1997 17 Foot Carolina Skiff Top Speed With 30hp Yamaha 2 Stroke?

I have a 1997 17 Foot Carolina Skiff that is a flat bottom boat with low sides and just a center console no seats or anything. I was wondering what the top speed would be with the 1997 30hp Yamaha Outboard when about 350 pounds of people are on the boat. Cause I am contemplating buying a 60 horse power yamaha 2 stroke for it instead of the 30hp|||speed really depends on the prop. one prop might have you redlining with ease, but not going very fast. another may have you falling way short of the redline, but still not going all that fast. while the right prop has you going just under the redline and as fast as is possible for that hull and motor combo.





i have a 16' alum hull that sounds similiar to your description......


with the old 35 hp 2 stroke, it didnt have a speedo. but it could get just fast enough to get on plane when running light, about 20-25 mph.


it would spray me pretty good at that speed as i went through chop. new outboard i am seeing that at around 20 mph, i get sprayed. need to go faster or slower.


faster is more fun ;)





i just repowered it, new 4 stroke 60 hp merc (best brand there is). currently running the smallest prop, only 11" pitch. motor redlines without even reaching full throttle. have a speedo now, 30 mph when running light, 25 with another 300+ lbs worth of passengers and gear.


in searching for what i want in a new prop, i found one place that specified that the prop i currently am running is good for an absolute max of 31 mph.


there are much higher pitched props avaible for that motor, i should be able to hit 40 mph at least with the right prop.








if you have the 30, and it runs fine, keep on using it until that changes.





if you dont or it isnt, and any part of you really wants the extra power and higher speeds it will give you, you need to go ahead and get it now. a new outboard from any of the good brands, like yammie, will last at least 20 years if properly maintained. while you might be able to trade it in, you will lose money on it. get what you really want now and be done with it.











if you do decide on more power, a few things i learned when shopping for mine.


1. the 50 and 60 hp mercs use teh same 4 cylinder motor. 10 hp difference, one is 247 lbs and the other is 248 lbs.


2. 2 months ago, merc was overstocked on 60s. they were cheaper then 50s, almost as cheap as the 40.


3. the 50 is the smallest 4 cylinder. more cylinders means less time between power cycles, for a smoother (less vibration) running engine.


4. online prices beat the prices at any shop with little sales knowledge and high prices. but online prices are way higher then prices at a busy shop that sales lots of outboards and knows the product.


if you are a cali resident, i'd make the drive, even if its a few hours, to boat masters in livermore. lovely shop, knowledgable staff, selling outboards left and right at great prices (has been a vessel with a just installed merc on it every time i've been there)








and i knew this years ago, but its worth mentioning. winter time is offseason in the boating industry, off season means less business which means more deals to attract business. great time to do the big dollar boat shopping.








BTW new 4 stroke engines, all the technology behind them, they keep up with 2 strokes much better then back when they were new.


some areas are restircting use of 2 strokes to newer and cleaner ones, or not at all. as time goes by, not at all will be more and more common.


and 2 strokes you need to buy and use 2 stroke oil.|||Somewhere on your boat is a tag that gives recommendations of weight the boat can handle and what the highest horsepower that the manufacturer feels is safe for your particular vessel. You may even want to call them if you have any other questions that that can't be answered with a yes or no! I think you're making a wise decision by getting a 2 stroke engine. With a two stroke you will get higher torque and it will enable you to be able to get on plain quickly.|||I have a J16 that has a 40 horse Yamaha. I cruise about 23 to 25 mph according to my GPS. I have every bit of 350 lbs aboard. The only problem I have is that with my flatbottom, water spray comes over the side and keeps me wet at top end. I do the ole put around like an old man stuff.