motor hp ????????
 

I was given my 1978 V20 with no motor. I am looking for one now. I just don't know what hp motor to use, but I don't have that much cash to spend. What would be the smallest hp motor I should consider running. I just want to get it up and running.

I think you would be happy with a 150hp, there are some with a little less, 120 HP (mine) and some as high a 200-225 hp

Hedge is right. There are lots of threads on this issue, and by far the concensus seems to be that a 150 is about the ideal horsepower. Someone had one with only a 90 h.p. which will get a V20 on a plane, but not much more than that. I don't know where you live, but phatdaddy posted a Craigslist for a 225 Mariner in Panama City, FL for $3k which looks pretty nice and reasonably priced.

I concur. 150 - 175. My 175 yanks it on plane and has great top end.

i have a 225 on mine. imho its not to much weight but it is to much power. i have stress cracks on parts of my transom that are obviously from the power. the boat does fly and the power is nice but i think wellcraft should have lowered max hp to 200

150

X2 (even though I have a 225 on mine, 150 is more than enough)

150hp
 

I agree 150 is the best power. I have a Suzuki 150 Super Six, runs great. 44mph top end, Cruises at 28mph and gets 3.0 MPG..

Been answered pretty well....if you can swing it get a 150. There have been a few that have said 115 was good enough for them so I would consider that your absolute minimum which was your original question. Of course if you have a newer 115 and a little older 150 I would chose the 150 hands down.

If someone was gonna give up a few hundred more dollars for a 150 over a 115 go for the 150, you won't regret it.

I got a 200 for sale, where are you at?

I am very pleased with my 140 4 stroke......40 mph top end, 5 mpg.

90 hp
 

hey now git your facts 90hp yamaha wot 29 mph with 3people 40 gal fuel cruise at a fuel sippen 18mph troll all day planes off quick with out all weight on stern but when the inlet is rippen and i should wait it out and dont and their is green water coming over the wind sheild i wish had more pistons buy the newest motor you can afford from 100 to 200

Sorry about that eaj. Pretty good performance out of that 90. 29 mph at WOT with a decent load is not that bad at all.

Again, my apologies for misrepresenting the facts.

hp
 

still looking found a 115 merc tower of power on ebay hope to pick it up it has a 20" shaft, but my transon has been rebuilt and is 25", a friend gave me a jack plate rated for 200 hp. I was thinking of using it to lower the motor. He says it should work. he has been working on boats for a long time.

A jack plate will raise a 20" transom up for a 25" shaft engine, but it is doubtful you will get a 25" transom to work with a 20" engine even with the set-back of the jack plate. It would help to know where your located at as many of us either have engines or look at craigslist alot and find engines for sale.

I had thought about the jackplate 20" to 25" transom idea, I think it will work with a hydraulic jackplate and hydraulic steering.....otherwise you will have no tilt.

I assume you are referring to an older Merc inline 6 cylinder motor when you say tower of power. I bet an inline 6 Mercury would look cool on a V20. However, it has to be a pretty old engine, and is probably 115 h.p., but not 115 at the prop, so probably more like a modern 90-100 h.p. motor. That being said, and the 20" shaft issue, I would keep looking if I was you. I am pretty confident the guys on here who know their outboards could steer you toward something more appropriate in the $2-3k range. Talk to spareparts and thefermenator. From everything I have read and seen on this site, they are mechanics and craftsmen par excelence, and just plain old nice guys to boot.

Last inline 6 cylinder motors were made by Mercury in 1988, I think. That's a 23 year old motor. I do not know what you would be paying for that motor, but I would hope not much. Bear in mind, also, that motors of that vintage were not made to run on the crap fuel we have today compared to then.

Mercury verado is an in-line 6 definitely still in production

Nippers correct.. the "Tower of Power" was an advertising designation that Mercury gave to their inline 6's. Actually it's a really good, reliable engine. I had an 84' 90 HP on a 19" Cruisers Inc Tri-hull and it it had no problem at all getting that boat on plane and running in the low 30's. Interesting engine.. It has no head. The head is part of the engine block. If you need to do anything to the engine you do it through the bottom (crankshaft) side of the engine. I still have a 115 sitting in my backyard shed, waiting to be put into service again if needed. :beer:

150 works great on mine...