How Big of Motor?

[pitchnboy]

Hey Guys, my dad and i are building a bass boat out of a 14' jon boat!!! (cant wait) we were woundering how big of a motor to drop on the back of it. this should give you some help. we want to go 30-35 on the water...

Thanks
Pitch :cheers:

[Blind Bobber]

30-35 mph will be a bumpy ride on a Jon boat. A kidney belt may be in order. Really need more info on the boat to determin motor size. What might it weigh? Beam width? Draft? Your project sounds like fun. Got any pics?
BLIND BOBBER

[Chrome Bumper]

A 40 should be plenty. A good bet is to read the rating label on the hull and put that size or close to it on.

[Mr. Carp]

I would get a 90 hp Jet. You'd be good to go.

[chukarpointer]

Had a 30HP jet on a 12 foot aluminum and it screamed with 2 guys....so with that reference I would go with a 60HP jet to ensure you and another guy (and gear) could get up on a plane.

[ET]

I've seen 14' jon boats that couldn't handle 25hp.... You need to read the rating label!!! And even if it says it is rated to 25hp, if the boat is old, they were thinking two-stroke and the weight of a new 4 stroke may be too much for the light transom on a jon boat.

[joemomma]

Go with your rating label, 25hp would be fine, I think anything above a 40, would not be good!

[duckboy]

go with a 25 hp Motor and you'll be in good shape. That little boat with a motor of more than 30 hp or so will get out of control pretty quick.


Jon boats are not designed to break the sound barrier.

:smile:

[pitchnboy]

how fast would a 25hp 4 stroke move a 14' jon boat made into a 14' bassboat???

[olybirds]

no matter what you do to it its still a 14' Jon Boat.

So you have to stay at the rated HP max for the boat. I have a 14" G3 and its rated for a 25 prop.

Ive got a Jet on mine and i can hit 20mph at WOT with just me in the boat. I'd guess with a 25 prop you could do about 26mph.

[duckboy]

Well, I suppose that there are a series of factors that could be evaluated to determine Maximum speed in any given scenario.

If speed is what you are after, a Jon boat design is probably one you should reconsider.

Jon boats are designed for easy deployment, and the ability to get into tight situations (in regards to water depth).

If you are after a boat which will smoke the water, I'd look into a more streamlined design (something with a bow that has some angle to it, rather than a squared off Jon boat style profile.


In regards to the question "How fast would a 25 hp 4 stk move a Jon boat made into a 14' bassboat".

Depends on how fast the truck is pulling the trailer it is on.

I believe that a 25 hp motor on a 14 foot jon would get you on plane with a couple of guys and get you where you need to go safely.

A 40 hp would get you to the hospital much faster. (not to implicate that you do not know how to properly handle such a set up, but that the weight of a 40 hp motor, with the weight of you on the tiller, makes for a heck of a lot of weight on the rear end of a 14' boat.

"Most accidents are not planned."


My buddy that put a Blown Hemi in the back of a VW Bug told me that after we got him out of the trees on the edge of the Rogue River back in 1985.

[Okie]

I think it is not very smart to want a 14 ft bass boat that will go 30-35 mph. A boat of this sieze would do real good with a 9.9 hp engine. But not 30-35 mph, Be reasonable.

Good Luck;

[Tinman]

Figure one horsepower for each pound of total weight. The total weight should include everything - hull, gas tanks, gas, gear and occupants. One horsepower per 30 pounds will give you a top speed of 30 mph.

This is an excellent rule of thumb from Jim Martenhoff's book, "The Powerboat Handbook". I have found it quite reliable over the years.

I would be cautious about going 30 in a jonboat, however. It's much safer and more comfortable to tool along at 18 or 22 mph.

[Chrome Bumper]

10 horse would be plenty for two guys, say 15, 20hp=20+, 30hp=30, 40= faster than you want to go with a good load to boot.

Any thing over 10 is plenty for a really far out wipe out in a jon boat. See lots of boats like you describe around coon island during springer season, stop by and watchem.

I would reccommend 10-30 hp if the boat is rated for it.

[pitchnboy]

well im putting a 25hp 4stroke on the back and it is going to be ran by a console. NOT a TILLER... so it should get on plane with 1-2 guys right? should i add a little wieght to the bow??

pitch:cheers:

[Chrome Bumper]

25 is perfect. Move the steering wheel forward and gear too if you want weight forward. Never add ballast to a planing boat, it wastes gas hauling it around.

10hp will plane that boat with two people (if you don't add too many coolers)

Cavitation plate should be even or just below the bottom of the transom.

[MattPark]

Never add ballast to a planing boat, it wastes gas hauling it around



But they sure make the wake nice!

[Chrome Bumper]

Bad, bad, wakes are bad.

[pitchnboy]

thanks guys

pitch :cheers: