What Size is your

HOGTIDE · 06-30-2001, 12:14 PM

8 hp. might give you just a bit more needed juice, with the ability to troll just as slow. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Richter · 06-30-2001, 01:25 PM

A 6 HP will get you by in most instances, but if you can afford it, buy a 8 HP.
You will be alot happier with a 8HP.

Joe Schwab · 06-30-2001, 02:57 PM

I had an 8HP Honda on mine. Motor ran great but could not troll slow. Way too fast. Too much power to open it up also. I'd go to 5-6 or a real good electric. Those things run hours on a charge and move pretty good.

Fishin Magician · 06-30-2001, 04:12 PM

I would recommend at least an 8 hp. I had a 6 hp on my last driftboat and if you are dealing with current and/or wind the extra 2 horses make a world of difference [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img] ~~~John

Hookset · 06-30-2001, 04:27 PM

I've had a 9.9 and an 8 hp on past drift boats. Buy the 8hp as already recommended. Drift boats don't plane, they push water. No sense getting more hp like the 9.9 since the boat will go just as fast with the 8hp. Make sure you purchase a long shaft, you need the cavitation plate to sit lower then the bottom of the boat. Assuming your mounting the motor without a cut out transom. Always been told the 4 strokes troll faster then a 2 stroke of equal hp. My old 2 strokes did a great job trolling the drift boat. But, I really like my new 4 stroke and don't miss the smoke. There are always trade off's.

Ok, so I'd buy a 8hp 4 stroke and use a sea anchor or bucket if I had too. And you won't need the bigfoot or high thrust models with a drift boat, just a standard 4 stroke will work fine.

good luck,

hook

oh, I forgot...catchy title! [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

[ 06-30-2001: Message edited by: hookset ]

FISHRUS · 06-30-2001, 07:53 PM

9.9 hp..... [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

boater · 06-30-2001, 08:50 PM

it`s all in the prop`s, i had an 8hp honda on my last boat, it trolled way to fast so i called a buddy at a marina, he ordered a new smaller pitch prop and after putting it on it trolled alot slower, almost to slow and only lost 1/2 mph wide open. had the same problem with my new 9.9 honda, trolled to fast until i put one of the new 4 blade props on, slowed it way down and didnt lose any speed wide open. just my 2 usual useless cents worth...

Smily · 06-30-2001, 11:56 PM

kicker On your Drift Boat? Is a 6 Hp too small? Will be going in the lakes and the Columbia of Wilamette rivers. Is that enough horsey's to push me thru? Need to pick something up in the next couple of days cause of going camping on the 4th. All help is apreciated. If your selling your kicker, let me know what year and Hp's, Thanks in advance,
[img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Smily [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Master Baiter · 07-02-2001, 06:46 AM

9.9! Sometimes that extra HP comes in handy when going up faster riffles with a loaded boat.

NEUTRON · 07-02-2001, 08:55 AM

I have had 15hp two cycle and now a 15 4 cycle. The two stroke did seem to idle down better. I like the electric start on the 4 and I like having the 15 as the boat can go upstream on heavier current. I still have the two strong long shaft 15 1990 johnson in my garage if you have any interest.....

willierower · 07-02-2001, 09:19 AM

I know where you can pick up an older Merc. 6 hp longshaft for $200.00. I havent seen the motor but Im sure its in good shape. The guy who has it says it runs goods. I trust what he says. Let me know if you are interested and I will go and look at it for you.

07-02-2001, 01:47 PM

Hey Smily, I agree the 8 hp longshaft is a good all around choice. But I like powerful motors in cars and boats [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] . I think now I would opt for a 9.9 hp with the nylon/plastic compound "Dol-Fin" winged planing aid. It bolts to your cavitation plate and will help a driftboat plow less, while not affecting trolling. This is tough to type - I actually agree with Boater on something - use a smaller pitch prop (save to stock one for a spare). They not only troll slower but will accellerate "out of the hole" better, while being very close to the top speed capability of a the stock pitch prop 10 hp driftboat.

RT

Snapset · 07-02-2001, 03:41 PM

I have a heavy 17 ft drift boat I used to moor in Alsea bay, and I Used an 18 hp. Evinrude to push it around. Like everybody has said, Drift Boats don't like to plane, but I cut out a piece of UHMW in the shape of a whale tail and attached it to the Lower Unit just like a Dol-fin. RT is right again. This got the boat up on plane and made that boat skim over the water. Another great trick for motoring a drift boat is to split a 36" piece of PVC pipe about 12 inches up, put a hose clamp on it andclamp it to the tiller arm/Throttle control of your motor. This will allow you to put your weight in the rowing seat where it belongs. If you need to bend the Pipe, fill it with sand and heat it with a hair dryer.

My recommendation: Get the biggest motor you can legally put on your Drifter, then buy the Dol-Fin with the trolling plate. You won't be sorry because on the windy high lakes, it is nice to have the extra ponies.

Hookset · 07-02-2001, 11:19 PM

I find it interesting that some like the 9.9 over the 8 horse motor. And I've never seen a drift boat rated for a 15 horse.

My hummble beginnings saw me use my first drift boat for everything. From steelhead to duck hunting on the Willamette during flood stage. It was the duck hunting that taught me a thing or two about drift boats and motors. First, they don't plane. More power just pushes the bow up with no gain on speed. I found that full throttle on the 9.9 never went any faster then half to three quarters. The wasted horse power never equated to a faster speed. The next 2 drift boats I purchased each with a 8 horse motor, one with a motor well and the other without. In my estimates, the boat traveled as fast with an 8 as the 9.9 horse and still had power to spare. I found the 8 was a better overall match. So if you find a good buy on a 8, don't hesitate. If the price difference is only pocket change, then buy the 9.9 since I believe they have a higher resale value, not because of performance difference.

Now I expect to hear, read some differing opinions. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

It's all fun,

hook

NEUTRON · 07-02-2001, 11:52 PM

Hook, mine is a 14' glass boat with the back
end squared off (clackacraft used to make them), it has an fiberglass wing (?) that
attaches to the back end to help keep the front down some what. The coast guard sticker says max HP is 15. The wing has my
transducer for the depth finder on it as well. I have enough room on the back end for my electric motor at the same time. It has been a pretty versatile little boat. Our family (wife and 2 kids) is looking to add a
larger vessel to expand our fishing and boating opportunities.