Question:
My brother is building a very small houseboat based on a 24' pontoon
boat.
I have calculated the load capacity of the pontoons and come up with
3000 lbs maximum.
The boat is fitted with a 1970 era outboard motor, from the model
number a 60 hp johnson 2 stroke.
This motor was off a small ski boat.
Given he wants to cruise along the Mississippi river is there a better
option to power the thing. Estimates of a cruise speed of 10 knots for
4 or 5 hours a day are being considered.
Any comments are appreciated.
specifically - would a 20 hp do the job ?
- should he look at changing the propeller for maximum low
speed operation.
He is considering a second outboard for backup anyway.
Answer:
I wouldn't go much below 60 hp for that rig, unless you go to a high
thrust 50, like a Mercury "BigFoot" model. You will use about the same
fuel at a given speed as a smaller engine, but will have extra overhead
& less W&T on the larger unit. That year 60 hp has the larger V-4 size
gearcase, so it is a good candidate in that regard. The biggest problem
I can see is that all those old 60's are getting tired by now, they are
prone to rod failures in their old age. The parts for the
Hydro-Electric Drive gearcases are, of course, getting harder to find too.
