Boat Experts - Your Two Cents Please

[exiledguide]

Check out TinBoats.net lot of info for modifying jon boats.

[Greasy B]

Yep 10 horse limit is a pain, in fact I'll be in the market for a new one before next season. The lakes with the limits are awfully peaceful.

[Guest]

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[hoglaw]

Or you could always get a 15, exchange decals and have a new serial plate done by a trophy shop, put in some boysen reeds, shave the head, have your prop machined, and have the rev limiter removed. That ought to make it at least a 22! All the Arkansas boys I know run suzuki and tohatsu 25's in the scatters, but they're about as fast as a 50 when it's all said and done. Way too fast to be running in a foot of water in the dark, and I hear they're about to put an end to the boat races. But for the time being, that's how everyone rolls.

I've always been told that the only difference in part numbers between the older 2 stroke 9.9's and 15's from yamaha and OMC is something to do with the carb. Don't know whether that's actually the truth or not. But I know plenty of folks who just run a 15 with a camo'd cowling. I know a trophy shop in Little Rock that will engrave a new serial number plate for a nominal fee. Don't know if you have to tag/title a motor up there, but if you cover all bases there is no way to tell a 15 from a 9.9 aside from physically testing the HP. My 15 yamaha will easily plane out my crappie john jr. with a passenger, duck blind, and gear in the boat.

[fishinwrench]

Hey you calling me fat

LOL, Just assuming that you top out about 3 times what that 9.9 does

[jdmidwest]

I like the stick steer. My buddy has a Panfish 16 with a 25 jet on it that we have fished out of for years. He decked out the boat with diamond tread aluminum and had the transom built up for the jet. It is great until you hit a rock and the thin hull gives way.

The stick steer works great, especially if you fish alone. You are up front and can see what is coming. Your weight in the boat helps to trim it out some. The layout lets you walk around and is very stable in the water.

[Guest Brian B.]

I have fished a variety of boats/ combos over the years- for a fishing Purist- a 10 horse is all the engine you would ever need. Just my opinion.... What's the objection? Getting in a rush?.... Nope- relax... And fish- to heck with rushing around. The only thing better is a 15- simply due to the 10 being a de-tuned 15.

[fishinwrench]

The only thing better is a 15- simply due to the 10 being a de-tuned 15.

Somewhat true, but if you're running in shallows or thru stumpfields that 15 is just enough extra torque to break that (same) driveshaft, whereas the 9.5-9.9 will just bounce off and keep going.

[jdmidwest]

I have only puttered in my new to me Tracker Pro 17 with a 35hp. I have not gotten to run it full throttle since the test drive at a private resort. All of the lakes I have had it in are 10 hp limits.

Puttering the boat seems to load up the carb somewhat and may foul some.

The 10 hp limit has always puzzled me, a boat running on plane does not create much wake. But a big boat puttering makes some waves. And a 9.9 on any boat running full throttle will put out more waves than a boat on full plane because a 9.9 will never really trim out.

I know most lakes that have the limits are small ones that would be pretty dangerous running on plane if you did not know where the stumps lie. Some areas do it because the waves create erosion on levees or banks.

[Guest]

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