Small boat question

HunterdonPaul · Jun 18, 2005

Hello All -
I'm not sure if asking for boat advice on a tractor forum is OK but what the heck.

I an not much of an outdoorsman so I am not up on boats and such. My father used to take us out on a lake fishing when I was a kid. I enjoyed it (although I can't stand fishing - I guess I am too type A). I thought I would search for a "dingy" to take the family out on the local lake.

Here is my problem. Lake rules (Round Valley Reservoir for those of you around NJ) only allows motors below 10 HP - I guess that is the reason that manufacturers make 9.9's. I want a boat that has maximum person capacity but will be able to move a little with such a small engine. I like pontoon boats but I am guessing even a 14 foot one wouldn't move too well with a 9.9. This boat would be primarily for putting around.

Any suggestions? (I would like to be able to take out 5 adults maximum)

Thanks,
Paul

Bird · Jun 18, 2005

I guess it depends on what you mean by "move a little". I think it'll be tough to find a boat rated for 5 adults that will move very fast with a 9.9hp engine. If not a pontoon boat, what kind of boat do you want? Deep V? Flat bottom? Upholstered seating and carpets? All metal? Bass Pro shops sell the tracker boats (and sun tracker) that seem to be about as reasonably priced as any I've seen.

roho · Jun 18, 2005

Hello HunterdonPaul, started trying to answer this for the third time! Now this is a hard one but my best advise to YOU is to get a small boat and learn how to handle it and the water before you start taking out folks! Maybe find an experienced friend to teach YOU the ropes!
Now a motor 10HP or under is not gonna put out enough to really push a big boat and when YOU keep adding people it's gonna go slower and loss free board(boat)! Free board is something that YOU'll learn about if YOU try to put too many people or too much weight in a too small boat! Now a boat big enough to handle 5 adults would be like a dance hall, much closer to 20ft and a 10 hp would be really straining to move it!
Sorry for negative comments,just be careful around the water!

shvl73 · Jun 18, 2005

We rented a aluminum v-hull open boat up in Rangely Maine a few summers ago. I think it was 16' with a 9 hp outboard. With just the two of us on board it was fairly slow. If it was going 10 mph, I would be surprised. The boat was capable of taking 5 adults but, was also capable of taking a larger motor. We didn't tour the whole lake, it would take too long. If you just want to putt around a smaller lake, I think a small pontoon boat would be fairly stable, you just wont do it very quickly.

FL_Cracker · Jun 18, 2005

You say you want to putt around. I would suggest that you buy a little pontoon type boat that is rated for 1000 to 1200 lbs. (that would take care of 4-5 adults) and then put the 9.9 on it and how fast you go is the results. It will not be a speedster and the little 9.9 will have to work hard but the larger pontoon boat will make for a nice day on the lake relaxing and swimming.

I have a 10' inflatable and run a 15hp. When I get 4 adults and the dog it will no longer plane so don't expect to much out of a 9.9. I think you'll be lucky to see a 4-6 mph push. Be careful with high winds, with the boat so large and the motor so small you could get up against winds that could over power that 9.9

That's your options... Oh yes one more option, Find a new lake without HP restrictions.

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Alan L. · Jun 18, 2005

You aren't going to find a boat that is safe and comfortable for 5 people and also moves at any decent clip. If this particular lake is the one you want to play on and given the HP limit, my advice would be to get a boat that is comfortable and safe (stable) for at least the 5 adults. A deckboat would be nice.

You could always put a bigger motor on it if you take it to another lake that allows more HP.

Small boats are unstable, uncomfortable, and dangerous. For a couple of men that are fishing, no problem, but I wouldn't want my kids in one.

daedong · Jun 18, 2005

A pontoon boat like below up to about 18ft with a Yamaha high thrust 9.9 motor would travel aboat 6.5 MPH. It would be very stable in the water and make a great family boat in shelted waters I don't believe any special knowledge would be necessary to operate it other than basic marine rules.

OkeeDon · Jun 18, 2005

You might also consider an inflatable, not necessarily the simple "toy" inflatables but a hard-floor inflatable like a Zodiac. Several are more than capable of puttering about with 5 people, and maximum horsepower for the smallest size capable of 5 people is somewhere around 25 HP. I would think a 9.9 would be acceptable, if not especially satisfying. Quality inflatables are not cheap, but probaby less than a full-up pontoon boat.

For comfortable cruing regardless of the speed, you want a pontoon. 6.5 MPH is fine; many displacement hull sailboats can go no faster in cruising mode.

Egon · Jun 18, 2005

Get some stickers for a 9.9 and put them on a larger motor! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Ain't no way you get speed without horse power so reconcile yourself to what fits.

I like canoes and paddles but thats me.

Egon

deere755 · Jun 18, 2005

A small boat like that with a small motor will probably be ok on a small lake with a horse power limit, but if you decide you want to try a bigger lake part of the time you will probably hate it in a short time. We bought a small 15 foot boat with a 65 horse outboard and it was ok for a year and then an 18 foot inboard for a couple years and now we have a 21 foot inboard and we are looking for a 24 to 26 foot inboard. There is a thing called 2footides that kicks in if you really like boating. My advice is don't spend a lot on a boat until you decide you enjoy boating. If you decide you like it you can always trade and get a bigger one if you like. If you decide its not yopur thing you can always sell it and you won't get hurt by depreciation. Thats the best advice I can give you.