Need boat advice

[plantdr]

Half the world would kill for your setup. Enjoy, glad you now have time to fish. You will probably spend more time fishing than running up and down the lake anyway....

[minnowsoaker]

I had a 14x48 jon w/ a 15 merc 2 stroke. It was a lighter built boat than the tracker and it would run like a raped ape. scary fast. I would suspect yours will plane out fine. good luck.

[Cane Pole]

I got a 1962 model 1440 Arkie. It is a heavy Jon. I will run 23 mph gps. It is squirrelly at that speed ( turning). You should have plenty engine, unless you just wanta break your neck. 15 hp Suzie powered.

[LipJerker]

I have a fisher 1448 all weld, so basicly it is the same boat but with different stickers. I put a plywood floor in mine added battery and trolling motor. Mine planed out fine with a 15 Johnson especially by myself. With 2 people sitting on the rear seat it would still plane out it just took longer. Sometimes my partner would walk the front end down and then come and sit by me while on plane (she likes to be close to me. lol). I think the max hp is a 25. That is what I have now. I just wanted it to go a little faster. My boat is very stable with either motors and I can turn at full speed ( not on a dime) with just a little room. Anyways I think you have a great setup and like most things get it how you want it.

I also mounted two seat pedastals up front so I could spider rig. Even with 2 people up front fishing that boat is very stable.

[adr17]

my buddy has a 14ft jon with a 15hp 4 stroke we use for duck hunting, with both of us 2 guns ad a few decoys it feels like i can paddle faster then it will push this boat down river,,,, up river,, leave early itll take a while..

[Stump Electric]

I took mine out today for the first time and the results were not good. It would not plane off with my son up front and you could actually hear the motor pick up rpm's when he moved to the back and bog back down when he moved back up front. It never planed off. I grant you we both weigh around 500 pounds together, so I guess I will have to take the loss on the motor.
The boat was empty with no trolling motor, battery, or fishing gear. I called the dealer and ordered a new 25 efi 4 stroke. I lost about $500 on this, but I can't blame no one but me.
That baby will fly with one person in it though, we both tried it.
I'm getting too old to learn to many more of these hard knock lessons.

[joewildlife]

Man, I thinked you jumped the gun a bit. You would be amazed what a different prop might have done for you. A prop with a little less "bite" could make the motor run at a better rpm where it would produce more power. I've seen it. Well, you certainly won't complain about the 25 'cept for the $500 you lost.

Guys all over have 10 hp boats fully rigged that get on plane. It might have just been a prop issue.

Joe

[Stump Electric]

Man, I thinked you jumped the gun a bit. You would be amazed what a different prop might have done for you. A prop with a little less "bite" could make the motor run at a better rpm where it would produce more power. I've seen it. Well, you certainly won't complain about the 25 'cept for the $500 you lost.

Guys all over have 10 hp boats fully rigged that get on plane. It might have just been a prop issue.

Joe

It's not too late, I'll look into that.

Thanks
Jim

[crappiehuntr]

I forgot to mention that he had that 25 rigged with a power prop so im thinking that maybe its down 1 size in pitch but I did not look to see what it was or know the pitch range. I would sure try a smaller pitch. I think they make a 4 blade for smaller 4strokes that would make a difference on power to get on plane. I run a high 5 on my 150 merc and the difference between it and a 3 blade is 5 deg of pitch more and still digs out of the hole on plane 5 times faster. If you pm perchjerker on this site he can tell you what you need to know.