what do you think?

[Reefdog]

I have have been looking to buy a cheap small hull to use with my 25 hp tiller motor. So far I have been looking at skiffs in the 13 to 15 ft range but today I came across the option of a 17 ft mako hull. So, do you think a 25 hp could push it or do you think it will be painfully slow? I am not expecting to go fast but above 5mph would be nice. the 17 ft would be much nicer to move around and be more comfortable on sunset rides.

[callmecrazy]

"painfully slow" is entirely relative.

A 25hp should push a boat like that (the 13-15 range) around 15-20mph.
On a 17 mako, it should push upwards of 20-25mph....

A lot depends on the prop and trim. But you're looking at around 20mph no matter what.

Ps: the fact that its a tiller motor, I would be looking at the smaller skiffs. Look for a V type of hull. Flat hulls are nice in a river, but you will outgrow it very quickly.

[Reefdog]

That's great, I had no idea it would go that fast, thanks. My parents Grady white, with a 150hp on it, only goes 32 mph on a glassy calm day. I wasn't looking at larger hulls because I thought the 25hp would be to weak to push it. I live in key largo, so you are right, I might out grow the 17ft fast but for now it might have to do. I am sick of looking and eager to get on the water.

[callmecrazy]

Originally Posted by Reefdog

That's great, I had no idea it would go that fast, thanks. My parents Grady white, with a 150hp on it, only goes 32 mph on a glassy calm day. I wasn't looking at larger hulls because I thought the 25hp would be to weak to push it. I live in key largo, so you are right, I might out grow the 17ft fast but for now it might have to do. I am sick of looking and eager to get on the water.

I'm basing this on my recent experience on a 13ft boston whaler. It'll go exactly 30mph with a 40hp motor (on flat water). So I'm guessing the 20-25hp motors would do about 15-20 in the right conditions.

I meant that you would outgrow a flat bottom hull. The size doesn't really matter, but you want something with a nice V hull so you can handle choppy waters betters.

Good luck