Marine: Boating, Sailing, PWC, GPS and Navigation - what size of motor goes with a 14 foot john boat?

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jimman
05-03-09, 09:52 AM
My father inherited a 14 foot john boat .He told me that i could have it. I bought a 35hp sea horse before i recieved the boat. This motor i quickly found out was to big. I then bought a 9.6 hp wards sea king from craigs list. I was told it ran. When i got home i found it was siezed. Im still in the market for a motor, and am looking on ebay at motors that rainge from 1.7hp to 20 hp. What is the best hp for a v bottom 14 foot john boat?

goldstar
05-03-09, 12:22 PM
I thought that john boats had a flat hull. Maybe it's just a very slight Vee. I would say 15 horse max and you would probably be pleased with a 9.9 horse on a boat that size. If the spec plate is still on the boat, it should indicate maximum horsepower.
Boater59
05-06-09, 08:15 AM
I had a 14' fibeglass Gamefisher johnboat and ran a Merc 9.9 just fine on it. I still have the motor and it's for sale.

Rick Johnston
05-06-09, 07:29 PM
Welcome to the forums.

A john boat is not going to pull a water skier. It's just a fun little watercraft that will get you where you want to go, maybe to fish or explore the shallows.

Overpower it with a 15 or 20 and you run the risk of losing control and flipping it. A 35 is downright dangerous. 10hp is probably the biggest motor you'd want to run on it. A 5 would work just fine.