Please help me~HotRod~ my 14 ft'r!

[WallyHunter15 (IL)]

I have a 95 Sea Nymph, Fishing machine that is 14 foot deepvee! I have a 2000 Mercury 25 w/. electric start and also I have a WhaleTail on her. Its fairly loaded 2 hummingbirds (bow= Pirahnna and transom=400tx), 3 batt's, Gas Tank(usually full), MinnKota on front and also on transom, usually 2 people, and tackle. What can I all do do give her more umph? I was think'n of gett'n a new Merc. maybe, would like to keep the motor I have for now but I might consider otherwise. What other Merc's. are there hp. wise? The boat I have is rated for a 35 I wanna put a 40 on there, then i'd move! But... I do they make somewhere between a 30 and 35? I've seen a 35 somewhere cant remember where. I'd like other suggestions though. Thanx in advance.

Things i've heard- but wouldnt mind have explained...
Raise motor
Stainless Prop? for a 25

[bigfish1965]

Well the biggest reason your boat is not as fast as you want is that you have too much stuff on it. Lose some of the excess weight and she'll move along better. Three batteries is excessive, and you probably can do without one of the fishfinders. A stainless prop would be a gigantic waste of money. Buy a different pitch prop and you'll go along faster but will lose hole shot and a slow troll speed.Hopefully you only have one 5 gallon gas tank. Also get rid of one of the trolling motors. What on earth do you need 2 for? Put a forty on that thing and we'll make sure to send your family a lovely wreath for your funeral. One question...where do you put your feet?

[Tom P]

Sounds like you need to sell your 14 ft. and get a 16 ft. rated for a 90 - 115 hp.

[Daren]

Putting a motor on the back that is more than what is recommended by manufacturer is illegal in many states and can result in tickets and limits to where you can use the boat. Sounds to me like trading up is in order also. 35 hp outboards are indeed hard to find right now. Give it a few years and I am sure one manufacturer or another will come out with a 35 again. In any case an increase in motor size does not result in dramatic increases in top speed. It can result in time to plane being dramatically decreased but speed wise you probably would not get more than 10 mph out of increase from 25hp to 40hp.

Daren

[JBL]

No insult intended if I'm wrong about this, but by your handle I'm thinking you might be 15? If you are 15yrs old that is a pretty neat setup you got there. Not much more to add to your boat, now get out there and catch some fish!

I'm chuckling thinking about all the goodies you will probably have packed into whatever boat you have in about another 10 years.

[WallyHunter15 (IL)]

Thanx JBL! Yeah im 15... I fish everyday on the lake across the street from my house in my 2 boat! 12ft. Lowe w/. everything 15 hp. mariner trolling motors etc... Yeah i've got lots of fish in every categorie bass, crappie, musky, salmon, perch, and northern's. Im work'n on upgrad'n my biggest walleye a 24 inch'r is my best still work'n on that. JBL drop me a email and we can talk jwalters@motion.net. Thanx alot for your response. Hope to hear from you soon!

[Peanut]

Hey WH(15) - congrat's on having your own boat(s). My family always had boats when I was a kid, so we went fishing, skiing, whatever. Then, after I left home - I almost never went camping, because it was hard to watch others go out fishing and I was stuck on the shore. I was 27 when I got my own boat. The freedom of going when you want is nice - enjoy it, because eventually work/college will take a bite out of how much you can get out.

As for your questions - there is a good thread on here about "souping up a 50 merc." It explains raising a motor, how it'll affect performance, and such. There is also a post saying a ss prop won't help on a 50hp (with a good explanation why); if that's the case, it won't help a 25 either. So don't waste your money.

Bigfish's owly tone notwithstanding, his point about lightening your load is right. The lighter you are, the faster you'll go. You know best what is essential - from your motors, batt's etc. Figure out what's not, and leave it behind. If you need it all, don't sweat it - all this means is that the price for taking everything is a few less mph. But, don't exceed the max weight rating for your boat - then you're not safe.

Rather than spend gobs of money trying to squeeze out 2 or 3 more mph out of your rig, keep the money for a 16' and a bigger motor that you're gonna want someday.

There's an old saying that you can't teach a fish to fly - to me this means that everything is limited to some extent by its own characteristics. You have a 14' boat - it's not gonna run like a raped ape - it's not meant to. That's okay - it has other qualities (cost, easy to tow, launch, works in small waters, etc.)the big boats don't. So, making a big jump in speed may mean something better suited for this - that'll come in time.

Good luck and all the best,

derrek.

"Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get me."

[WallyHunter15 (IL)]

Yeah, I dropped the load a bit. I dropped one of the extra batt's. Im down to 2 now, 1 Trolling & 1 Crank'n for the Merc. & removed the MotorGuide on the Transom and just left the bracket on I took that stuff out and I guess your all right, speed isnt that important! Im still way way under the max weight limit on the boat, heres a list of what I got on the boat that im keep'n.
- 25 hp. Mercury Electric Start w/. Whale-Tail yr. (2000)
- Bow Mount Minn Kota Foot Controlled Trolling Motor Power Drive 36 pounds of thrust *NEW*
- Motor Guide Transom Electric w/. plug
- Plug in for transom Motor Guide that runs it to battery
- 2 Deep Cycle Batteries ( 1 Cranking & 1 Trolling Motor) * both NEW in 2000*
- Phase Charger connected to both batteries so batteries charge when Mercury is running
- Aerated 10-15 gallon Live-Well
- Bilge Pump
- Navigation Lights/ Running Lights
- 3 Seats (2 regular adjustable/ original) (1 adjustable new Butt Seat)
- Dry Storage
- Cigerette Lighter
- Hummingbird 400tx w/. Speed & Temp. on Transom *NEW*
- Hummingbird Pirhanna Bow Mount locater *NEW*
- Bow Anchor Mate (Manual)
- Custom Stearns (Grey) Boat Cover
- Shoreland’r Boat Trailer (bunk) Painted to match boat w/. side-guides & *NEW* Spare
- Transom black Quick Straps
- Bearing Buddies *NEW*
I fish alot of lakes around my area that are fairly large, Shelbyville, Otter, Springfield and Sanchris, and plan on go'n to a few others along w/. tak'n it up to our familys cabin in Northen WS. where we fish tons of lakes with it. The last thing I plan on gett'n is a portable G.P.S. then that'll be it for the boat. Take Care Everyone & Good Luck!

[LCFISHERMAN]

You are on your way Junior and good luck and keep us posted with the
fishing report(s)
Don't go to fast or fast will find you--Don't forget to put ON the
PFD's (duh life vests)
Hope you have a brilliant lifetime of telling far away folks your doing great
LC

[WallyHunter15 (IL)]

Thanx! LC. and Yes, I got 2 match'n fish'n lifevest that are lightweight for me and one to match for my passenger! If anyone is in the Springfield or Central IL area drop me a email and we can hook-up and fish somewhere! Fish'n was great early in the year and since the rain catch's have slowed but, are climb'n slowly! Some days better then others.

[bigfish1965]

I didn't mean to sound 'owly'...lol. But I guess I did. You got a killer ride there bud. You really sound like you are ready for a step up to a 16 or 17 footer. Do try a different prop pitch if you really need a quicker run. Just be careful and don't overload your boat. Make sure your load is well balanced through out. If it's too bow heavy, you may plow into waves too heavily, and if you are too stern heavy you will have a harder time getting on plane. If you get rediculously stern heavy you become easily capsized. Be safe!

[WallyHunter15 (IL)]

I got all that tak'n care of, its cool B.F. sry. I dont know what "owly" means but the boat runs fine and im no where near be'n to bow or stern heavy. I've had the boat on Shelbyville on days that are beautiful but very wind'y where you get 2-3ft'rs. We've been fine in them and the boat handels them w/. no problem. Im figur'n ill get a new boat in a yr. or two probally if I can find a very good deal, but for now im hav'n fun w/. what I got. One luxury I miss and am think'n about is, Could I get power trim/tilt for my 2000 Merc. 25? I know everyone will say "Hey your young, just reach over and pull it up, but would rather have power trim!" it is a tiller by the way!

[Peanut]

BF - just funnin' with ya - glad to see your sense of humour is as good as your fishing knowledge; I always enjoy your posts. If your spring has been anything like ours, I can understand, however.

WH15 - ever come up to Canada?

derrek.

"Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get me."

[WallyHunter15 (IL)]

Yea Peanut, I went up a few years ago to a Resort! We rented a boat, best walleye and pike fish'n i've ever had! Ever or Every other cast was a fish. And I got a 19 in. Walleye got it 3 feet from the boat and got to watch a 30 some in. chunky Pike come and latch on! Got it in the net and he just let go of the walleye and was never hooked. Everyone one of the other dozen boat around us heard me yell'n and scream'n w/. joy!