Help me pick outboard

[Zenith]

Getting our 2021 lund explorer 1650 ready for the season and stuck on picking the right outboard. Not trying to build a rocket ship, but we want enough power for fishing, cruising with the family, and maybe pulling a tube once in a while, so we were leaning towards a 90hp Mercury, but now we're second-guessing, some say go bigger, some say save the money and stick closer to 75hp. Yamaha's been floating around my brain too.
anyone with similar experience or just knowledge generally?, I'm trying to avoid any "I wish I had..." moments

 

[Oli.48]

You first have to check if your boat is rated for a 90hp outboard! Then consider how you realistically plan to use it for most of the time! 75hp is sufficient for calm water fishing and leisurely cruising with a small family, but you might benefit more from a 90hp if you're carrying more passengers, riding in choppy conditions, and trying to pull a tube.

 

[Chas]

Check the rating plate on your boat and buy a Merc or Yamaha that’s close but not over the rating. Also I recommend a four-stroke motor much quieter. You can always run it at a lower throttle speed but never get anymore HP when needed if you go smaller. Have the motor dealer size the prop for you.
Trust me been there done that lol

 

[OldTinSkipper]

Agree! Keeping the boat within its rating is really important for safety and insurance reasons. And those four-stroke motors are definitley quieter and smoother. Just out of curiusity, what brand and size of motor do you have right now?

 

[AutoAuthority]

Getting our 2021 lund explorer 1650 ready for the season and stuck on picking the right outboard. Not trying to build a rocket ship, but we want enough power for fishing, cruising with the family, and maybe pulling a tube once in a while, so we were leaning towards a 90hp Mercury, but now we're second-guessing, some say go bigger, some say save the money and stick closer to 75hp. Yamaha's been floating around my brain too.
anyone with similar experience or just knowledge generally?, I'm trying to avoid any "I wish I had..." moments

Given you want to use it for fishing, cruising with family, AND pulling a tube, the 90hp is almost certainly the way to go to avoid those "I wish I had..." moments. The difference in purchase price between a 75hp and a 90hp often isn't so substantial that it outweighs the added versatility and performance for watersports and a loaded boat

 

[Green.Book]

Been in that boat...literally, I'd go with the 90hp if it's in the budget, the explorer 1650 handles it well, and you'll appreciate the extra push when you've got a full load or want to tow a tube, a75hp will get the job done, but.. it'll feel a bit strained with passengers and gear

 

[LundCruiser]

Yep, that extra 15hp really helps when the boat's full

 

[pajero]

Go 90hp if you can swing it. I've got a similar setup and every time I load up the family or pull a tube, I'm thankful I didn't go smaller. You'll never regret the extra power, but you might miss it if you don't have it.

 

[ston.edg3]

I'm trying to avoid any "I wish I had..." moments

one tip for you to avoid this is not to just think about top speed. The biggest advantage of a 90hp over a 75hp isn't always the top end. it's how much easier the engine works when the boat is fully loaded with family and gear.
A 90hp will get you up on plane faster and run more efficiently at a lower RPM, which can actually save you fuel and reduce engine wear over time

 

[ScottishScotty]

Guys, I'm not a Lund expert, but I've been around boats for a while and I can tell you that at first glance those 15 hp don't seem like much, but over time it will put a stress on the boat, so either consider some reinforcements or keep to stock.

 

[Ten Moi]

Look at the boat label, it should be rates for the number of people and engine size. Fishing does not need a 90HP it use too much gas. your boat 50 HP is enough for all activities.