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Author Topic:   15 HP on 13 foot whaler

Pimster posted 09-26-2013 12:16 AM ET (US)
Hi,
I am new to this forum. I just bought a 1972 whaler with a trailer and a blown engine for $800. This boat will be for my 13 and 14 year old kids and in NJ they cannot operate more than a 9.9 HP engine until they are 16. I am thinking of getting a 15 HP engine, which in essence looks like a 9.9 (and maybe putting a 9.9 decal on it). The boat is a Sport so we want to use wheel steering, get power tilt and electric start. My questions are these:
1) Will a 15 HP engine be enough for 1 adult and 1 kid to get up on a plane (or three kids).
2) What late model engines fit the bill? I think Tohatsu and Mercury are my only options, right?
3) Is this all a bad idea?
Thanks.
pete r posted 09-26-2013 01:47 AM ET (US)
In the good-old days you could re-badge and down rate your motor for your reason or when there was a need to get onto an inland watersupply dam.
The only problem is you will get your arse sued if you or your kids have an accident
199213 posted 09-26-2013 07:40 AM ET (US)
In the good old days it didn't matter. Kids were given a lot more freedom. I believe there was no HP limit in the early 1980s, a much higher HP limit in the late 80s/early 90s, and the 10HP limit got added in the mid 1990s "for the children".
This makes me sad. I got my Whaler in NJ when I was 15. We wouldn't have been able to do many of things the family used it for if it only had a 9.9 on it. I wouldn't have made a lot of great memories in the name of safety. I've since moved to MA where there aren't horsepower limits for minors ... yet. So there is still a chance my kids will be able to use the boat as well.
Pimster posted 09-26-2013 11:31 AM ET (US)
Anybody ever tried using a larger engine and putting a governor with a lock and key on the engine to restrict the horsepower when it's being used by kids?
I guess that wouldn't meet the government's definition of 9.9 HP.
Would still be interested in hearing from folks who have used 15HP on a 13.
Thanks
tjxtreme posted 09-26-2013 03:41 PM ET (US)
Bad idea... just the fact that it is a Sport, and thus will have a console with steering will make it look like more than 9.9 hp, even with a 9.9 on it. I'm not sure how the paperwork is there, but mine shows the hp on it I believe.
So, if (when) they are stopped and show paperwork, it will blow the cover.
Plus, a 15 might be fine on a simple tiller set up with a couple kids, but all the steering and console will add more weight to an already borderline rig. I have a 20 hp and it is as low as you'd want to go for a 13 Sport.
GRAND NUSSIE posted 09-26-2013 08:20 PM ET (US)
At about age 14 or 15 I learned to water ski behind a 15 on a 14 ft. aluminum boat weighing about 250# including steering and remote throttle/shift. I weighed about 175# at that time and that engine had no problems pulling me out of the water. Interesting that the thinking back then was that wheel steering and remote throttle/shift was safer than tiller steering on larger engines.
Do you really need power tilt and electric starting? My 15 started easily first pull usually and light enough to tilt up easily by hand.
I agree with others that you might be asking for trouble "rebadging" a 15.
Dick
macfam posted 09-26-2013 09:32 PM ET (US)
According to the 1972 Boston Whaler catalog:
Minimum horsepower for a 13 Sport = 9 hp
The footnote: Minimum horsepower to plane satisfactorily with light load.
Today's 9.9 probably puts out more hp than 9 hp of yesteryear.
PeteB88 posted 09-26-2013 09:55 PM ET (US)
Go for it - kids don't need any more power in my opinion. I had so much fun with a 9.5 Johnson and a 14 foot classic Crestliner aluminum boat with cast aluminum transom braces w/ Crestliner logo - so cool - from the 50s, I'd do anything to find that original boat. It went fast enough, it was stable enough and I could aim it at the beach full power and ride up onto the sand and hit the kill button same time and jump out like James Bond. I could fish in it, go turtle hunting in the weeds, my cousin and I even ran one similar down a small river in Upper Peninsula. And back up to the lake.
Why not let them goof around with a 15 tiller on a 13? They clearly have the bonus plan just having a Whaler. Plus learning on a tiller is a triple bonus as far as I'm concerned.
Good luck - lucky kids.
jimh posted 09-27-2013 09:27 AM ET (US)
A 15-HP engine and a 9.9-HP engine are often the same engine for the most part, with the 15-HP usually have a different carburetor or the 9.9-HP having a restrictor plate in the intake air path. I agree with the several other comments that trying to disguise a 15-HP with 9.9-HP decals might be a liability.
Since a small engine like a 9.9-HP or 15-HP is usually mounted on the transom with clamps, perhaps you can borrow an engine to test on the 13-footer. You should be able to determine quickly if the boat will plane with a 9.9-HP.
Peter posted 09-27-2013 10:50 AM ET (US)
Kids typically operate a 13 foot Whaler at one of two speeds: no-wake and WOT. At WOT, the 9.9 or 15 HP motor are going to be working very hard.
For that boat I would try to find an Evinrude/Johnson 20 HP built on the 32 cubic inch cross-flow block like this http://northernwi.craigslist.org/boa/4065197642.html . The 32 cubic inch cross-flow block was rated all the way up to 35 HP so at 20 HP its not working hard. It will have the torque to put the 1 adult, 1 kid (or 3 kids) on plane but will have a limited top speed.
That 32 cubic inch cross-flow motor is darn near bullet proof and in my opinion one of the best motors for a 13 foot Whaler.

Treypescatorie posted 09-27-2013 10:43 PM ET (US)
I have a 1968 13 sport with a 1988 30 hp evinrude. My 14 yr old son operates this boat by him self. I trust him to go out by himself, he drives the boat very well. I think the 30 hp is the perfect engine for this boat. In my opinion the 9 hp will be a waste of time and money. There are times that we cruise with 4 people on board and the engine has plenty of power.
jimp posted 09-28-2013 12:55 AM ET (US)
We ran our 1963 Sport with a Johnson 18 for a summer (1966). Just barely enough for skiing for 12 year olds (poor), but you could. A 15 will be slow, but likely get you on a plane with no real problems.
We upgraded to a 33 after half a summer which was good for skiing, but wouldn't meet your needs for 9.9.
JimP
jimp posted 09-28-2013 12:57 AM ET (US)
P.S. Great shots of the Savannah and United States on your profile website.
thegage posted 09-30-2013 04:00 PM ET (US)
For two seasons I had a 1969 13 Sport with full console and remote steering powered by a Yamaha 15 (manual tilt, early 1990s vintage IIRC). It could plane with two adults and two kids. It took a bit, but it was in no way over-stressing the engine. I think a 15 would be would be fine in your situation, though I might pass on the power tilt to save some weight.
John K.
frstevec posted 10-02-2013 08:37 PM ET (US)
One thing has not been considered-- water in hull. I bought a 13 sport with 15 HP engine. I was told it would plane with one adult and 2 kids; I never got on plane the entire time I owned it. The boat weighed twice its published weight (It had taken a major bow hit and foam was soaked bow to stern - nicely repaired though ;>). It was a nice fishing boat but replaced with an Outrage with 115 Yammie!
Steve
contender posted 10-12-2013 12:16 PM ET (US)
Unless you have the money to spend your kids will out grow the 15 in no time, I would not put a smaller engine than a 25 on a 13 whaler. Next you can check with your local/state government to see if a boating corse is offered, sometimes when a kid has completed the corse the hp does not matter, The worse thing to do is under power a boat.
funhog posted 10-12-2013 09:59 PM ET (US)
My 82 Sport 13 had a 15hp Johnson and it was Way too slow with two adults. The flogging lasted two weeks untill I found a good used, easy to work on, Johnson 35. Great performance with 3 adults and you can wake board or go tubeing if you desire. also very easy on fuel consumption. I would sugest you go with a 25 or 35 and put a stop screw in the throttle control box at about half throttle or so. Easy enough to do, and you can remove it when you think the time is right. you might even be able to put a spacer on the throtthle linkage inside the engine cowelling to act as a govenor
dgoodhue posted 10-12-2013 11:13 PM ET (US)
I have been in classic 13 w/15 hp 2 stroke. It's a ~20mph boat with one person. It will plane with 1 adult - 1 kid as you mention above, but the performance will quickly diminish to unacceptable with higher loads. If you were to do the 9.9hp to make it 'legal'. I would look into researching on how to upgrade 9.9 to 15. If its easy like swapping the carb, buy a 9.9 and upgrade.

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Author	Topic: 15 HP on 13 foot whaler
Pimster	posted 09-26-2013 12:16 AM ET (US) Hi, I am new to this forum. I just bought a 1972 whaler with a trailer and a blown engine for $800. This boat will be for my 13 and 14 year old kids and in NJ they cannot operate more than a 9.9 HP engine until they are 16. I am thinking of getting a 15 HP engine, which in essence looks like a 9.9 (and maybe putting a 9.9 decal on it). The boat is a Sport so we want to use wheel steering, get power tilt and electric start. My questions are these: 1) Will a 15 HP engine be enough for 1 adult and 1 kid to get up on a plane (or three kids). 2) What late model engines fit the bill? I think Tohatsu and Mercury are my only options, right? 3) Is this all a bad idea? Thanks.
pete r	posted 09-26-2013 01:47 AM ET (US) In the good-old days you could re-badge and down rate your motor for your reason or when there was a need to get onto an inland watersupply dam. The only problem is you will get your arse sued if you or your kids have an accident
199213	posted 09-26-2013 07:40 AM ET (US) In the good old days it didn't matter. Kids were given a lot more freedom. I believe there was no HP limit in the early 1980s, a much higher HP limit in the late 80s/early 90s, and the 10HP limit got added in the mid 1990s "for the children". This makes me sad. I got my Whaler in NJ when I was 15. We wouldn't have been able to do many of things the family used it for if it only had a 9.9 on it. I wouldn't have made a lot of great memories in the name of safety. I've since moved to MA where there aren't horsepower limits for minors ... yet. So there is still a chance my kids will be able to use the boat as well.
Pimster	posted 09-26-2013 11:31 AM ET (US) Anybody ever tried using a larger engine and putting a governor with a lock and key on the engine to restrict the horsepower when it's being used by kids? I guess that wouldn't meet the government's definition of 9.9 HP. Would still be interested in hearing from folks who have used 15HP on a 13. Thanks
tjxtreme	posted 09-26-2013 03:41 PM ET (US) Bad idea... just the fact that it is a Sport, and thus will have a console with steering will make it look like more than 9.9 hp, even with a 9.9 on it. I'm not sure how the paperwork is there, but mine shows the hp on it I believe. So, if (when) they are stopped and show paperwork, it will blow the cover. Plus, a 15 might be fine on a simple tiller set up with a couple kids, but all the steering and console will add more weight to an already borderline rig. I have a 20 hp and it is as low as you'd want to go for a 13 Sport.
GRAND NUSSIE	posted 09-26-2013 08:20 PM ET (US) At about age 14 or 15 I learned to water ski behind a 15 on a 14 ft. aluminum boat weighing about 250# including steering and remote throttle/shift. I weighed about 175# at that time and that engine had no problems pulling me out of the water. Interesting that the thinking back then was that wheel steering and remote throttle/shift was safer than tiller steering on larger engines. Do you really need power tilt and electric starting? My 15 started easily first pull usually and light enough to tilt up easily by hand. I agree with others that you might be asking for trouble "rebadging" a 15. Dick
macfam	posted 09-26-2013 09:32 PM ET (US) According to the 1972 Boston Whaler catalog: Minimum horsepower for a 13 Sport = 9 hp The footnote: Minimum horsepower to plane satisfactorily with light load. Today's 9.9 probably puts out more hp than 9 hp of yesteryear.
PeteB88	posted 09-26-2013 09:55 PM ET (US) Go for it - kids don't need any more power in my opinion. I had so much fun with a 9.5 Johnson and a 14 foot classic Crestliner aluminum boat with cast aluminum transom braces w/ Crestliner logo - so cool - from the 50s, I'd do anything to find that original boat. It went fast enough, it was stable enough and I could aim it at the beach full power and ride up onto the sand and hit the kill button same time and jump out like James Bond. I could fish in it, go turtle hunting in the weeds, my cousin and I even ran one similar down a small river in Upper Peninsula. And back up to the lake. Why not let them goof around with a 15 tiller on a 13? They clearly have the bonus plan just having a Whaler. Plus learning on a tiller is a triple bonus as far as I'm concerned. Good luck - lucky kids.
jimh	posted 09-27-2013 09:27 AM ET (US) A 15-HP engine and a 9.9-HP engine are often the same engine for the most part, with the 15-HP usually have a different carburetor or the 9.9-HP having a restrictor plate in the intake air path. I agree with the several other comments that trying to disguise a 15-HP with 9.9-HP decals might be a liability. Since a small engine like a 9.9-HP or 15-HP is usually mounted on the transom with clamps, perhaps you can borrow an engine to test on the 13-footer. You should be able to determine quickly if the boat will plane with a 9.9-HP.
Peter	posted 09-27-2013 10:50 AM ET (US) Kids typically operate a 13 foot Whaler at one of two speeds: no-wake and WOT. At WOT, the 9.9 or 15 HP motor are going to be working very hard. For that boat I would try to find an Evinrude/Johnson 20 HP built on the 32 cubic inch cross-flow block like this http://northernwi.craigslist.org/boa/4065197642.html . The 32 cubic inch cross-flow block was rated all the way up to 35 HP so at 20 HP its not working hard. It will have the torque to put the 1 adult, 1 kid (or 3 kids) on plane but will have a limited top speed. That 32 cubic inch cross-flow motor is darn near bullet proof and in my opinion one of the best motors for a 13 foot Whaler.
Treypescatorie	posted 09-27-2013 10:43 PM ET (US) I have a 1968 13 sport with a 1988 30 hp evinrude. My 14 yr old son operates this boat by him self. I trust him to go out by himself, he drives the boat very well. I think the 30 hp is the perfect engine for this boat. In my opinion the 9 hp will be a waste of time and money. There are times that we cruise with 4 people on board and the engine has plenty of power.
jimp	posted 09-28-2013 12:55 AM ET (US) We ran our 1963 Sport with a Johnson 18 for a summer (1966). Just barely enough for skiing for 12 year olds (poor), but you could. A 15 will be slow, but likely get you on a plane with no real problems. We upgraded to a 33 after half a summer which was good for skiing, but wouldn't meet your needs for 9.9. JimP
jimp	posted 09-28-2013 12:57 AM ET (US) P.S. Great shots of the Savannah and United States on your profile website.
thegage	posted 09-30-2013 04:00 PM ET (US) For two seasons I had a 1969 13 Sport with full console and remote steering powered by a Yamaha 15 (manual tilt, early 1990s vintage IIRC). It could plane with two adults and two kids. It took a bit, but it was in no way over-stressing the engine. I think a 15 would be would be fine in your situation, though I might pass on the power tilt to save some weight. John K.
frstevec	posted 10-02-2013 08:37 PM ET (US) One thing has not been considered-- water in hull. I bought a 13 sport with 15 HP engine. I was told it would plane with one adult and 2 kids; I never got on plane the entire time I owned it. The boat weighed twice its published weight (It had taken a major bow hit and foam was soaked bow to stern - nicely repaired though ;>). It was a nice fishing boat but replaced with an Outrage with 115 Yammie! Steve
contender	posted 10-12-2013 12:16 PM ET (US) Unless you have the money to spend your kids will out grow the 15 in no time, I would not put a smaller engine than a 25 on a 13 whaler. Next you can check with your local/state government to see if a boating corse is offered, sometimes when a kid has completed the corse the hp does not matter, The worse thing to do is under power a boat.
funhog	posted 10-12-2013 09:59 PM ET (US) My 82 Sport 13 had a 15hp Johnson and it was Way too slow with two adults. The flogging lasted two weeks untill I found a good used, easy to work on, Johnson 35. Great performance with 3 adults and you can wake board or go tubeing if you desire. also very easy on fuel consumption. I would sugest you go with a 25 or 35 and put a stop screw in the throttle control box at about half throttle or so. Easy enough to do, and you can remove it when you think the time is right. you might even be able to put a spacer on the throtthle linkage inside the engine cowelling to act as a govenor
dgoodhue	posted 10-12-2013 11:13 PM ET (US) I have been in classic 13 w/15 hp 2 stroke. It's a ~20mph boat with one person. It will plane with 1 adult - 1 kid as you mention above, but the performance will quickly diminish to unacceptable with higher loads. If you were to do the 9.9hp to make it 'legal'. I would look into researching on how to upgrade 9.9 to 15. If its easy like swapping the carb, buy a 9.9 and upgrade.