6 hp question

[tony20110]

I have a 1997 Mercury 2 cycle 6 hp. Its a first pull motor and I love it but I want a little more power. Is there a way to increase the hp with a bigger carb like for an 8 or 9.9? Would it be cheaper just to sell mine and get a 9.9? I can't go any bigger due to water restrictions. Thanks for the help!

[lilmule]

With say 9.9 there is as some models merely have a smaller carb than their 15 or 18hp brothers and are reduced or throttled down in hp.With a 6 your asking for trouble,trade it in for larger or be satisfied with a 6.The difference between a 6 and a 9 with most boats is very little,somewhat dependent upon weight of boat but about 2mph, providing they are indeed a 9.What happens in areas that have several reduced hp lakes the local mechanics specialize in making 9.9 into screamers only certain brands and models because they share the same size or cubic in displacement with their smaller brothers.
So the support structure for a faster hp motor is most likly already in place,however they are not running 9.9 running from 12 to 18 and outside of legal running,when stopped by a game warden they compare serial numbers as long as it started life under the hp limit it flies often,leaving you sitting in their wake wanting more hp.
Life isnt always easy nor is it fair,no cheap way to get more hp from a 6hp and if you join that crowd you really arnt running a 9.Those same specialized motors cost a tad when compared to your 6 so be satisfied or spend $ and be most likly illegal and getting away with it.The ones that get caught normally started life as larger hp anyway just have a cover that says less.
Im an advocate of any size hp on small lakes but no wake for all,keeps some from sking behind a 9.9 or going 28-30 mph in a light john boat.Case in point Greenbo lake ky- no wake-unlimited hp the opposite would be Beech Fork W.Va where 18 hp under the hood is quite common and its a 10 hp lake,game warden couldnt catch a guy one day with 2 ten hp strapped on the transom.Greenbo years ago now unlimited no wake was a reduced hp lake as well,just less hp think 6 was its cap.
Your answer lies within as no 6hp hop up kits available,and would make its life short indeed.
I made my own decision continued running my Martin 4.4.Drilling the carbs and installing larger jets would get a tad more hp also shorten its lifespan considerably,just not worth the risk or $ that small of a motor,for a 1-2 hp gain cost would be about $650 from a mechanic to do that.
With enough $ you can bore it ,port it,have it running 8000 rpm on a hydroplane and 40 mph,can also purchase a new 10 hp for a lot less.

[Bryan]

If you can afford it a 9.9hp 4 stroke might be the way to go.

You fish the Fountainhead tournaments?

[tony20110]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm going to just look for a 9.9 but in the meantime appreciate the always starting 6. Bryan I have yet to fish in those tourneys. I'm just trying to get a hadle on how to fish the res before that. I'm going out a lot and posting my fishing reports on here if you're interested.

[lilmule]

Sure post your reports.