I know, I know, breaking the silence on the river is never a good idea, but I want to be able to use my raft on lakes too.
I have a Aire Tributary 16ft raft with a DRE four bay frame. I am going to have DRE build me a motor mount but I am having trouble finding info on good motors. I want to be able to push my raft on a lake and on occasion push a few rafts on flat sections of rivers. I assume I need a long shaft motor, but what horsepower is best and also what brand motor is best. I am assuming I will go with a four stroke as two strokes will likely be outlawed in the lifetime of my setup.
Any suggestions on motors and HP's would be greatly appreciated.
There are plenty of conversations on this in the archives, but 5 hp is plenty for a 16 foot boat, and you can easily push a couple boats barged along side.
I've run a 16' gear boat and pushed a 16' cat down 25 miles on Desolation Canyon with a3.5hp Tohatsu short shaft fwiw...no speed demon but worked great.
If your going to use it on a lake too, I'd suggest a 6 or 8 hp engine. Lakes get as windy or more than rivers. You'll want the extra HP on a lake when crossing in the wind.
Get a long shaft or plan to get a jack plate. If your going new, Yamaha, Tahatsu, Mercury, Honda all make a good dependable motor.
Why would you want to take your 16' whitewater raft on a lake? I haven't shopped for a fishing boat recently, but I bet you could get a used boat and motor for much less than the mount and a propane outboard. Also, the motor and mount can be a PITA to store. I would advise you to find a friend with an outboard for his/her raft and hook up with them for the occasional flat water desert raft trip.
Tohatsu makes motors for Mercury and Nissan, same motor different branding.
5 hp Tothatsu Sail Pro is what I have and it is great for pushing a barge of boats. Lots of info if you search the threads here.
I have the Tohatsu 25 inch long shaft propane motor, 5 HP, it pushes my 16 foot Avon Pro just fine on flat water with no current, although I've not had it on a lake. My friend Richp here did Lake Bowell some time ago with his motor and a cat IIRC, so it has been done, and as I remember it worked well for him.
I have a tohatsu 25 in long shaft sail pro 6 horse. It works great on the lake. Top speed on the raft is around 5.5 miles per hr. That’s just what the raft hull speed is. I take the raft on lakes fishing, the bays crabbing.
Thanks All,
I went with a Tohatsu 6HP long shaft. Getting it mounted up soon and will let everyone know how it worked out. But for now, putting in on Deso Gray mosquito adventure sans motor.
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