boatingfun
New member
I just bought a 16 foot aluminum v hull boat with a 1989 Johnson tracker 20 hp motor. I used it for the first time this weekend.
It starts right up and idles pretty good. Seems to be a little rough through mid rpm range but not terrible. I have no real experience with boat engines but have a fair understanding of engines in general. I have 2 concerns which one is most likely contributing to the other problem.
1. My main concern is the performance seems to be down on this engine. The gentleman I purchased it from said it would push him and his friend around 18 mph. That is in the ballpark of what I would expect from a 20 hp engine on a boat of this size. I used 2 different GPS references and I was only able to achieve 9.5 mph. I adjusted motor angle with little change to speed. The boat is not quite moving fast enough to plain at that speed. I do not believe my expectations are out of line to think this motor should push this boat to speeds of 15 to 20 mph.
2. I am sure this is not helping the first issue. When i give it full throttle it seems like it is choking out like it is flooding or something. When I roll throttle back slightly it cleans up and runs clean. So basically it runs pretty clean and smooth at 90 to 95% throttle range but the boat just doesn't seem to come up to speed. Engine RPM doesn't seem excessive so I think Prop it not the real issue. I am kinda at a loss.
Couple basic things I have looked at for indications of issues are Fuel filter on pump appears clean, Plugs look decent not fouled or excessively rich or wet.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated thanks.
It starts right up and idles pretty good. Seems to be a little rough through mid rpm range but not terrible. I have no real experience with boat engines but have a fair understanding of engines in general. I have 2 concerns which one is most likely contributing to the other problem.
1. My main concern is the performance seems to be down on this engine. The gentleman I purchased it from said it would push him and his friend around 18 mph. That is in the ballpark of what I would expect from a 20 hp engine on a boat of this size. I used 2 different GPS references and I was only able to achieve 9.5 mph. I adjusted motor angle with little change to speed. The boat is not quite moving fast enough to plain at that speed. I do not believe my expectations are out of line to think this motor should push this boat to speeds of 15 to 20 mph.
2. I am sure this is not helping the first issue. When i give it full throttle it seems like it is choking out like it is flooding or something. When I roll throttle back slightly it cleans up and runs clean. So basically it runs pretty clean and smooth at 90 to 95% throttle range but the boat just doesn't seem to come up to speed. Engine RPM doesn't seem excessive so I think Prop it not the real issue. I am kinda at a loss.
Couple basic things I have looked at for indications of issues are Fuel filter on pump appears clean, Plugs look decent not fouled or excessively rich or wet.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated thanks.
