motor size for a higbee boat

R

Russell Owen

Member
I have a higbee duck boat and I want to put a motor on it. Does anyone know what the horsepower rating is on the boat? I really want to put a 23 hp short tail mud motor on it to hunt the old rice fields but i don't know if it will hold up.

RO
 
Russell, I have a 1968 and I hang a 4 stroke 9.9 on mine. I do not trailer it with the motor on however. I reinforced the transom with glass and cloth and epoxied a knee board on the inside for strenght. Do not stand up while underway, my higbee is unstable when moving full throttle. Hope this helps. Dave
 
It should run like a hot damn with the 23 mud motor on it. Unfortunately, the motor will likely destroy is due to weight and stress.
 
Can any of you guys tell me the history of these Higbee boats. My wife's maiden name is higbee and i know that their family had a big store in Michigan, i think. Just wondering if there is any connection there. Post some pics if you can too, thanks.
 
from what i can remember the boats came out in the mid 70's. made around mayslanding nj form a guy that built all the water park tubes.higbee plastics i think? i can remember going there as a little boy when my dad bought his. the father died and there was a fire and the mold were suposed to lost in the fire. but rumor has it they are floating around some where in nj. we run 15 hp on it. it will plane with my 8hp and i know of some nuts run 25s on them but very hairy. they perform great take some good size water. they will get you home if it blows up quick. handle well and hide great. and i got my dads orginal for sale if some ones looking for one.
 
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Here is a pic of mine the day I got it. I have only been able to hunt it 2 or 3 time but I love it. Luke


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it depends on the build. higbee built many boats and they had different thickness of glass, glass over wood and glass over foam in the newer years. the original transom build should be Strong enough however that depend on how it was stored and taken care of over the years.
corner reinforcement is key to preventing stress cracking at the intersection of the transom and hull . flexing is your enemy
 
I have a MLB Chuck Huff version of the Higbee. I think its rated for a 5 HP outboard. I ran a 5 HP Johnson on it last year but I'm running a 2 HP Yamaha this year. I switched to the smaller outboard because it has a built in gas tank. I've only had it out once this year; however, the 2 HP seems like its going to do just fine. It moves the boat right along at 1/2 throttle. I wouldn't want to run much faster, especially in the early morning hours before daylight.
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