BigBendFishing.Net

If you just want a couple mph you can probably get there with a new prop or a 4" manual jack plate ie. hi jacker

Thanks for all the comments, and many i will consider, and a point i was wondering about was pull starting a 20 H.P. motor?? Years ago i had a 16 foot aluminum vee bottom boat with a 25 H.P. two stroke Merc, never felt like it was hard to pull??? I can just barely get up on a plane with two people in my present boat, but to stay on a plane, i am running wide open, and i hate to push any engine like that. I am leaning towards the 20 H.P.?? And considering the electric start, just a convienence as i am getting older and don't want "starting the engine" to be a factor of "fishing" in the future. I have the trolling motor battery already "on board" weight wise, and can just run a pair of wires back aft for the engine, even if i still hand start it, it will be there if i need it. Weight wise, the "electric start" can't add THAT much weight to the engine??

charlie tuna wrote:Thanks for all the comments, and many i will consider, and a point i was wondering about was pull starting a 20 H.P. motor?? Years ago i had a 16 foot aluminum vee bottom boat with a 25 H.P. two stroke Merc, never felt like it was hard to pull??? I can just barely get up on a plane with two people in my present boat, but to stay on a plane, i am running wide open, and i hate to push any engine like that. I am leaning towards the 20 H.P.?? And considering the electric start, just a convienence as i am getting older and don't want "starting the engine" to be a factor of "fishing" in the future. I have the trolling motor battery already "on board" weight wise, and can just run a pair of wires back aft for the engine, even if i still hand start it, it will be there if i need it. Weight wise, the "electric start" can't add THAT much weight to the engine??

The hydrofoil will make it easy to get on plane and stay on plane at slower speeds. With the moter you have. I would put one on the new one too if you get one. They really help on a small boat.

I agree on the hydrofoil. I think it will solve most if not all of your problem. My old Bass Tracker TX 17 had a 45 (Classic 50). It ran fine by myself but I fished 3 out of it fairly regularly and it had trouble planing out. With the Stingray the front never even rose up when I took off. It just took off and ran up to speed. It helped hold the stern better in sharp turns and made a huge difference in bow slap when I was running in chop. It ran right over chop instead of pounding down on each wave.

Sounds like a cheap investment, i'll put one on and try it.