25hp on an 18' Tunnel
 

Anybody running a 25hp motor on an 18' flat bottom tunnel hull? I just got a good deal on a 2008 18/44 Alweld tunnel with a 50hp Tohatsu. I was thinking about pulling the 50 off and putting it on another boat and putting a 25 on the tunnel hull to fish the Burns.

The 18/44 is light gauge and is only rated for a 25. I'm pretty sure the boat would get on plane good with a 25 but what kind of speed could I get out of it? Right now with the 50 Tohatsu and a 13 pitch prop it runs 34mph with two adults and gear.

As for 25hp motors I was considering a new 2 stroke Evinrude Etec or I also have an old 93 model Nissan that I was thinking of having DHP go through and give it a new life with maybe a little extra umphh.

The 93 Nissan was running 29mph on an old heavy gauge 14/50 Traveller hull (1 adult, no gear).

The two mph readings I gave were from the same Garmin 12 GPS.

That old school 2 stroke nissan is way better of a engine compared the a etec. You should be able to get mid to high 20's with it on that boat. Keep in mind a good prop with added cup for a tunnel has alot to do with the overall performance. Also,motor height is very important as well. Tunnels can be a pain to setup,but once you get it it right leave it alone. I would use a powertech sra 3 blade 11 pitch and have a propeller shop add the tunnel cup. http://www.ptprop.com/component/page...art/Itemid,46/

The tohatsu/nissan is a great motor, but more than one person I know that has the etect 25 says it will pump mud. Can't go wrong with either one in my opinion.

I ran an old 3 cyl. Suzuki 25 on a 20' X 36" tunnel hull for hunting ducks.
Swapped to a 40 HP Merc. for gator hunting cause the 25 didn't do well
with the weight.
The 25 did better taking off in shallow water cause it was so much lighter.

Thanks for the replies,
It's going to be a hard decision, my old 25hp Nissan really knows its way around the Burns. Its one of my favorite places to fish. Another reason why I was considering the Etec is I figured it would go alot farther on a tank of gas considering it is fuel injected.