i want to get a jon boat, but im pretty much broke. i was looking at some 12 ft boats but the beam on them are only 48 inches. then i saw a 15 ft jon boat with a beam of 62 inches. my problem is that i have a briggs 5hp motor given to me and im wondering if that 5 hp will push that 15 ft, if not is a 12 ft still stable???

It would push it but probably not enough to make it plane out. I once had a 15 ft Quachita with an 18 HP Evinrude and it would run 15 to 20 mph depending on the weight.

I had a 14' jon boat with a 5.5 hp and it would push the boat pretty good.

I have a 14' Alumacraft that I use a 5 HP B&S on and it works great. Not a speedboat but plenty fast to get me out and back in.

man tcf that is one nice looking boat

yea that is, is that a 36 wide jon???

I have a 14x38 Sea King Jon Boat circa 1976 and it came with a beat to hell 15 HP motor that was as good as dead. So I bought a B&S and here is my view and experience.

1. 3 gallons of gas lasts a LOOOOOOONNNNNNNGGGG time. You won't spend much to run it.

2. One perhaps two pulls Vroom it starts up.

3. Dependable as hell

4. I ran mine hard for three years now and not one problem.

5. All that said one thing this motor is not is fast. My GPS says 7-8 MPH top speed and that is probably right. The 15 had a big advantage here.

6. Maintenance is simple enough, drain and replace oil, change the plug rock on.

7. If you are willing to accept the limit on speed this motor offers far more bang for the buck then anything else on the market.

8. The only other down side is noise, while at slow speeds it is not loud when running throttled up it is like mowing the lawn. No big deal to me though really.

9. On the speed just realize that this limit would apply to any and all 5 HPs.

Hope that is helpful,