What Size Motor For 24 Foot Pontoon Boat

What is a Good Size Motor for a Pontoon Boat

If you're in the market for or have recently picked up a pontoon boat yous're likely wondering what type of motor you volition demand to power information technology. Yous've probably heard that most pontoon boats require a long shaft motor, so is that what y'all should buy?

Almost pontoon boats do crave a long shaft motor and the longer your boat is, the larger of a motor you volition demand. If you have a 16-human foot-long pontoon boat you can employ a 25-horsepower engine to cruise effectually, simply if your pontoon boat is 22 feet long, you lot'll need an engine that has at least 150 horsepower in society to go whatever decent speed.

Knowing what you're going to use your pontoon boat for and who will exist using information technology will help you to decide which size of motor you should buy and install.

Good Size Motor for a Pontoon Gunkhole

There's no one size fits all type of motor for a pontoon boat. The size of the motor you demand depends on a variety of factors, mainly the following:

The size of your boat. Pontoon boats can come in all shapes and sizes. Most pontoon boats are 16 to 25 feet long, with an average size of 22 anxiety. The size of your pontoon gunkhole can help you make up one's mind what size of motor you demand considering the larger the gunkhole, the more than horsepower you lot'll need to run it.

What the gunkhole is going to be used for. You'll demand a different size motor and more than horsepower depending on how y'all're going to exist using your boat.

For leisure activities such as sunbathing or fishing where speed isn't an issue a lower horsepower engine is fine — 20-lx depending on the size of your boat. Merely for watersports such as waterskiing, tubing, and wakeboarding you'll demand an engine with horsepower of between 150-120 that will allow you to reach the speeds (probable 30-50 mph) yous need to effectively participate in these activities.

How the boat is designed. The way your boat is designed tin can impact what size of motor y'all need. Larger and longer or different-shaped pontoons probable counterbalance more and will require more horsepower.

How to Measure Your Outboard Motor Shaft Length?

If your engine is already mounted on your boat it's ready to measure, simply if non place information technology on a stand before y'all start doing the measurements. Then measure the vertical altitude betwixt the inside of the mounting-clamp bracket and the lesser of the cavitation plate. Or if measuring from the other side you tin go an authentic measurement by measuring between the top of the boat transom and the bottom of the transom.

Your measurement will probable non exactly fall on 1 of the below numbers, but whichever number your measurement falls closest to is how you lot can determine the length of your outboard motor shaft:

15" = Short (S)
20" = Long (L)
25" = Extra Long (XL)
30" = Extra Extra Long (XXL)

Exercise I Demand a Long or a Short Shaft Outboard?

Information technology's rare to notice a pontoon boat that will crave an extra long shaft, and even more rare to find one that will require a double extra long shaft, but they do make motors that size for a reason.

About pontoon boats will require a long shaft, still, it's of import to measure out to know for sure earlier you purchase and install your outboard. The wrong size outboard can cause your boat to not function properly and tin even lead to impairment.

How Far in the H2o Should an Outboard Motor be on a Pontoon Boat?

Mounting the engine in the right spot is essential for the proper use and move of your pontoon boat. It's vital to ensure the anti-ventilation plate is beneath the water so there is no prop ventilation — simply you lot also need to lookout that information technology's non and so deep that the gear case can cause excessive elevate.

This measurement needs to be made when the average weight of the cargo the boat will be carrying is in it. This includes people and gear in the position they would exist in during your gunkhole voyage. Measuring the gunkhole without its intended weight in it volition lead to bug — and perhaps damage — running your boat in one case it's loaded and in the h2o.

Does the Placement of an Outboard Motor Matter?

Equally with whatever other boat, the placement of an outboard motor on a pontoon boat is crucial to the performance of the gunkhole. Plus, installing it incorrectly can pb to harm to the motor and other parts of the gunkhole.

As mentioned in a higher place yous must ensure the anti-ventilation plate is below the water so at that place is no prop ventilation. And exist careful that it's not and so deep that the gear case will start to drag equally well as create an excessive amount of spray, and reduce the speed and fuel efficiency of your boat.

On the other hand, if your outboard motor is mounted also high this could lead to your motor overheating considering not enough water would exist running through it to proceed it cool. The backlog weight of a higher mounted motor could also atomic number 82 to damage to the transom — which would mean costly repairs.

The anti-ventilation plate is best installed aligned to the bottom of the boat in almost cases — specially if yous're a beginner. Information technology comes with adjustments so you can the proper mounting holes and brackets in exactly the correct identify for your boat.

Mounting a motor lower or higher than recommended can be useful in a few select cases. But earlier you lot choose this type of mounting you lot should let a professional help you weigh the pros and cons of doing it — and be the ane to install it.

Is it Easy to Install an Outboard Motor?

One time you've figured out the proper size and horsepower for the size, utilize, and expected weight of your pontoon boat information technology'south typically pretty like shooting fish in a barrel to install an outboard motor — if you know what you're doing or have feel installing motors. If the above instructions to measure and install make sense to you then you're probably able to do it yourself.

Otherwise, it'southward best to become a professional person to do the install for you — this way you lot'll be sure to go the correct size motor and a proper install. Yous may also get a warranty and perchance some extra service for your pontoon boat.

What Do I Need to Know Before I Buy an Outboard Motor?

When getting your pontoon gunkhole ready with an outboard motor in that location are a few more than things other than how to get the proper measurement and how to do a proper installation that you should know.

Don't underestimate how much horsepower you lot will need! Quite a few people will trade up for a new outboard motor later on only a twelvemonth or ii considering they require more power. You may crave more than power if you're using your boat in a river or an ocean equally opposed to a lake.

Yous don't necessarily need a pontoon motor. Any motor which is suitable for your gunkhole, the weight, and the applications y'all plan on using information technology for volition work.

Choosing the proper propeller is as well important to run your pontoon boat. Since the engine is primal for handling a pontoon boat, choosing the correct propeller to work with your outboard motor will requite you the nearly power. Typically, 4-blade, big-diameter propellers are all-time to get the best bract surface possible on your pontoon boat.

Outboard motors can crave different types of fuel injection. Typically, outboard motors come with direct fuel injection, electronic fuel injection, and carbureted systems. The main difference betwixt these is how they will operate the boats. There are pros and cons to using each type of system.If you have no feel with these types of injection systems talk to a professional person to go the all-time advice for your particular gunkhole and what you intend to utilise information technology for.

What are Pontoon Boats Most Often Used for?

Pontoon boats are a popular blazon of recreational gunkhole that uses pontoons (airtight, hollow tubes which add together buoyancy to a construction) to float. They've always been used for things that don't require a lot of speed like leisurely boat parties, angling, and sunbathing.

Over the years manufacturers accept changed the design and made more modern pontoon boats — and some are now quite luxurious. Even newer pontoon boats are more often than not still used for the aforementioned types of activities as they were originally created for — but some are a bit faster and sleeker as they're out on the water. They've become popular with users who love to do many different types of watersports.

Under ideal atmospheric condition, with the right motor and other parts, pontoon boats can reach speeds of 31 miles per 60 minutes.

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