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Well my attention is back on my 13 Ft Whaler, going to go ahead and repower it. I am at the beach now and not having luck with the old 1980’s 30 hp Johnson. It’s been a good motor and probably would be a easy fix but it’s time to go with a reliable new motor. The family still loving the little Whaler he have had for about 14 years.
Going to try and go with a 30hp Honda with 15 inch shaft if I can get a good deal from a family member that works at Honda. This thread be of my muddling my way into a new motor.
So when ordering a motor I will order motor and controller . What else will I need besides the ovuous fuel line etc?
Do I have to get a dealer to do it for he warranty?
Thanks again. Hopefully I will be around the fourm more. My 1984 outrage project boat came to a hault when my 3rd child was born.
Cheers
Erick Sowder

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So I am out hanging on a sandbar in a rental pontoon boat dreaming of getting my 13 repowered and a guy that owned a boat rental told me he really really liked Suzuki outboards and how parts were easy and they really were good to maintain. So I started to look at them and don’t see a 15in short shaft in 30hp. How is it with putting a long shaft 20 inch on older boats ? I am thinking a big no but seems new motors are mostly 20 inch shafts . Comments?
Thanks
Erick

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Don't do it unless you build up the notched transom. There's a plethora of awesome products out there for these older hulls. Nauset Marine (Orleans, MA) makes a custom fiberglass transom riser as they call it and backing plate to get the geometry just right for these old hulls (What I have on mine). Works awesome. Good Luck!

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Keep in mind total weight including the engine and stern bias.

Adding a long (20") shaft will add additional weight, especially if building up the transom or putting on a jackplate.

I would shop the short shaft (15") options hard before going to a long shaft.

As for what rigging you will need:

Engine
prop
throttle/shift cables
side control with/without key switch
engine/gauge harnesses
gauges

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Suzuki does make a 15" 25HP 4 stroke that weighs about 160 lbs w/ electric start and power T/T. The package you get with the motor includes prop, tank, controls, wiring harness, bolts, steering link, etc. All you need is control cables and, if you want one, a tach which wires directly to the harness. Check out portaboat for prices - I used them and shipping is included.

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Hoping on running at least a 30 hp as when the 30 hp Jonson ran t did everything I needed

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How are Tohatsu motors ? I keep seeing them everywhere .

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Tohatsu 40 hp TLDI short-shaft. See my personal page. Excellent motor. No problems in 5 years.

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Geo that is a cool setup! Where did you get the motor?

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Found a local dealer for Tohatsu that will install and run it in the water to figure out what prop and motor height will be best. Take them 2 days. Will do it all for Msrp price . Leaning on the 30 hp as it is 50 lbs lighter thank the 40
Hp model. Both are 15 inch shaft and fuel injected with trim controls and tach. Funny the 20 and 30 hp models weigh the same and the 40 and 50 model ones weigh the same also . For me I would like the higher power but we do a lot of exploring in the shallows and having a lighter motor that does not sit heavy in the rear is important.

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money down on the 30 hp Tohatsu! Seems like a good value. Will let you know how it goes.

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Repowered with the Tahatsu 30 and it is really fast, hit over 31 with me and my daughter on mostly flat area. Out of the hole was pretty slow though. The prop is a 9.9x14.
We then ran the family in it and was almost not usable taking off. Once again once i got to plane it was really fast.
Thinking I need to change the prop out. The boat shop has not gotten back to me yet but any suggestions?
Also changed out the cable steering for hydro steering. That sure is nice....
Boats are cheap but motors and steering are not!
Cheers.

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On a quick note the 30 hp Tohatsu 30 came with gas tank and water separator. :)

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Erick -

Prop selection is a bit of science with a dash of art. Prop sizes are NOT universal across brands or models or material.

A few helpful pieces of information needed.

Did you get a Tach? What was the wide open (WOT) rpm at the top speed of ?????? with a load of ____________?

In computing the appropriate pitch for the prop we take...

*WOT RPM of 6250
*Gear Ratio 2.17
Slip 5%
Boat Speed 32

*From Tohatsu website

The prop calculator produces 11.5 for pitch. Since they are in even numbers, go up to 12.

In reviewing the threads (search feature) I would suggest you trade in the aluminum prop for a stainless steel 10.125 x 12, part # NM889210120

See: http://tohatsu.com/accessories/prop.asps/prop.asp

It may not be the right one but will be a good place to start. Test and document gear, load, fuel, conditions and WOT rpm and speed.

If you run solo alot it may be perfect. If you run with 3 people and gear, you might have to go down to a 11"

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*WOT RPM of 6250
*Gear Ratio 2.17
Slip 5%
Boat Speed 32
This is pretty close to what i was getting in my boat with me and my daughter.
the boat guys are getting me a 4 blade 9 pitch prop and should do fine with a boat load but would over rev if i have a light load like just me? hope it is ok

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A 4 blade does not make sense. If carrying a load, go with the stainless 11"

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That's what I am thinking but we shall see how it goes.

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It's been awhile but the place i got my motor from that was supposed to order me a new prop the person that ordered it no longer is there. Been back and forth with the people there and it has not gone too well with bad or lack of communication. Any way finally got my prop in they got from Tohatsu. Not sure the pitch but hopefully this week i can try it out.
ALso has anyone used a dolphin fin on the motor to help get the boat on plain faster? Any recommendations?
Will update when i get the right prop on........

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With the exception of some early Dauntless models, a fin is a bandaid to a fixable problem.

I would not consider one, especially since you don't even have the prop selection sorted.

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I was thinking it was a bandaid too, will see what the prop does for me. I am also doing things to this boat that probably should not like 6 people in it but have been doing this for over 15 years in this little 13. The old 30 HP Johnson did well for me all these years but it is getting tired and so am I! LOL!
Cheers.

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Glad you went with a 15 inch engine.

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To the OP
So what is the verdict with the latest prop?

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Well I go to take the motor in to change the prop. The previous prop did fine for 1 person in the boat. So with the same mechanic we went out in the boat with the current prop and it would hardly get on plane with both of us sitting on the back seat. Changed to I think a 9 x9 (will have to look at the numbers again and this prop popped us out of the water pretty quick but lost top speed. Now only able to do 20 mph at around 6200 rpm's Over Revs fast but should be ok with my load of a family in the boat. Hope to see how it does in a week or so fully loaded. Story continued.

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BoatGuy in Cataumet, Cape Cod.