Bigger motor or bigger boat?

[Creek Skiff]

I own a 16 foot V-Series with a 25 HP 2 cycle. With 1-2 people I have no complains about its performance, but when I have 2 adults and 2 children aboard it changes entirely. It takes forever to get on plane if I’m lucky to even plane. My question is this. Should I consider getting a 35,40 or 50 HP or drop the idea and just get a 17 foot with a larger motor? My specs on the tag inside the boat read maximum person 5, maximum HP 35. My understanding is that the biggest issue is the weight of the motor, and in my case the additional motor weight will increase the draft slightly. I am considering buying a rebuilt 40 HP from a local shop for 2-3,000 and I can trade my 25 HP and lessen that somewhat. I may even keep my 25 if their offer is too low. Any who has gone through this or know of others who have please post any advice or input. Thanks

[Harry]

Well it al dependes on your wants and needs.

For example a larger displacement boat will draft less with more people (say 6 people) vs a 16' boat with 6 on board. The larger boat can handle the weight, the 16 footer will sit lower.

If you up the motor on your current setup true you will get up on a plane easier and burn less fuel doing so, but when you shut her down you'll still be drafting more.

If your going to be carry larger loads and can fit it in your budget, you'll be much happier with the room,draft , and plane of a larger boat. If not you might want to consider a lager motor.

Hope this makes sense and helps.

PS,
Welcome to CSO, Glad you found your way here !!!

[seabelow]

Get a 10" Dia. by 8 " pitch stainless. You will pop up on plane in sec.
with 2 adults and 2 kids. top end will about 16mph... just watch your rpm
when you go by yoursell or a lighter load...or change back to your orig prop.
Prop cost is just over $100. I have a 2007 25hp. 4 stroke and It does great on my 14DLX
which weighs 700 lbs and I'm over 225 Boat,motor,people,gear is about 1500lbs + -
Cheaper then a new rig. or motor. trailer

[naturesfly]

I think you would certainly benifit from a bigger boat. Yes it all depends on your pricetag. Im in the same situation as you are. I thought about getting a bigger motor for my boat but by the time I got another motor to help me plane off and get to my fishin hole faster, in the end Im still stuck with a little boat I can only fish two comfortably. I would suggest if you can justify it, move up to a 17 footer and start with a 50 or 60hp motor. Youll have more room when you take the kids, it will draft less with a full load than your current setup, and youll never regret having the extra room. Everyone on here is telling me to get the bigger boat and I understand why now. Just my two cents. Good luck to you.

[Riverine1969]

Creek Skiff, we used to have a CS J-16, but wanted to be able to carry more people, and still have room to fish. My brother-in-laws nick name is "Lurching Larry", and when freshwater fishing at night one time, LL's lure whizzed by face so close I could feel the breeze off the lure. Thatprompted me to get a bigger boat.

Keep in mind that 99% of our fishing is in shallow, snag infested water.......speed is not an option. Most times, I just use the electric trolling motor, easing along in the "boney" water. We got a CS 24 in 2000, and love it. Longer and wider, yes. The boat is rated to carry 18 people, or 3000 pounds. It floats higher than the J-16, even carrying six people and all of our gear. I can stay away from LL's dangerous night time casting technique, and still fish shallow waters. The original plan was to use the 9.9HP four stroke from the J-16, until I got the bucks for a bigger outboard. After a year, I realized that for our style of boating, going fast is not needed. I put a different prop on the 9.9, and enjoy the quiet of enjoying a day fishing up around the cypress trees, without a lot of iron hanging off the transom.

Bottom line: I suggest you get the largest flat bottom CS you can afford. If you have to go fast, get a big outboard, but just remember that low horsepower will get you there and back, and do so extremely economically.

[Harry]

Well said Jim,,,,, 013