How fast is a 35hp mercury on a 15' Terry bass boat?

Question

My buddy and I just bought a 15' Terry bass boat today with a 35hp Mercury outboard (1980 something). We took the boat on the water today but it didn't really seem to be going very fast (maybe 10-15 mph). How fast should we be going wide open?

Answer 1

to small a motor for such a heavy boat, you will probably need a 70 or so,

Answer 2

I had a bass 16 foot bass tracker with a 25 horse mercury and if I was by myself and no water in the live well and very little gear it would run close to 25 miles an hour.  but anything added to it would slow it down alot.  So if you have alot onboard that may just be all you get out of it.

Answer 3

Id agree with Sarge with 20mph.Maybe a little more if boat is "trimmed" out right.And no gear on-board.

Answer 4

yep thats awful small to be on a bass boat. you should look  at the coast guard tag on the transom of the boat, or it is rite beside the drivers seat for it. it will give you the max. horse power rating and weight for the boat.  this motor will do if you just want to mossie around the lake but that motor probably wont last long pushing that boat at max speed continously.



i had a 25 johnson on a 14 ft. semi-v aluminum boat and it would push about 30-35. but it probably wouldnt do very good on your boat.   you probably need anywhere from a 60 to a 90 on that one.

  

my best advise would be either buy another motor appropriate for the boat, (which is exspensive),or lose the bass boat and put the 35 on a large flat-bottom and install a sterring console in it. these boats are very light and durable. that 35 should sufficiantly push a 14-16 ft flat-bottom about 30-35 mph.

Answer 5

I say 15 foot bass boat which is pretty heavy.  I think 20 would be your max.  It sounds about right.