Do you guys think a 3.5 HP outrunner would be enough for that boat? Tracker says that's the max hp for it but I see guys putting up to 9.9 hp. The reason I am leaning toward the 3.5 is because it's light and I have to take it on/off every time. I carry the boat in the trailer or bed of truck. The next size up motor is almost 20 lbs heavier and it's a big difference when picking it up. I'm wondering though if the boat would be going too slow with it.

I have a good 3.5hp motor cheap, where are you?

I'm in San Antonio. What is it and how old?

The description you give doesn't tell us enough about the boat to make a decent judgement. Some 12' john boats are very narrow and have low sides which a 3.5 would be about right. Some of the larger ones a 10 is right so it depends on what you actually have whats best.

It's a flat bottom 12 footer with 48" beam. Tracker says it weights 87 lbs. I know they recomend 3.5 max HP but im thinking it might be a real conservative recommendation. Here is the link to it.

http://www.trackerboats.com/boat/specs.cfm?boat=3418

3.5 would be max I put on it.

If it were me, I would see about getting the biggest 12V trolling motor (50lbs. or 54lbs.) and two deep cycle batteries.

Hi Riverrat. I do have a 40 lbs trolling motor and it is painfully slow. It takes me 30 min to get to a fishing spot that I can see from the boat ramp. I doubt the 54 would make a big difference. I believe even that size is around 1 HP.

I would be comfortable with a 6hp myself. The 6 will get you on a plane but the 3.5 never will.

Yes but it looks like you like to go really really fast

What difference in speed is planning vs non planning?


Also anyone that's had experience with this would like to chime in?

Over the lean years I have had at least 4 small aluminum boats that I put in the back of my truck. I would fix them up and when finances allowed I would get a bigger one. I had 2 semi vee's and 2 flat bottom boats. Both about the size you have and I had a 9.9 on them and it was a handful (Tiller handle pun intended) . So the 6HP would be a good middle of the road.

When a boat doesn't have enough power to get up on top of the water(Plane) and just plows thats what a 3hp will do . The 6 should allow you to at least get up on top and cruise. Not fast by any means but better than plowing .It will double your fuel mileage and the motor wont be bogged down plowing.

Thx for the input. When you say it was a handful do you mean to control while driving or just to load/unload every time?

I also have a 7.5hp It is an older motor (air cooled) but is in great shape. Would make you a deal on it. 300.00 runs great.

Well i got a new motor after much consideration I got the 3.5 hp Mercury. I lifted the 5 hp one and it felt much much heavier. I didn't feel like dealing with the heavy one very trip. I have to 1. take motor from stand to vehicle 2. from vehicle to boat, 3. from boat back to vehicle. 4, back to stand. So I would haul it 4 times each trip. It's a nice running motor but I DEFINITELY want to go faster. I am thinking after I get a trailer then I'll upgrade.

Here are some interesting fact: With me, 6yr old, 4yr old, deep cycle battery and trolling motor only we were doing 3.2mi per hr. The boys staying in front makes it faster by about 1/4 mi as opposed to sitting in middle bench.

With the 3.5 hp added on we were doing 7-8 mi/hr (this engine is still breaking in, i hope it will improve a bit)

Next speed test will be with just me in boat and nothing else except needed fishing gear.