Repowering. Lower HP

E

Eric

New member
Hi folks
I recently bought a 16 cruiser. Some of my use will be on 20 horse max restricted lakes. I was wondering if anyone uses a twenty and how it works out. I also would be using it on chesapeake bay. So a mix match of waters
Any advice would be appriciated I presently have a 40 on it
Thanks
Eric
 
Eric-

I'm no expert on the 16, but I've read enough to know that the 20 hp motor will only provide displacement (non-planning) speeds up up to 6-8 mph.

I don't know whether that would be OK on Chesapeake Bay or not, but I'm guessing that if you go out quite a ways and see some bad weather coming, you'd like to get back to the harbor at more like 20-30 mph before it hits.

We have the same situation out here frequently, with 10 hp being the limit more frequently.

Caught in the same situation, the smartest and cheapest solution is to buy some new decals for your motor that specify the desired limit, e.g.: 10 on a 15 or 20, and 20 on a 40, etc.

It's not only cheaper, but saves your bigger motor for the times you need it.

Just don't go roaring about at 30 mph on the restricted lake with your 20 hp kicker! :lol:

Even our sailing and yacht clubs do this, so if it's cheating, you have the consolation that "everybody's doing it" to rationalize it.

I actually hate that theory, but in this case you're caught between a rock and a hard place, or, more precisely, a bureaucratic rule, self preservation, common sense, and cost considerations.

That's how I see it from here, for now, anyways!

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
If your happy with your 40 you currently have, an all around better option IMO is purchasing and installing a kicker to use on those lakes. This does several things.

Gives you a backup motor, saves money on initial expense and gas, allows you to still have your larger hp main to help power you out of nasty conditions, also can be used a trolling motor etc.....


This was the route I took on my last boat, a 19" starcraft for the reasons above. You can also still use your main steering controls by just connecting a rod between the two motors. I had several lakes around me at the time with a 9.9hp limit & 4 stroke mandatory restricitons and there was never an issue with this setup.
 
IME, lakes in the area don't let you launch if you have a motor larger than the limit mounted on your boat, whether you use it or not.
 
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