies 40hp 18ft also bought on eBay for a song in the off season
- Charles.... Puleez ! - A 9.9 H.P engine on a boat with four adults and gear in it and it planes off right away to 30 MPH ? Talk about a "SEA TALE" !
- Does the boat have a capacity plate on it? That would list the max hp and lbs it is allowed to have. If not, the following web sites allow you to calculate max HP and persons load.
- 4 stroke for sure they are actually more powerful than a 2 stroke just not as fast plus alot of places such as national parks and forests only allow four strokes. Another bonus is that they are much quieter
