Yes you can do it with a 2 stroke and I highly recommend it that 9.9 isn't going to plane out that boat with a hunting load

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Get the biggest motor you can afford, the 15 will be much better than a 9.9 if that is your only choice. I believe that you can change a 9.9 merc 2 stroke into a 15, you can with a jonrude, but besides the carb you have to pull the restrictor plate in the exhaust. It is possible to upgrade a 4 stroke 9.9 to a 15 IF it is the larger displacement motor. Merc used two different 9.9 blocks, one was a hopped up 8 hp (it will not convert to 15hp) and the other a detuned 15hp, it will convert. Don't know if you have to reflash the ECM, that might make it cost prohibitive.

 

I figured it would struggle to plane with a full load. It is a two-stroke and doing more Googling it does look like you can convert the 9.9 to 15 without too much effort. Thinking of maybe selling the 9.9 and getting a new four-stroke. Looks like a 2020 15hp four-stroke Tohatsu are around $2600, 20hp is $2900, with electric start. Not sure I want to spend that kind of money but then again a broken motor 5 miles from the ramp isn't appealing.

 

The 20 horsepower would really get that thing going good. Also the security of having a new motor and not having to worry about being stuck on the water is also nice. I bought a new boat and new motor last year so I wouldn't have to worry about being stuck as I am starting to get a little older and sometimes hunt by myself.

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A 20hp motor would be best on a 1448. In my opinion, a 20hp is the best balance of weight and power. Over the years I also used a 9.9 and it was seriously under-powered. I also had a 25, which had alot of power to spare, but was heavy on a small boat.

 

Well, I took the plunge and purchased a new 20hp Tohatsu with electric start. Figured it would work well on this boat and can easily transfer it to a different/bigger boat in the future (1652 maybe). After researching the 9.9 it just wasn't going to really cover all the bases. I like to get out and explore and at times cover a lot of water. Plus fishing some tailwaters the extra HP would be helpful. At least that's how I talked myself into buying a new motor. :rotf:

Still in the break-in period but 1/2 throttle with 30lbs of generic crap, a 90lbs Chessie and 200lbs of me I got 18mph. I am thinking minimal gear 22-24mph loaded for bear (ducks) 18-20mph, plenty fast enough for where I go and how I hunt.

 

I hunt Bayou Meto with a 9.9 4 stroke sometimes on my 1542 Weldbilt.
You have plenty of motor unless you overload that little boat. A 15 isn't going to be that much better anyway. Get a 20.

 

Get the biggest motor you can afford,

Amen.
My philosophy is that the max engine rating on a hull is the starting point when powering. Go up from there.
I.e. your hull is rated for a max of 25hp. I'd consider that the minimum.
Seriously.
Never knew anyone who wished he had less power on his boat. Less weight, maybe, but never less power.

 

My philosophy is that the max engine rating on a hull is the starting point when powering. Go up from there.
I.e. your hull is rated for a max of 25hp. I'd consider that the minimum.
Seriously.

In Kansas that may work in Ohio that gets you a ticket and yanked off the water.

 

My philosophy is that the max engine rating on a hull is the starting point when powering. Go up from there.
I.e. your hull is rated for a max of 25hp. I'd consider that the minimum.
Seriously.

In Kansas that may work in Ohio that gets you a ticket and yanked off the water.

I lived in California for 30 years. It worked there, too.
(I have a small fiberglass skiff that is 'rated' for 8hp. I've had a 20, a 25, and a 15 (currently) on it and never had a legal problem in Kansas or in California...that's been my experience)

 

My philosophy is that the max engine rating on a hull is the starting point when powering. Go up from there.
I.e. your hull is rated for a max of 25hp. I'd consider that the minimum.
Seriously.

In Kansas that may work in Ohio that gets you a ticket and yanked off the water.

I lived in California for 30 years. Worked there, too.
(I have a small fiberglass skiff that is 'rated' for 8hp. I've had a 20, a 25, and a 15 (currently) on it and never had a legal problem in Kansas or in California...that's been my experience)

Might be different if you'd listed Tennessee to back up your "philosophy". :no:

 

Might be different if you'd listed Tennessee to back up your "philosophy". :no:

What might be different? I don't understand what you're trying to say....
I've listed my experiences in the two states I've boated in. I can't do any more than that.

 

My philosophy is that the max engine rating on a hull is the starting point when powering. Go up from there.
I.e. your hull is rated for a max of 25hp. I'd consider that the minimum.
Seriously.
Never knew anyone who wished he had less power on his boat. Less weight, maybe, but never less power.

List a reference or provide a link that agrees with your "Philosophy" from either a legal, insurance, or safety perspective.

Then provide the escrow account information whereby after the poster finds out he's running illegal on state or federal waters he can be reimbursed for the oversized motor he bought based on your philosophy. Whether you cover his fine might need to be negotiated but it would be good form since he took your internet "advice".

Lastly, be available if the boat experiences any flotation issues in the event it flips or swamps and has a heavier than rated outboard hanging on the back.

Do you know how max HP ratings are derived? :huh:

 

List a reference or provide a link that agrees with your "Philosophy" from either a legal, insurance, or safety perspective.

Why? I don't need agreement to have an opinion. As I said, I've never had a legal problem, my insurance carriers have never questioned my choice of power, and I have enough common sense to know when to use and when to not use all the power.

Then provide the escrow account information whereby after the poster finds out he's running illegal on state or federal waters he can be reimbursed for the oversized motor he bought based on your philosophy. Whether you cover his fine might need to be negotiated but it would be good form since he took your internet "advice".

Again, why? I don't force anyone to follow my lead in matters such as comments on internet forums.

Lastly, be available if the boat experiences any flotation issues in the event it flips or swamps and has a heavier than rated outboard hanging on the back.

No problem. Just have him let me know where and when he'll be flipping his boat. I'll be standing by.

Do you know how max HP ratings are derived? :huh:

Sorry, that is an invalid question since you said your previous comment was your last.
(But, yes, yes I do.)

Don't live a boring life, don't depend on the government to take care of you, don't be afraid to push the envelope.

 

List a reference or provide a link that agrees with your "Philosophy" from either a legal, insurance, or safety perspective.

I talked to my insurance carrier this afternoon. Asked him what the ramifications would be for installing an outboard motor on my boat that is larger than the max listed on the hull's certification. He said, "We don't care. We insure the hull and the motor."
If you are worried about something like this, all you have to do is ask your insurance agent.

Next, I'll ask the local game warden if he cares about a motor that exceeds the cert plate. I think I know what he'll say.

 

And you still can't list (or post) a reference from a legal, insurance, or safety perspective. :fingerhead:

No one from these industries appears to agree with your philosophy. Get that in writing from your insurance carrier and post it up.

Hanging a 35hp on a 30hp max boat, eh, who cares. Hanging a 50hp on a 25hp, that might matter. Cause remember, your expert advice is: "My philosophy is that the max engine rating on a hull is the starting point when powering. Go up from there.
I.e. your hull is rated for a max of 25hp. I'd consider that the minimum."

All those other factors that determine the max HP be damned...mudpack has spoken.

 

List a reference or provide a link that agrees with your "Philosophy" from either a legal, insurance, or safety perspective.

I talked to my insurance carrier this afternoon. Asked him what the ramifications would be for installing an outboard motor on my boat that is larger than the max listed on the hull's certification. He said, "We don't care. We insure the hull and the motor."
If you are worried about something like this, all you have to do is ask your insurance agent.

Next, I'll ask the local game warden if he cares about a motor that exceeds the cert plate. I think I know what he'll say.

What insurance carrier was that, please tell me. Your insurance carrier forgot to mention the liability part of the policy, and the reason they don't care is because they know they won't have to pay. In fact they will not be sued, you will be, if someone gets hurt and they did not know you put a bigger motor on the boat. So never lie to a insurance co.because you will be wasting your money paying the policy since they will not pay.You may be better off without it in that case.

Now as far as getting fined for over power I can tell you I have been pulled over by our local Fish and boat commission in one of my fast boats and they said "we know your over powered but there is nothing we can do about it". And on the flip side I was boating with a friend at a federal run lake,Raystown lake, and he had a overpowered motor on a 18' Hydrostream and got escorted off the lake.Boats 20' and over only have a mfg. recommendation so can be overpowered and it makes no difference,smaller boats have to have a coast guard plate with the capacities so that can be different on some bodies of water.

 

Sheesh :lol:

Manufacturers put posted limits on their equipment for safety and warranty purposes. If I have a boat that can only hold a certain amount of weight, adding a heavier motor is going to affect that. Same goes for the transom in this case. If I put an engine that is not rated for my transom, it's going to flex both in transit to the boat ramp and in the water when under way. If there's too much flex on a transom, it may not fail right away, but it will at some point. This also goes without saying that if I have too much weight in the back of a boat with low clearance and I slow down too quickly, I run the risk of having water come over the transom. All this doesn't really matter if you made modifications to reinforce and provide extra flotation (pods), but still worth mentioning for those running OEM rigs.

 

Talked to a state game warden on the marsh this morning, after both of us finished hunting. Asked him about having an outboard on my boat that exceeds the recommended maximum power on the hull's cert plate. His reply; "That's not something I care about." Actually his words were much stronger than that, but you get the point.

You guys can put any motor on your hull that you want. So will I. Your choice. My choice.
Good hunting!

 

Talked to a state game warden on the marsh this morning, after both of us finished hunting. Asked him about having an outboard on my boat that exceeds the recommended maximum power on the hull's cert plate. His reply; "That's not something I care about." Actually his words were much stronger than that, but you get the point.

You guys can put any motor on your hull that you want. So will I. Your choice. My choice.
Good hunting!

I don't get the point. Why not quote what he said instead of making something up!
Still waiting for what insurance co. you use,or called. And the fact that you would run into a game warden,at the ramp hunting the second day of duck season, the very next day after calling your ins. co. is about a million to one. So fess up or I am calling BS

 

If you disclose the hull specifications and the HP rating of your OB engine to the insurance agent and he/she writes/issues coverage, you have coverage as they were apprised of all the parameters. Otherwise, a bad faith claim is in the offing should they try to "backdoor underwrite" at claim time. So, to the OP, ask your P&C insurance agent what are their parameters in underwriting and proceed accordingly.

 

So fess up or I am calling BS

Feel free.

By the way (just to demonstrate how little you know about my situation) our regular duck season started more than two weeks ago.
And where would anyone be more likely to run into the game warden than at the boat ramp in a duck marsh during duck season??

 

So fess up or I am calling BS

Feel free.

By the way (just to demonstrate how little you know about my situation) our regular duck season started more than two weeks ago.
And where would anyone be more likely to run into the game warden than at the boat ramp in a duck marsh during duck season??

Sounds like their advice is as bad as yours.

 

Sounds like their advice is as bad as yours.

But THEIR opinions are the ones that COUNT.

(not yours. not mine. theirs.)

 

Sounds like their advice is as bad as yours.

But THEIR opinions are the ones that COUNT.

(not yours. not mine. theirs.)

Wrong. Doesn't make a bit of difference. But I agree with boatman, it's amazing that on Monday you're going to ask a LEO and magically on Tuesday you see one and ask. :no: And you have yet to post a validated reference, but rather lotsa unverifiable "hearsay". As if that would hold up in any court. :lol3:

Your "advice" was you talking out of your arse. Own it.