Motor Size for 19' Multi-Species

[Ong Jim]

I apologize if I am posting this in the wrong place.

I have a 1995 19' Starcraft Superfisherman 190 currently with a blown 135hp Mercury. I've been searching for a 115 Yamaha but those are hard to come by. Instead, there are some good 90hp for sale. My question is, will the boat be severely under powered with a 90hp? I am not a tournament angler and don't care about the holeshot. But I don't want to max out at 20mph either.

Thanks,
James

[HDETERS]

I have a 1996 Champion Fishunter 190 with a Mariner 225 EFI and I couldnt imagine having less on the back. I would think you want the boat powered with close to or whatever the max rating for the boat is.

[MacIntosh]

This online catalog http://www.starcraftmarine.com/sites/default/files/brochures/1995-Starcraft-Catalog.pdf I THINK shows that that boat was rated for a max of 150 HP, although the NADA site shows it as only being rated for a 115.This site confirms the 150 rating:http://boatspecs.iboats.com/Starcraft_Marine__Superfisherman_190__1995/bp/66b87837 .What’s the plate on the boat say?

The most common motor sizes will be 90, 115 and 150.Tons of boats like that are not maxed out, it’s really only tournament bass fisherman that are caught up in that—also those type boats are not designed to run completely out of the water the way a bassboat is and the weight is distributed very differently so they don’t have the same holeshot issues and arent quite as HP-dependent.If the iboats link is correct and that boat weighs 1183 lb that’s similar in weight to most of the tin multispecies boats that people routinely put 90 and 115hp engines on.Just ballparking things from being in similar boats, my guess is that would top out at about 40mph with a 90, probably about 44 with a 115, and probably around 50 with a 150.Probably more of a difference if you start putting 3 and 4 big dudes in it.A buddy has a similar size aluminum with a 2-stroke yamaha 90, he gets about 42mph with just him and gas in it.

[tubejig]

I had a superfisherman 180 which is 18'7" and it had a 150 on it. After having that there is no way i would put a 90 on it. 115 minimum.

[Ong Jim]

Thanks for the great insights. I usually fish with 2 or 3 people so a 115 maybe more suitable.

[cajunrgfm]

The new 115 merc 4 stroke if speed don't matter, but the 150 4 stroke would be catz azz !

[Oncebitten]

Ditto all of the above. A 90 would be a full 1/3 less HP than you currently have with your 135. I don't think you'll want to go all the way down to a 90.

[HDETERS]

I dont run wide open very often so my choice in HP wouldnt be for that. When we have the kids at the lake and want to pull them behind the boat on skis and you still have 2 in the boat…….the extra HP is needed to get them out of the water at least in my case. I have always been told to equip a boat with what it rated for max. Resale will be best with that too.