01-28-2004, 06:35 PM
Its all relative.
I have been in 14 ft aluminum boats that had all the goodies. livewell, raised platfroms, tackle storgae, ect. equiped with a 25 hp motor. Sometimes it seems that wasnt quite enough. The boat was rated for a 40 hp.
Then I have fished in 14 ft aluminum shell boats, thin wall, riveted, wouldnt dare put more than a 10 hp motor on it.
Boats these days are so different, the thickness, the bottom widths, transom support, and weights.
If you get a 14 ft boat like my duck boat, welded with solid floors, solid walls, raised platform, and .120 thick aluminum, you will definitley want more than 10 hp if you expect it to plane and have some go power.
Its all dependant on the particular boat you buy.
Some older boats dont have the coast guard rating plate on them. In that case you have to look at the construction of the boat and make a judgement call.
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I have been in 14 ft aluminum boats that had all the goodies. livewell, raised platfroms, tackle storgae, ect. equiped with a 25 hp motor. Sometimes it seems that wasnt quite enough. The boat was rated for a 40 hp.
Then I have fished in 14 ft aluminum shell boats, thin wall, riveted, wouldnt dare put more than a 10 hp motor on it.
Boats these days are so different, the thickness, the bottom widths, transom support, and weights.
If you get a 14 ft boat like my duck boat, welded with solid floors, solid walls, raised platform, and .120 thick aluminum, you will definitley want more than 10 hp if you expect it to plane and have some go power.
Its all dependant on the particular boat you buy.
Some older boats dont have the coast guard rating plate on them. In that case you have to look at the construction of the boat and make a judgement call.
[signature]