Is this outboard too small?

[lthh89vt]

Hi all,

I'm new to this forum as well as boating / fishing.

Looking to buy my first boat and got advice to get a tinny instead as it will be easier to handle.

I'm looking at a 15th 1985 Savage tinny with 2018 Mercury 15hp 4 stroke engine. I've been looking around as this seems to be too small for this boat?
What are your opinions?

I'm looking to go out on Port Philips Bay with my partner (definitely won't go far, very close to shore).

Thanks in advance

[Mattblack]

25hp would be better, but 15hp should do the job if you and your partner arnt too heavy. Check all the welds, etc carefully, that's a really old hull.

[mr plow]

way to small mate i would keep looking

[lthh89vt]

Thank you all. If it's under power, is it just slow or it will be unsafe if the weather turns bad?

[Mattblack]

Thank you all. If it's under power, is it just slow or it will be unsafe if the weather turns bad?

Something under powered will take ages to get up on a plane (when you 1st accelerate, the nose of the boat will stick up in the air. once you get some speed up, the nose will level out and you'll start gathering speed...this is called 'hole shot' and the quicker it goes through this the better (you cant see where your going & the motor will sit deep in the water until your on a plane).
As a general rule (and agreed by 90% of the people on this forum), go the maximum hp rated for the hull.
A 4.5mt tinny should be able to take around 40hp these days...I'd keep shopping :thumbsup:

[Kimtown]

My old man has a small 375 mako he uses for the estuaries and lakes, 15 Merc on the back. I borrowed it to take to Welshpool once with a cousin. Once it was loaded up with esky, fishing gear and us guys the donk couldn't handle it. Had to rearrange weight, bounce up and down on the bow to get it up on the plane. Was a p**** of a time.

Far more likelihood of regret putting a small engine on rather than a bigger one.

Go bigger or go home

[bowl]

Thank you all. If it's under power, is it just slow or it will be unsafe if the weather turns bad?

Unsafe imo.
What's ya budget

[Texas]

12ft'ers with 2 people and 15hp go good
Yours is 3ft longer and probably wider = motor too small
Cheers Gra

[re-tyred]

My 14ft tinnie has 30hp. It does 22knts 1 person 20knts 2 person. I think you would struggle to plane with 15hp 2 up. That size motor is put on tenders for large vessels just to motor boat to shore to pick up the beer.

[Redhunter]

I've got a 20hp on a 3.8m tinny, and wouldn't have any smaller than a 15hp. I often load it up, and often need the pace. I can get 20+ knots out of her. A 4.5m tinny should have a 30-40hp donk pushing her. A 15hp will be unsafe and will labour as the boat won't plane.
If 1st boat, a tinny isn't a bad idea. Something 4.2-4.5m (14-15ft) is a great size for a bay boat, however you will need to pick your days. A max rated outboard (or close to) is preferred. Keep looking...