A friend of mine is selling me a motor for a 13 Gheenoe im currently rebuilding. I have the choice of either putting a 1993 evinrude 15 on it or a 1998 nissan 9.8. Both are in excellent condition and have hardly been used. Which one do you think will be a better fit? All comments, good and bad, are greatly appreciated. 
172 Sea Hunt Triton
Laser Sailboat
Get the 15. I was looking at building one and I remember being pretty unimpressed with the expected performance specs with a 9.9.
Go to the online parts stores for that 1993 Evinrude and see if any of the parts are listed as āobsoleteā or ānot availableā.
If any of the critical parts are obsolete, take a pass on it.
Iām suffering on a 1986 Johnson, I have a few parts Iād love to get but canāt find any. It runs though, but I have a cracked plastic top on a carburetor that I fear will eventually allow an air leak into it, despite my epoxy coating.
Matt, would you choose the 15 over the 9.8 if both motorsā parts are available? Iāve got to make the choice within the next day or two so all opinions are valued. Take into consideration that there is no price difference between the two motors.
172 Sea Hunt Triton
Laser Sailboat
Yes I would, if both motors are in pretty good shape and donāt need a lot of work. Please note that Iām a rookie at all things outboard, really, so my opinion is worth basically what you paid for it lol.
But seriously if you can get the parts, a Johnson 15hp is usually a good work horse motor.
I am also potentially looking for a 9.9 or 15hp, so if these motors are for sale, whichever one you donāt buy personally, I might be interested in if itās local to the Chaāson area. PM me if this is a possibility.
Iād go with the 16. I had a 15ā Gheeno with an old 15hp Evinrude several yrs ago. The 15hp pushed it very good.
Bob Van Gundy
Marine Designs,Inc.
Custom Aluminum Fabrication
803-727-4069
Go with the 15. You will really appreciate it one day when you get caught out with a black cloud coming up and need to get to the hill faster than 10mph.
J Ford
There are a couple outboard graveyards around town that you can find parts at usually.
Rapchizzle, where are they? I have a part I kinda need (something I suspect is causing a problem but wonāt know unless I replace it).
I own a 15 gheenoe, run a 8 and 15 yammy 2 stroke.
Both will plane bote,you will need a stingray hydrofoil to get up on plane quicker and keep from Porposing !!!
IMHO I think the 15 is to much for a 13 footer.
Check out ācustom gheenoe forumā and alll the info you will need.
Love my gheenoe
Iād buy the newer 9.8 and simply re jet it to a 15 if desired. Chris V could give you a price.
I donāt know about the 1998 version, but the newer 4-strokes that have been made over the past several years are not [feasibly] upgraded from a 9.8 to a 15. Perhaps the 2-strokes are.
I know the 4-stroke 9.8 is a different block and carb than the 15hp. You can up the 8 to a 9.8 and the 15 to either an 18 or 20 though.
I ended up choosing the 9.8. Picked it up yesterday. Despite most of the good advice on here I had a little more advice off the guys at custom gheenoe. The 9.8ās water pump is placed lower than other motors making a better fit for a jackplate which I plan on adding. Also the weight to horsepower ratio was better. Overall, I think it will fit my needs better than the 15 and it will keep my heavy hand off of something that would have potentially hurt me
Matt, PM me your phone number if your still interested in the 15.
172 Sea Hunt Triton
Laser Sailboat
You wonāt be disappointed. Not that you would have been disappointed with the 15 either.
PM sent regarding the 15. Thanks!