Motor size question

[Robert]

Is a 18 horse motor to big for a 12' aluminum V-bottom boat that is rated for no bigger than 15 horse?

[John Boelte]

According to the Coast Guard it is.  However, in my opinion, 3 HP won't make that much difference.  Just don't get yourself into a position where it would matter.

When I was a teenager, I used to run around in my uncles boat that was a tad overpowered.  It was a 12' aluminum flat boat with a 20 HP Johnson on it.  It was overpowered.  Same uncle had 17' Whaler with a 200 HP Evinrude.  We clocked it at 55 MPH.  8-)

[Robert]

Ok, thanks. Gonna go pick the motor up then from my grandpa's today.