I have a Wasp as well. I have a 70hp on mine and it goes sweetly. The 90 would be good - you'd have some extra grunt there. But I spoke with a coastguard instructor who had a 90 on his Sea Nymph 14'6" and he reckoned that it was over-powered (he didn't have the Wasp cabin version, he had the open-cockpit version) and heavier than was needed. He said the flaws were mostly rectified by adding a hydrofoil to aid it up on to the plane and trim it out better. I believe he had a permatrim as he also had a Yammie. I have put a hydrofoil on mine (an SE300Sport)and it does get up on the plane quicker and prevents possible porpoising. There is some debate about the effectiveness of hydrofoils, but from what I've read and first-hand experience, I would say you may notice some real positive results if you chuck one on.  

 

I'll tell you a few great things about the boat mate. Awesome design - by Frank Pelin - a well known NZ boat designer and who has designed some great craft. Solid, stable and very sea-worthy in the rough chop. Their sea-worthiness is renowned. The Wasp is great because you can go out quite comfortably on overnight fishing trips. Mine is as warm as toast even in winter - and the cabin isn't even closed off! (My cabin is marine carpeted though). The cabin offers shelter from the elements, and is especially good if you have kids. My 5yr old son has, on most trips I have taken him out, gone up front and had a kip. The cabin offers dry storage for electronics, sleeping bags, warm clothing, etc. Awesome for the dusk-dawn fishing trips. I've gone out on an evening fish, slept overnight, and got up early the next morning. What great times I've had! I think the Wasp is one of the smallest runabouts that has such a roomy cabin. Some might say the cabin knocks off some cockpit space, but I don't think that's too true. For the boat size you've still got some room to move around. As I say, just remember that your 14'6" is only 2 feet longer than a 12' tinnie, but what a world of difference in every way!

 

Basically, if she's a sound boat and you have got your engine serviced, you'll get heaps of fun out of it. As for an aux outboard, I would say that a 4hp should do just fine. And don't worry too much about what you are spending on it. It's only natural to want to get a boat up to what you want it to be and adding safety equipment or getting it kitted out as you would like does cost money, but hey, it will make you safer and your time out on the water alot more enjoyable.  

 

Cheers,

 

Wazza.

 

Both lengths came out with a cabin version and an open-cockpit version. They are both awesome designs, coming from the pen of Frank Pelin. But I have heard a knowledgable chap - a coastguard instructor - who owned a 14'6" and who was out in some rough-stuff with another mate in a V16, say that the 14'6" outperformed the V16 in the big sea. Now I wouldn't know why that was but apparently they were in a large following sea at the time. You would think that the longer boat would be better. But he recknoned that this wasn't the case. Maybe the gap between the waves suited the 14'6" better? It would be interesting to hear others' views on this. Perhaps someone out there has owned both lengths of Sea Nymph and can tell us what they reckon??!!! 

 

I'd be interested to know what your fuel consumption is like JH. I've found I get around 28M (nautical miles) from a 25L tote. I don't think that's too bad. I'd like to know if the more power that you have might equate to better fuel economy given that you probably would be running at lower revs than me to achieve the same speed. I cruise at about 4000RPM, and am doing around 27MPH (18-20kn) at that RPM.

 

About the V16 Sea Nymph's. The V16 came out with 2 different cabin designs. Both were the same hulls (same chine, V, flare up-front), but one cabin design was very similar to the Wasp cabin design. The 'Wasp' cabin design came out on the later model V16 Hornets - as far as I know. 

 

Interesting to hear from fisher re the dif between the V16 and V 14'6". As I've said - and I am very biased - but I will say it again: the 14'6" Wasp is an utterly awesome little boat for its size. Most importantly, they are great sea boats and eat most others the same size or bigger.  

 

Yea - it was kinda interesting how it all came about. I knew what my budget would allow, and also had to find something with a reasonable compromise between my fishing activity and also taking the Missus & sprogs ( I may be 40+ "geriatric" by now, but started in that game kinda latish in life, so have 3 young ones) out on alternate trips for some general fun & ski-biscuit towing & whatnot to keep in the good books. Looked at the usual around 16' for around 10K $ stuff - Marlboroughs, a few Bonito Craft & 1 or 2 Sea Nymph Commanders ... Sea Nymph Wasp not even under contention really. Was just about to commit to a good Bonito when the seller decided he could get more and actually did have a better offer (at least that's what he wanted me to believe?), so he wanted to negotiate. I decided not to, and started looking again. Saw this one half by chance on TM for a reasonable asking price, decided to go & have a look seeing as it was local, even though it was smaller than the others & saw what I thought to be a good balance between sufficient space for 1 or 2 blokes to go fishing off the back & not fall over each other but offset with enough cabin space to take my better half & 3 young ones out & be able to get them under cover & out of the rain/sun/whatever if needs be on a longish day out etc etc etc. Reasonably good overall condition for age, no obvious hull damage, ski pole fitted, 3 totes, very good condition 2000 model Brooker multiroller trailer, newish screen & a virtually brand new canopy & clears & the guy chucked his fully-kitted tackle box, 3 rods & reels & some other general kit (I'd guess about $ 500 worth of all in all) in just because he had no more use for it . All fell into place immediately, and the seller was keen to let her go as his shift across the ditch was imminent. As it happened there were a few niggles around the motor which I picked up on & wanted sorted - seller didn't want to spend to have it fixed up first & promptly dropped his price by a tad more than the repair quote to sweeten the deal even more - that sealed it for me & I went for it blind without knowing much about the design & its reputation.

 

Have subsequently spent around the "discount" that I got on the motor repair & few odds & ends & nice-to-haves and have only heard good things about the Wasp hull & its history & design and the rest ... looks like it was a good call after all.    Needs VHF & aerial as soon as budget allows (important, so the funds will be found) & I'd be keen to have a road cover - quote scared me a bit though. The rest is just usual neatening up & being pedantic/anal, so I will likely end up overspending on it - what the hell ...

 

Gut feel wants to make me agree on the motor issue - didn't feel to me like the 90 Yam was working hard at all with 2 adults & 3 kids on board, so should be relatively good on fuel use under normal light load conditions ...

 

Be keen to see a pic of yours for curiosity' sake if possible

 

Later

 

JH

 

Hey sorry for the novel - I guess I'm just happy the way it's turned out & your input has been a great comfort ...