What does maximum motor capacity mean? What motor rating do I need to put the boat on plane?
Max O/B Motor means: maximum power outboard motor that can be safely used to plane a boat loaded to the maximum capacity on normal water surface conditions. Please exercise common sense and caution when using maximum motor capacities. Do not jump from wave to wave as new 4-stroke motors are much heavier then 2-strokes and provide extra strain on a transom. Under normal circumstances, with half of a maximum persons/load capacity, or about 50% of the maximum O/B power rating may be necessary to put boat on plane. For example: SD365 rated for up to 30 HP outboard motor. But 15 HP with hydrofoil installed would be enough to put 12′ boat on plane with 1-4 people and light load. The lighter the motor, the faster boat will run. 2-stroke engines, while still possible to find, are much lighter then 4-stroke, and will provide same power at less strain to the transom.
Max O/B Motor means: the maximum power outboard motor that can be safely used to plane a boat loaded to the maximum capacity on normal water surface conditions. Please exercise common sense and caution when using maximum motor capacities. Do not jump from wave to wave as new 4-stroke motors are much heavier then 2-strokes and provide extra strain on the transom. Under normal circumstances, with half of a maximum persons/load capacity, or about 50% of the maximum O/B power rating may be necessary to put the boat on plane. For example: the SD365 is rated for up to a 30 HP outboard motor. But a 15 HP with hydrofoil installed would be enough to put a 12′ boat on plane with 1-4 people and a light load. The lighter the motor, the faster boat will run. 2-stroke engines, while still possible to find, are much lighter then 4-strokes, and will provide same power at less strain to the transom.
