Pontoon boat HP rating?

[mytoyzfishing]

Throwing some ideas around in my head and need some input. I have an older (1990's) 26' pontoon boat with a newer (2003) Johnson 90 2 stroke. The Manufacture plate is gone off the boat and the manufacture hasn't been in business for some time now. Im wondering if I could put a 150 optimax on the back instead of the Johnson 90? Any ideas if this would work?

[mwardncsu]

Any chance you can google around or look at Boat Trader to find similar make/model/year to see what is hung on the back of those?

Here's a thread that is somewhat related from elsewhere..... I think the net/net is making sure you don't hang too much weight on the back or too much power that could cause structural stability issues....

www.catfish1.com/forums/showthread.php?134416-24-ft-pontoon-boat-how-much-HP-is-to-much


I will tell you that a 250 is going to be too much, so don't be tempted

[CorneliaGale]

Type the boat name and year model in a google search, you should see a link to a iboats site that should show the boat with max, engine for that boat and year model. I would think a 150 would be too much, most likely a 115 is the max, I know for my 25' its rated at 115 max.

[BentRod]

Problem solved! Wife's happy, you're happy!

[mytoyzfishing]

Looked it up and the only it said was it came standard with a 90 on it from the manufacture. Looked up the weights of whats on there and now which is 335 pounds and the opti 150 which is 431. Mike, i think i a nice white Johnson 90 would look good on a white and gray boat

[mytoyzfishing]

Bentrod - if someone with one of those who wanted to trade back when I got rid of the CC would have been perfect. The wife loves the pontoon to much now, so i am trying to get it set up and still keep her happy

[mytoyzfishing]

Just did a search for my boat and the same pontoon but a 22' had a 120 on the back. And after researching some I have found that pontoons 22' and larger do not require a HP rating from he manufacture, just a weight/person rating.

[mytoyzfishing]

Nov 27, 2012 9:10:50 GMT -5 mwardncsu said:

Any chance you can google around or look at Boat Trader to find similar make/model/year to see what is hung on the back of those?

Here's a thread that is somewhat related from elsewhere..... I think the net/net is making sure you don't hang too much weight on the back or too much power that could cause structural stability issues....

www.catfish1.com/forums/showthread.php?134416-24-ft-pontoon-boat-how-much-HP-is-to-much


I will tell you that a 250 is going to be too much, so don't be tempted

I was thinking along the lines of the opti 150 hanging off the ranger bass boat ;D

[mytoyzfishing]

Talked to a guy at one of the local marina's yesterday and he said that as it sits it would be fine up to 120 hp. But if I wanted to go to the 150 opti then all I would have to do would be to brace the pod better to support the extra weight and thrust. Other than that I should be good to go.

[CorneliaGale]

Most likely the 150 won't run any faster than the 120, pontoon will only go so fast, unless you have one of the planning models. May not run any faster than the 90. would have to mount and try.

[mytoyzfishing]

Nov 29, 2012 21:08:21 GMT -5 CorneliaGale said:

Most likely the 150 won't run any faster than the 120, pontoon will only go so fast, unless you have one of the planning models. May not run any faster than the 90. would have to mount and try.

True but I already have a 150 sitting in my driveway. Problem I am wrestling with is like you said it might not make a big difference and I dont want to go through the hassle of taking everything out of the bass boat and put it in the pontoon just to find out that it didnt make a difference. Another thing I am liking about the swap would be the better fuel economy.