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Posting a reply to: Can you justify NOT maxing out HP?

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[QUOTE] - 9/28/2001  9:15 PM

All of your fishing tackle, rods, reels, lures, and accessories, the stuff to make leaders, pliers, etc. This adds up quickly.

The batteries that you have to put in the boat.  Does the boat have the trolling motor in place now or do you have to add one?  Is it a 24 volt system or 12 volt and now you have an added battery?

What about a full tank of fuel?  My boat has a 50 gallon fuel tank and it sure handles differently when the tank is full for a long weekend of guiding.

What about full livewells?  Maybe you don''t intend on putting a muskie in the well, but what about suckers?  Or maybe you fish for walleyes when not muskie hunting.  25 to 45 gallons of water adds quite a bit of weight and will have an effect on performance, especially holeshot.

How about a couple anchors, driftsocks, raingear, PFD''s and all the assorted hardware, spare prop, rope and other things that find their way into a boat?

Then, add your pudgy brother in law, a buddy with a beer belly, yourself, a cooler full of ice, snacks and beverages, what does that weigh?

When you figure out the total weight on this, you''ll be amazed at the total.  Heck, when I have a full fuel tank and livewell, I''m adding almost 1,000 pounds to the weight of the boat.  That''s NOT including everything else that fills all of the compartments.

Now, factor in a headwind with everything else and try to get that boat up on plane.  It''s not going to happen quickly or easily.

I''ve talked to a lot of boat owners over the years and I''ve never heard one complain that they''ve overpowered their boat.  But I have heard many people complain that they should have bought the larger outboard.

Personally, I like being able to punch up on plane, then back off the throttle and let that 175 sip fuel all day.  I burn less gas doing this (and running faster at the same time) than I did with my 17'' boat with a 75 hp outboard running at wide open throttle almost all the time.  Plus, I like having the capability to "let her rip" if I''m hustling off the lake ahead of a storm.

I''m surprised that no one brought up these factors once in all of the replies.

I''d rather have the horsepower and not need it than to need it and not have it.  Go for the 150, you''ll be happier.

As far as trailers go, get a good bunk trailer.  After using a boat with a roller trailer this past week, I''m much happier with my bunk trailer.  Loading and unloading go much easier, the boat aligns better on the trailer and if you know how to drive a boat on, it''s faster too.

A good bunk trailer will also support the hull weight better as well.  There''s a lot of weight resting on the small surface area of a roller, that will dimple an aluminum hull or crack the gel coat of a glass boat over time.  Why do you think that all of those expensive glass boats ride on bunk trailers?

But that''s just my opinion,

Steve @ G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods.  http://www.herefishyfishy.com [/QUOTE]

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You are replying to:

Posted 9/28/2001 9:15 PM (#11116)
Subject: Can you justify NOT maxing out HP?

I''m a firm believer in maxing out a hull. What most people don''t consider when purchasing a new boat is the TOTAL LOAD. Sure, maybe it handles great when test driving it without anything in it to speak of but consider the weight of:

All of your fishing tackle, rods, reels, lures, and accessories, the stuff to make leaders, pliers, etc. This adds up quickly.

The batteries that you have to put in the boat. Does the boat have the trolling motor in place now or do you have to add one? Is it a 24 volt system or 12 volt and now you have an added battery?

What about a full tank of fuel? My boat has a 50 gallon fuel tank and it sure handles differently when the tank is full for a long weekend of guiding.

What about full livewells? Maybe you don''t intend on putting a muskie in the well, but what about suckers? Or maybe you fish for walleyes when not muskie hunting. 25 to 45 gallons of water adds quite a bit of weight and will have an effect on performance, especially holeshot.

How about a couple anchors, driftsocks, raingear, PFD''s and all the assorted hardware, spare prop, rope and other things that find their way into a boat?

Then, add your pudgy brother in law, a buddy with a beer belly, yourself, a cooler full of ice, snacks and beverages, what does that weigh?

When you figure out the total weight on this, you''ll be amazed at the total. Heck, when I have a full fuel tank and livewell, I''m adding almost 1,000 pounds to the weight of the boat. That''s NOT including everything else that fills all of the compartments.

Now, factor in a headwind with everything else and try to get that boat up on plane. It''s not going to happen quickly or easily.

I''ve talked to a lot of boat owners over the years and I''ve never heard one complain that they''ve overpowered their boat. But I have heard many people complain that they should have bought the larger outboard.

Personally, I like being able to punch up on plane, then back off the throttle and let that 175 sip fuel all day. I burn less gas doing this (and running faster at the same time) than I did with my 17'' boat with a 75 hp outboard running at wide open throttle almost all the time. Plus, I like having the capability to "let her rip" if I''m hustling off the lake ahead of a storm.

I''m surprised that no one brought up these factors once in all of the replies.

I''d rather have the horsepower and not need it than to need it and not have it. Go for the 150, you''ll be happier.

As far as trailers go, get a good bunk trailer. After using a boat with a roller trailer this past week, I''m much happier with my bunk trailer. Loading and unloading go much easier, the boat aligns better on the trailer and if you know how to drive a boat on, it''s faster too.

A good bunk trailer will also support the hull weight better as well. There''s a lot of weight resting on the small surface area of a roller, that will dimple an aluminum hull or crack the gel coat of a glass boat over time. Why do you think that all of those expensive glass boats ride on bunk trailers?

But that''s just my opinion,

Steve @ G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods. http://www.herefishyfishy.com