Lunker v16

I have a 1994 lunker v16 with a 25hp Johnson and was looking to upgrade the motor on it this spring, the 25hp does the job plenty fine by myself, see up to 26mph. With 2 it becomes harder to plane out, especially with the livewell full but eventually reach 24mph or so. Anyone have the same boat with a 4 stroke on it? I believe its max rating is 40hp, was debating on staying with a 2 stroke and maxing it out or if a 4 stroke 25hp would give the extra umpth it needs maby go that route too, thanks for any replies!

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I have a newer hull, escape 14′ with a 25hp 4stroke yamaha. It came setup with 11-1/4 pitch and performed similarly to your setup. I switched to using a 10 pitch most of the time, it planes quickly with 2 guys with a top speed up to 23 running that.

Unless you need the 25hp, I’d get a 40. If you switch a prop, I recommend getting something like a tinytach. I’d guess you’re lugging your current setup while planning out. Mine was, it would hit 4300rpm, then creep up super slowly with the stock prop.

Good info thanks, I dont need a 25hp by any means, just havent driven a 25hp 4 stroke before so didnt know what the difference could be. So sounds like maby a 40 is better suited, anyone know the difference between Yamaha’s 30 and 40hp?

I had that same boat.
Bought it was a 40hp. Blew it up.
Bought a 25 hp.
Rebuilt the 40hp after running the 25 for two years.

Much nicer with the 40.

4 stroke 25 won’t be any better than the 2.

The 4 stroke 25 will likely be worse than the 2 stroke. Generally 4 strokes have less torque out of the hole in my experience.
I’d go 40hp 4 stroke and never look back.

I have a 1999 Lunker V16 with a 1999 Yamaha 25hp 4-stroke. I have the same opinion as you on performance. With just me it works just fine, even with me an my grown son, it gets up on plane and runs low 20’s mph. Add the 3rd person, it struggles, and 4th it will not get up on plane. I added the hydrofoil, and raised the outboard an inch to maximize its placement to the hull, and it helps, I also added the Tiny Tach and play with props to keep it in the high 5000 RPM’s, max. is 6000 RPM. But I have also been looking at re-powering. I love the boat as is, by myself or with one other person, super efficient, quiet, I can troll down below 1 mph with the outboard. But it would be all around nicer with a 40 hp I think. Mine is rated for a 50hp, and I found a great deal on a Merc 50hp 4-stroke EFI, but I really think that is too much motor for that boat and hull. That, and I am also looking to upgrade boat, so which ever deal comes first.

Thanks for the replies everyone, I was somewhat sceptical of putting a 4 stroke 40 on it due to the added weight on the transom, transom seems solid just not sure how much of a difference there would be weight wise between a 40 2 stroke and 40 4 stroke

My parents have 1989 Lunker and is pretty much the exact same boat as yours. They had a 40 HP 2-stroke on it that was junk so I recently replaced it with a 25 HP 4-stroke Tohatsu I got for a steal. Cannot beat the electric start and guarantee that it will work every time.

That said, the boat obviously moves a lot slower than with the 40HP 2-stroke and struggles to plane out.

But yes, I’d worry about adding the extra weight of 40HP 4-stroke. Doesn’t Honda or one of them make 30HP? I’d look for the absolute lightest 40HP that’s offered and take the gamble. Maybe try to move the fuel tank to the front if it’s just you and another guy. And/or move the batteries up front.

Good luck. The Lunker is a PERFECT boat to fish out of for one or two guys and so easy to handle. It lacks storage, yes, but other than that, so easy to handle and you can get into just about anywhere to fish.

Have 04 Lunker LTD 16 ft. with 40 HP Honda. Have near 700 hours on it. Weight no problem. Plans fast. Brought new in 04.

Years ago had a 14 lunker SS with a 35 Johnson that was one fine rig, a 40 on that hull would be perfect,

lunker2 wrote:

Have 04 Lunker LTD 16 ft. with 40 HP Honda. Have near 700 hours on it. Weight no problem. Plans fast. Brought new in 04.

is your lunker rated for a 45 max hp like mine or a 50?does the added weight of the 4 stroke cause the front of the boat to sit to high out of the water while driving?

I have a 03 lunker 165 with a 50hp suzuki 15p prop i get 34 with one guy and 32 with 2 guys n gear 80lb terrova 3 batteries and custom aluminum fuel tank 8 gallons just had all new carpet installed love it

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