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View Full Version : Outboard HP ratings, when?


retrosub
01-05-2007, 11:29 AM
I have an older Evinrude 15hp engine that's a bit too small for my 14' inflatable. It'll plane with 3 people, but only just. With fish, gear, and water in the boat, it plows. So I've been researching a replacement. From my understanding, old outboards were rated at the crank, whereas new outboards are rated at the prop.

What year did the HP on outboards start being measured at the prop? How much difference is there? I know on shaft-driven motorcycles there can be a 15-20% difference between crank horsepower and rear-wheel horsepower, is that about the same for outboards?

If the frictional losses from the driveshaft and age of the engine combine for a 20% difference in power, by today's standards, I have a 12hp engine. No wonder I feel so underpowered.

ROBERTO REYES
01-05-2007, 12:10 PM
Age will rob hp away from your engine also.
Dont know what year they changed that,
but they did the same with cars.
Be carefull with the engine mount on
the inflatable, if its not a rigid inflatable
, they are tender in that area.
I am guessing a 25 hp will be perfect
since I have ride a lot of inflatables with 25.
16 inflatables with 40hp engines are common.

bug_power
01-05-2007, 02:07 PM
did you try some of those planeing fins that go on the lower unit. I've got a small 16' boat that I needed to get ontop of the water faster, the dolphin fins (brand name of the ones I got at walmart) work pretty good.

ROBERTO REYES
01-05-2007, 02:45 PM
The problem is that inflatables makes a huge drag, they are very wide and stable for their size, and load capacity is just incredible, but to take them on plane you do
need it to be light weight or have good hp.