Can my boat handle a 23 HP copperhead or will I need to reinforce transom?

[Max Crawford]

It’s a 1438 riveted fisher Jon boat wanna put a 23 hp copperhead surface drive on it.

 

[Carl]

What is the stated hp rating? Pretty sure it’s not 25 hp!
Long tails or surface drive are both heavier than outboard. And hard on transoms.
My vote is a solid no.

 

[Max Crawford]

Idk for sure I think it’s 20 but I’m sure a 23 surface drive weighs much more than a 20 hp outboard tho the hull does feel very sturdy.

 

[Huntindave McCann]

It’s a 1438 riveted fisher Jon boat wanna put a 23 hp copperhead surface drive on it.

You can visit this site to get complete and accurate specs when you select the year of manufacture. https://www.boats.za.net/fisher/1436-lw-riveted-jon
As an example I randomly selected "2008" and the max HP rating for that model year is listed as 10HP.

This boat is a very lightweight, light duty boat. Look at the listed hull thickness of ".043 thousandths of an inch" Very easily penetrated plowing thru shallow water.

 

[Max Crawford]

You can visit this site to get complete and accurate specs when you select the year of manufacture. https://www.boats.za.net/fisher/1436-lw-riveted-jon
As an example I randomly selected "2008" and the max HP rating for that model year is listed as 10HP.

This boat is a very lightweight, light duty boat. Look at the listed hull thickness of ".043 thousandths of an inch" Very easily penetrated plowing thru shallow water.
View attachment 78940

Thanks how big of a job is it to reinforce the transom?

 

[Huntindave McCann]

Thanks how big of a job is it to reinforce the transom?

Reinforcing the transom will not change the duty rating of the hull.

 

[Jeff Reardon]

Google found me this link with specs for a new 1438 at 15 hp. https://directboats.com/fisherman14...IyXgEWeqhYlOXrIfCeln9op4q0th-M4lakQJU6HztIAEm

 

[Huntindave McCann]

Google found me this link with specs for a new 1438 at 15 hp. https://directboats.com/fisherman14...IyXgEWeqhYlOXrIfCeln9op4q0th-M4lakQJU6HztIAEm

Different brand boat with a different set of specifications. Length and width are not the only things that need considered. Even within the same brand and model, different build years can and will vary.
Your example is not apples to apples.

 

[Carl]

Reinforcing the transom will not change the duty rating of the hull.

Exactly, This hull is not built for, nor stable enough, to handle a 23hp mud motor.
You need to be looking at a 1448 minimum, a 1648 with rear pods even better, for this motor.
Or for the hull you have, you need to be looking at mini longtail 10hp or under, And even then, you're hunting from a low gunnel, narrow boat. Not a rig for open or deep water.
What kind of water are you hunting? weedy shallow protected waters?
Do you have to cross wide open rivers, bays or lakes to get to your spots?
What kind of water depth and fetch are you dealing with?
All that will help us help you.

 

[Jeff Reardon]

Different brand boat with a different set of specifications. Length and width are not the only things that need considered. Even within the same brand and model, different build years can and will vary.
Your example is not apples to apples.

I missed that, but you are correct. I have found a number of references to the Fisher 1438 and it looks like most of them are ~ 10-15 hp, and may vary with date of manufacture. For all of the reasons discussed above in the thread, even that seems like a lot for a lightweight jon boat to me.