Actually I did this (on purpose). Except for a very few years I've run a 1994 BW 13 Dauntless as a: tender for a trawler; skinny water charter boat; and now as our "big" & only boat for all uses. The general breakdown of engines I've had over the years (on 2 of them): 30 (underpowered) does 22, 40hp does 45, 50 & over does insane (in such a short boat).

When the last 40 became a maystart, why go to 30 (actually the 20 hp Mercury series of engines)? 30 got away from battery start. Still have a starter - but this series has a magneto and a pull rope so there's an option I don't have on larger. Back issues: I crashed a plane, my spine now makes an arrow point towards my belly button - so jumping waves just isn't what I do anymore - I'm more interested in smoothness on the slow end for trolling than anything else. Draft: the boat floats level with the lighter engine.

So there are reasons other than above, but the ones above are valid for some too - especially the wife and cost issues . . .

Is this like owning a full-sized truck with a 4-cyl. or V6 motor?

not the type of boat I was referring to, more of the 20-21 foot bass boats that are under powered