I put an 8 on my Hyde and it was overkill.

 

Drift boats move very easily with their shallow draft.
Years ago when the take out was blocked off at the bottom of the Betsie at the trestle, we had to figure out a way back through the swamp and upstream to our launch.
Looking at space consumption and overall weight of a motor and 6 gallon tank, we used an older 3.5 horse Mercury with a self contained fuel tank.
After the motor tank was filled, a small 1 gallon tank of back up fuel stored in a compartment was all that was carried but rarely used...
The motor was light enough to store out of the way under a seat while fishing, then mount on a jerry rigged transom made from clamped on 2" x 6"s and big angle brackets when ready to leave.
I don't remember the shaft length of the motor, that was the reason for the custom transom/mount.
Ours was a heavy 16' molded fiberglass drift boat and it slipped along just fine with three of us.

Now that was on the Betsie in the spring runoffs through May.
I've never used a drift boat on the Big M but it doesn't seem it would handle much different.

 

Only gonna go so fast in a driftboat...I had a 4 horse Nissan 4 stroke on my hyde and once u "planed" out u weren't gonna go much faster no matter how much gas u gave it....my cousin runs a 6 horse on his Hyde and clacka but didnt really go much faster. Might just depend on bottom structure of your wooden boat on how quick it will go and not as much on motor size

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I asked the same question a while back for my 14.5' Hyde Low Pro.
The consensus at the time was 4, 5, or 6HP. I opted for a 4HP 4 stroke based on an opportunity and have been very happy. There certainly is a point where more throttle serves no purpose. Depending upon boat payload and positioning more throttle sometimes only equates to stern slump. Driftboats were made to drift not motor. My 4HP always gets me back to the launch. :coolgleam

 

For all the great replies. Sounds like I need to be looking at a 4 or 6. Have you guys been able to ascend the Mo or Big Man then? For instance, if you put in at tippy can you avoid having to drift down to high bridge and instead just motor back up? Or do a similar day at Pine Street on the Muskegon without having to float all the way down to Thornapple?

I'd hate to go as low as a 4 and then realize I can't get back up the Manistee in the spring with a couple of bigger buddies in the boat. Although after rowing these guys I have been thinking about some new (lighter) friends....

Thanks again!

 

I would go bigger in case you want to use the motor for something else as well. 4hp is pretty small.

 

Cool - zeroing in on the 6 HP. Just need to get upstream on the manistee and mo and from what you all say, the 8 HP doesn't seem to buy me much except about 20 extra lbs. also like that the 6 hps I am looking at have integrated fuel tank. Small but beats more lines in the boat.

 

I use a 5hp 4 stroke on mine, up and down the Muskegon all day long.

 

the Nissan 4 is sweet - internal tank 1/3 gallon. Just need a small 1G gas can to last an entire weekend.

 

I have a 6 hp tahatsu. The 4 an the 6 hp have the same wgt. so went with the 6hp. Been very happy.

 

Cool - zeroing in on the 6 HP. Just need to get upstream on the manistee and mo and from what you all say, the 8 HP doesn't seem to buy me much except about 20 extra lbs. also like that the 6 hps I am looking at have integrated fuel tank. Small but beats more lines in the boat.

I have an '01 mercury 8hp on my boat, buddy has the same year 6hp. With those motors, 8 and 6 are exact same weight, just have a different carb. Just something to think about


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I had a 3.3hrs merc with my 15' clacka and it was about perfect for the mo. Mine was a low profile, I assume yours is a high side? If so you could def go with a 6hrs long shaft. As stated, make sure you stay with an internal tank or else you'll need to figure for putting a separate tank in the boat


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