Okay,guys,...we have lakes here in Indiana that have HP restrictions and/or
electric trolling motor use only. Okay,the Lund A-14 I am hoping to be able to get next summer is rated for 15 HP max. Some lakes I want to visit have 10 HP outboard motor limits. Though I am a firm believer in using the max hp the
boat is rated for,I may decide on the 9.9 HP motor(Mercury,of course)instead
so I can run on those lakes that have the 10 HP motor limit. How would,in your opinion,the 9.9 HP motor perform vs the 15 HP motor? BTW,these are four stroke motors I am referring to. If I go ahead with a 15 HP motor,that would prohibit me from visiting the lakes with the 10 HP limit and I would obviously miss out on some possibly good fishing on such lakes. But,if I go to a large reservoir/lake where there are no HP restrictions,I would wish I had the 15 HP motor. Note; a 9.9 HP Mercury short shaft four stroke weighs only
84 lbs,...their 15 HP short shaft four stroke motor weighs in at 115 lbs. I guess the one question I would have to ask myself is 'Can I live with just a 9.9 HP motor and be happy with it?' Yes and No! It would depend on where I am fishing and how big a body of water I am fishing on. Cost wise and fuel economy wise,the 9.9 would be a good bet probably,...and probably less
maintenance costs associated with the 9.9 motor vs. the 15. Your thoughts
on this issue?