Questions for guys running 9.9 hp outboards...

[scout-j-m]

A lot depends on the type of water and what your expectation are. Big open water might require a different hull type, especially of you want to achieve optimal top end speed. Also depends on the load you normally carry.....one or two, or three fishermen. Jons are fine for protected, small bodies of water, but in a good chop, they can prove dangerous in less than skillful skippers.

The waters I have in mind are definitely smaller and protected from wind. I don't know how big the hp restricted lakes are in terms of acreage but neither have any large portions of open water. They were made from smaller dammed up rivers and while fairly deep, they are not very wide at all at the widest points. Most guys actually fish them with 1436's. The only other areas I would like to use it would be the larger creeks that run into the bigger bodies of water.

[scout-j-m]

A couple of the boats I like that I have found include the Alumacraft MV1648 NCS and Alumacraft MV1546DD AW. Both weigh 320 lb and have an open floorplan. The 1648 is riveted, made of 0.070" AL, and has a hp rating of 35 hp and capacity rating of 4 people or 1,000 lb. The 1546 is all welded, has a drop deck, has the option of rear split seat or rear deck, is made of 0.080" AL, and has a hp rating of 25 hp and capacity rating of 3 people or 720 lb. I'm not sure a 9.9 hp, or even a tuned 9.9 with a 15 hp carb, would do the trick on either though.

[Countryboy N.C.]

I have 1442 with a 9.9 , it will get on plane and run about 18 mph with me and my junk. Used to fish a lake with a 6 hp limit, I got a 6 to just fish that lake but it wouldn't get me on plane. my boat is rated for a 20 hp.

[doggone]

Lowe big John with 96 model I think? 9.9 Tohatsu. Has some wood added for deck in front,sheet aluminum floor. It's a bit of a beater with a wore out camo paint job but I don't worry about a bump or scratch.Big enough its plenty stable and hold a couple fat boys,light enough it gets up and moves with the Tohatsu...runs about 18 wide open best I remember, generally run just 3/4 throttle or so just fine. Shoot ducks and chase a cur dog on a coon up a creek with it too.

I'm gonna have a viking funeral in that thing when I go.

[scout-j-m]

Lowe big John with 96 model I think? 9.9 Tohatsu. Has some wood added for deck in front,sheet aluminum floor. It's a bit of a beater with a wore out camo paint job but I don't worry about a bump or scratch.Big enough its plenty stable and hold a couple fat boys,light enough it gets up and moves with the Tohatsu...runs about 18 wide open best I remember, generally run just 3/4 throttle or so just fine. Shoot ducks and chase a cur dog on a coon up a creek with it too.

I'm gonna have a viking funeral in that thing when I go.

Thanks. Those were the results I was expecting and would hope to achieve.

[skeetbum]

I had a skinny 14'jon with a 6hp and I could only speculate on speed. With 2 it definitely would not plane but by sliding forward off the rear bench to where my butt was on the forward edge and my knees on the floor it would plane and run pretty quick for what it was. I later found a 6 gallon milk grate and put a piano hinge and plywood top on it and mounted a plastic swivel seat on it. Placed in front of the rear bench this put the weight far enough forward to achieve plane and gave me a storage area. I later had a 16' Sea Nymph stick steer with a 25 Johnson that planed with 4 of us in the boat, 2 over 250. My point is that weight distribution is what it takes to plane any rig if it's at all possible.
Were I to buy a low HP rig for the waters you describe I would look into a basic 16' jon and the motor that suits your needs. The larger bottom area will plane with you by yourself but doubtful anything will plane very well with 2 on board with that size motor. Just my opinions but I have had nothing but metal boats until my current boat that doesn't aggravate my lower back and I still look at metal boats for their versatility.

[gone fission]

Ya really need their prop information too.
1652 lowe Olympic, heavy wood floor/drop deck, heavy cappin, lotsa gear, many thick paint jobs, 18 mph w/ old 80s tiller Tohatsu 15hp , plain o aluminum 8.5" screw, no blade dings,. Gas hog too.
Same motor got 22 mph on my ol thinskinned 1648 no wood. Lose a hat occasionally!

[Hanr3]

For comparison.
I have a 1967 Alumacraft aluminum 14' modified V boat with 4' beam, model FD-11. Powered by a 1957 Johnson 18hp w 10hp carb. Boat only holds 2, I average about 7-8mph-GPS. IF I tilt the motor up, I can get through 6" of water. Fished big (Kentucky Lake) and small lakes with that little boat. It'll turn on a dime. It is the perfect boat for small bodies of water.

[scout-j-m]

Another hull I have found that I like is an Xpress 1546VJ. Has very similar weight to the Alumacraft's at 310 lb but has a 40 hp rating and I believe Xpress has a lifetime hull warranty. I saw a video of one with a 9.9 hp Mercury fourstroke on it and with one person and gear and it seemed to push it pretty well. The higher hp rating is appealing because I could also use an old 2-stroke 35 hp Evinrude I have on it.