CONTINUOUSWAVE

Since the ice broke, my son has been on me to go for a boat ride. So we threw the project 15 (getting prepped for new gelcoat) in our lake and cruised. Interesting enough, we found out the 15' hull will plane off with as little as 6hp. Which is what I plan to keep it on there for the kids to learn with. Aboard we had me (215-lbs), my son (65-lbs), and three-gallons of fuel for the load.

Had I not seen it with my own eyes, I would have said it would never plane off with a 6-HP, let alone with an adult and child aboard.

Here are some photos and video of the evening:

1981 15 Striper with 6hp Tiller all photos and videos

Video of start and planning

That is good, however, I noticed your little guy is not wearing a life jacket. If the ice just came off the lake that water is extremely cold.

REALLY?!

Before being so quick to throw darts and question someone's parenting choices (parent shaming rarely goes over well or is taken lightly) pay close attention to how much is under his jacket. There is a lot of bulk because there is a life jacket under there. I have grown up on the water and so have my kids. They are not allowed on a dock, or on a boat of any size at anytime of the year without a life jacket on. When they ice skate on the lake in the winter time they have to wear a life vest under their winter jackets (just like this) no matter how thick the ice is when I cored it.

Very interesting. May be a 15-HP tiller motor would be adequate on a 13-footer with two adults if you keep the boat light. Of course a 25-HP would be better if I can find one.

Con

Jeff--thanks for the very interesting observation. Darn that 15-foot Boston Whaler hull is quite efficient. I would not have thought 6-HP would get it going like that.