What horsepower tiller stearing?

[andypanda]

What do you all think is too much hp for a tiller steer outboard?

There is a 16' Lund Alaskan for sale around the block with no motor. I was thinking of picking it up for the kids to use crabbin, fishin and clammin.

Max recommended is 50hp on the spec plate. It has no console and nowhere to mount steering or controls. Is a 40 or 50 hp too much for tiller steer?

RBF Rules!

[Parker21]

I had a 60hp tiller on a 16' wood/glass garvey (local new jersey boat)- no issues with controlling her. I think a 15- 25 on a lighter boat would be fine for kids

[WMalloy382]

Im with Parker. I dont think its an issue of the tiller. I had a 40 way back on a 13 whaler. No problem at all.

I think the issue would be 50HP + small Boat + Kids could = Nighmare

I would swap that pup for a 15 to 30hp range. That small a boat will still zip right along.

[A Few Dollars]

I had a Merc 20 on a 14' Carolina skiff & it was plenty.

Yamaha still sells a 2 stroke 25 carb. Probabally the cheapest NEW engine you will find.

[ken2]

Merc goes up to 250 on the opti.

Seems like a bit of an over kill though.

http://northamerica.mercurymarine.com/engi...ards/bigtiller/

[Albiemanmike]

I had a Lund 16 with 15 hp. Honda that was a dog. We swapped it out for a 30 hp. Honda and it cruise at about 22-23 mph. I wanted the 50 but my old man went and got talked into a 30.............

[Chisox]

I had a Lund 16 with 15 hp. Honda that was a dog. We swapped it out for a 30 hp. Honda and it cruise at about 22-23 mph. I wanted the 50 but my old man went and got talked into a 30.............

That sucks...

[sapelocat]

Andy,

How old are the kids? We run a 14' heavy jon boat with a 25 tiller and find that the "kids" have to be hefty to handle it. The guys about 12 and over can handle it but younger folks get freaked out. Without a real firm grip on the tiller at 25hp you can get flipped if you loose control running at speed. The boat is a Grumman and will run about 28mph with one occupant. If I had it to do over I would have gotten the boat with a helm kit. Another consideration, $$. Most home owners policies cover liability on boats up to 25hp. Check with your insurance carrier. Saving an insurance payment is worth something.

[PatrickG]

What do you all think is too much hp for a tiller steer outboard?

I think a Mercury 175 Pro XS is a little bit overkill for a tiller:

[PatrickG]

On another note, I think the kids can handle any engine that is on there. The problem is going to be with cranking the engine. A 40 hp is a big motor to pull start. If you think the 40 is too much power you can lower the maximum throttle until they get to where they can handle it.