Black Brant III HP

Eric,

See my post below regarding the weight issue.

Regarding HP on the BB3, under "most" circumstances my 30hp is fine, especially with just me and Otto. Now that I have learned to balance the weight better fore and aft and change to a 11 pitch prop I can get it on plane just fine. Now realize that I am usually not by myself but am hauling two guys, a chessie, 4-6 doz. decoys and all the other crap we take with us plus a 9 gal gas tank. I can still get it up on plane but I haven't felt any reserve power available when I'm running and that bothers me. Our sport is potentially very dangerous and I really like having that extra edge of more power when I need to get out of a jam in a hurry. I'll be looking around for a 35 or better yet, a 40 hp if I can find one the doesn't weigh as much as I do.

Pete
 
Pete,

that "reserve" power is a big issue as you well know. I bought a new (to me) boat this last year, 19' with a 115 and I feel like I have all the power I can realistically use...and some in reserve for when I am fully loaded. Dang I love that feeling. In my other 16' with 35HP there are times when I am loaded like you and you have to use all the ponies just to get up on plane, you sure don't want bad weather or issues to come up because you are already maxed out.

Good luck on the search for the 40.

Gonna be down there this weekend doing the Dine and Dash at mom's and packing out early on Sunday. Have a great Christmas.
 
Pete, there is a 40 Johnson 2 cylinder on ebay...problem is..the 35 is the top end hp for the 20-35hp based motor..then the 40 is a small 55. The block is a lot bigger and so is the mid section/lower unit. I bet it weighs 200lbs. You could bring the boat over next summer and we could toss the 35 on it when I get it running and broke in..it's a longshaft though..probably wouldn't see much difference over the 30 either.
 
The E-tech is an Evenrude. Smallest size is a 40 hp. Unless something happened at Merc lately that I'm not aware of.
 
I saw that motor on ebay today also. I didn't realize the 40's were on 55 power head, makes sense now. Couldn't figure out why the 40's were so much heavier than a 30. That 40 is a long shaft isn't it? Did they ever make a 40 short shaft?

You get that 35 running and we'll give her a workout. I suspect that unless we raise my transom up to accomodate the extra shaft length the extra drag will overcome the extra horse power. Fun to play with anyway.

Pete
 
Get the prop lower and it will be the only thing in the water....we'll have to get a camera with a faster f stop so we don't look like a comet streaking across the lake.I keep looking for a shortshaft mid section so I can lower the transom on my BB2....I can do it with my 25 since it has a longshaft kit on it. I wonder how much the old Merc/Mariner 40 magnum 4 cyl weighs? Eric had one on his Scaup...and Brent Mason had one on his old alum boat. It didn't look that much bigger shaft wise than my 25.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top