The boat weighs 1200 pounds on its own. It is rated at a maximum of 140 hp. I had recently bought a cheap motor because it worked and cost $100 (johnson seahorse 40 hp) and someone else told me later that it was the wrong motor. I wonder what kind of engine I need for the boat I have.
It’s a little weak compared to conventional thinking, but the real test is whether it does what you need it to.
If you find it struggling to propel your boat against normal local tides and currents, then it certainly doesn’t have the power to weigh in the margin of safety needed should you ever face a periodic tide/current predictably stronger. It will also potentially be insufficient if you are running against a normal tide/current and the wind is also against you. The hull can struggle to make acceptable progress if you are carrying passengers or any cargo, as all of this pushes the hull deeper into the water.
But if it does what you need and you’re not worried about the above scenarios, keep it. The advantages are that it will use less fuel and parts should be less expensive.
As someone suggested, the minimum power for this hull mass would normally be around 50 hp, but there really isn’t much difference in top hull speed on a hull of this mass between a 40 hp and 50 hp engine. If you choose to upgrade, if it’s another two-stroke, aim for at least 70 hp, and if it’s a four-stroke, it definitely needs more.
A $100 Johnson 40hp must have been very old, so you also have to consider that old, worn outboards tend to lose a lot of their performance unless completely overhauled. You can also make a significant difference if your hull is kept clean: I’m always surprised how much I see what’s covered in aquatic flora and fauna on the underside as the hull is never lifted out of the water and cleaned periodically of any growth that adds a lot of parasitic drag.
Edit: Just researched your boat model as I have never found 230v before.
They were rare animals even when they were young. Be very careful not to add anything, even near the maximum suggested horsepower: unfortunately, many boats this age have a reputation for rotting inside beneath their shiny fiberglass exterior. At this time, many other internal structural elements were wooden, particularly with the transom and wooden structural stringers inside the hull floor. Some models have been designed with long term repairs in mind, 230v is not.
So if the crosspiece or the stringers are rotten, they must be cut and the cut must continue until you find solid wood. The reason few of the rare 230vs made survived is because owners often found that once they discovered rotting timbers it was too late to save the hull.
Therefore, placing a powerful or heavy load on the transom may break the hull at high speed. Unless you are sure the internal wooden frame is solid. Checking requires drilling strategic holes to examine the wood.
They were probably referring to the length of the engine, a shallow draft Bass Boat will need a short shaft engine and of course they are rarer than long shaft engines
You are weak as others have said, you need to perform significantly better. However, if 40 does what you want, keep it up.
The guideline is 1hp for every 25lbs of boat weight, so a minimum 50hp motor to go 20mph in fresh water.
Your 40 horsepower is underpowered, so expect slower speeds and decreased fuel economy.
I guess a 75-90hp was the most popular choice for this boat.
The boat will need a 30-50 hp engine. You have the right engine.