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09-01-2009, 10:35 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 43
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Can I put a 20 hp merc on my 12 ft fiberglass boat?
I got a good deal on a 20 hp merc, but before I buy it I would appreciate some feedback... Can I run it on my 12 ft fiberglass tri hull boat?
Thanks!
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09-01-2009, 10:39 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 654
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whats the plate on the back say? that should be your answer? or are you worried about it being under powered?
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09-01-2009, 10:45 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 43
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Plate on the back of the motor or boat? Im worried about being over powered. Its similar to a Jon boat only its not a flat bottom.
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09-01-2009, 10:46 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Chestermere
Posts: 559
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The plate on the back will tell you the maximium rating for your boat. I would say no legally but if they can slam 320HP in a Sea Doo I don't see the issue with your fishing boat! Might want to put some weight in the front to keep the nose down. Have fun 
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09-01-2009, 10:50 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 43
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There's no plate on the back of my boat...
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09-01-2009, 10:58 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,268
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boat motor
i had a 25 horse on a 12 foot aluminum. gets a little hairy at high speed, one little bump on the tiller arm and wham... your shootin off in a new direction, lol. on a brighter side, sure made the water skiers turn there heads as i kept up to or passed them.. lol.
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09-01-2009, 11:08 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 43
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Sounds like the only way to find out for sure... Im just gonna have to take it for a test drive... Mans gotta do what a mans gotta do 
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09-01-2009, 11:18 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 654
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i have a 25hp merc on my 14 foot aluminum and it moves pretty good it can handle up to a 35hp.
how tall is your transom? and what does the motor weigh? with a 15" transom a gas tank a heavy motor and you all in the back you might be prone to taking on water in choppy conditions. id be more worried about weight than power i think 20hp is probably safe. that said i have not seen your boat.
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09-01-2009, 11:34 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 43
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17" transom, ive yet to see the motor (gonna see it tomorrow) so i dont know the weight. Im starting to get a warm fuzzy feeling
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09-02-2009, 07:55 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 185
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12 ft tri hull
hello, i have a 12 ft fiberglass tri hull and the most it is rated for is 10 hp, so says the plate on the back. mine was built in 1977 if that is any help. i run a 4.5 hp that i bought from a great guy on A.O, the little motor moves it around very nice for my needs
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09-02-2009, 08:29 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 43
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Mine is a Equinox 12 fiberglass Tri Hull. Tried looking it up but found nothing. Theres no plate on the back cus Ithink the previous owner did some work to it.
Last edited by Junglejake; 09-02-2009 at 08:40 AM.
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09-02-2009, 08:42 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Calgary, AB
Posts: 4,970
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25hp does seem pretty big (size and weight wise) . . . I'm thinking a 9hp is probably ideal.
If it doesn't work out for you, I'm sure it won't be too hard to find someone willing to trade motors with you.
__________________
Shelley
God promised men that good and obedient wives would be found in all corners of the world. Then he made the earth round . . . and laughed.
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09-02-2009, 08:49 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 587
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I've got a 12ft Misty River, the maximum HP rating for it is 15 HP.
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09-02-2009, 08:51 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 43
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Thats what i was thinkin...worse case ill sell or trade it.
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09-02-2009, 09:44 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,268
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moter
a newer style motor is a lot lighter than the old ones, if that helps, 4 strokes may be some heavier though.
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09-02-2009, 10:18 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 235
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Junglejake
I got a good deal on a 20 hp merc, but before I buy it I would appreciate some feedback... Can I run it on my 12 ft fiberglass tri hull boat?
Thanks!
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Hmmm that might be pushing it... but I say... go ahead and try it. Just make sure someone is shooting some video.Launching like a rocket off a roller could make the next youtube star! 
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09-02-2009, 10:32 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,670
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I had a 15hp Evenrude on my 12ft Alum & would not go any bigger, like already stated they get pretty hairy when up to speed.
Jim
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09-02-2009, 03:13 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 235
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hockey1099
i have a 25hp merc on my 14 foot aluminum and it moves pretty good it can handle up to a 35hp.
how tall is your transom? and what does the motor weigh? with a 15" transom a gas tank a heavy motor and you all in the back you might be prone to taking on water in choppy conditions. id be more worried about weight than power i think 20hp is probably safe. that said i have not seen your boat.
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very good point. when i am out all alone in my little 12ft w/10hp I put the full gas tank mid boat to even the wieght distriubution.
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09-02-2009, 06:57 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: In the Rockies
Posts: 2,940
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15 max for a 12' IMO.
20 or 25 will work under ideal conditions , but unfortunately we seem to have less than ideal conditions most of the time.
It'll work ok 1/2 throttle but will probably get a little loose full bore.
Defeats the purpose of having that much HP ??
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09-02-2009, 08:50 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 43
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Heres a pic of my boat. I think it'll be ok if I take it easy  . On the back is my 3.5 Eska, gonna sell it if anyone is interested.
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09-02-2009, 09:17 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Calgary, AB
Posts: 4,970
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Make sure to get video of the test run!
Sorry . . . but it does have the potential to be pretty humorous (though I do sincerely hope it works out for you )
__________________
Shelley
God promised men that good and obedient wives would be found in all corners of the world. Then he made the earth round . . . and laughed.
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09-02-2009, 09:39 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 654
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mountain Guy
15 max for a 12' IMO.
20 or 25 will work under ideal conditions , but unfortunately we seem to have less than ideal conditions most of the time.
It'll work ok 1/2 throttle but will probably get a little loose full bore.
Defeats the purpose of having that much HP ??
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Depending on the deal he is getting might still be worth it. he should be able to keep it slow enough to troll and still have the power to get off the water in a hurry. i found that handy this year when a static discharge built up in my boat. i didnt get off the lake but i got out of that spot in a hurry.
My big worry after seeing the boat is the strength of the transom and how it will sit in the water. with him his gas tank or two? and the motor that should be around 100 pounds depending on the year.
That said i know a dozen people that would trade cash and their 9.9's or 6's for that engine.
And to the thread starter you need to register your boat with a 20hp engine. Its easy to do and free so dont worry.
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09-02-2009, 11:02 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Calgary, AB
Posts: 953
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__________________
Ask-hole: Someone who constantly asks for advice then does the opposite of what you told them.
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09-02-2009, 11:19 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 43
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Cool...So mine should be no prob!
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09-03-2009, 09:29 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,121
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I say go for it!!! Might wanna have that life jacket on for the test run I'd be interested to hear how you make out. If it's too much pm me I have a couple smaller motors we could work out a trade/deal.
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09-03-2009, 01:18 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,690
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When I was younger, a buddys dad put a 40hp on a 12', built a nice center steering column for it and everything. Did a real nice job on it. Took it to a little lake for a test run, and man did it go. Then he got cocky and tried chopping some nuts with it, ended up submarining it, and left it on the lake bottom...LOL Not sure how he got it out, but its a good thing the lake was real shallow (less than 10'), and I think he was close enough to shore, so he may have just winched it out. Sure was fuuny though...
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09-03-2009, 01:56 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: northern AB
Posts: 2,241
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I've had some interesting moments with "power to spare" boats, including one instance when the transom and motor departed from where myself and the "Captain" were seated. Don't forget your life jackets and don't do up your seat belts
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09-04-2009, 07:41 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 732
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Years ago I had a buddy with a 20hp on a 12' aluminum.
Did it work? Yes, we used it all the time but, you had to be very careful. Too much motor for that size of boat. Like someone said earlier the guys in boats with large outboards couldn't believe it when you would go flying by. 
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09-04-2009, 08:45 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 43
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DarkAisling
Make sure to get video of the test run!
Sorry . . . but it does have the potential to be pretty humorous (though I do sincerely hope it works out for you ) |
Well it was awesome! Works great! DarkAisling I did get a video for ya, will load it soon...
Only prob is the lake we went to by Millet has a ton of weeds in it (couldnt see them below the surface), so the motor got bogged down in the weeds. So then we went to Wizard Lake and worked great.
Thanks for all the comments!
Oh, and the motor! Its a beauty! Its an old Merc, 1968 I think! Great shape!
Thanks to JohnInAlb the tank and fittings you gave me worked great!
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