Choosing between 115hp and 150hp for Crestliner Fish Hawk 1750 SC hull

[lakereadyliner]

I'm checking out a used Crestliner Fish Hawk 1750 SC hull and thinking about repowering it with a Mercury four-stroke. The hull can handle up to 150hp, but I can't decide if I should go for the full 150hp or scale it down to a 115hp motor

This boat isn't really about speed; it's more for family outings, some light tubing, and weekend fishing trips. I'm also thinking about adding a kicker down the line

For those of you who have experience with similar setups, how much difference does that extra horsepower make in practice? Is the 150hp worth it for what I plan to use it for, or will the 115hp be enough? I'd appreciate any advice

 

[JustABoatJunky]

A 115hp Mercury FourStroke would likely serve your needs very well!
You'll get good fuel economy and still have plenty of power to get on plane, even with a decent load.
The 150hp would certainly give you more top-end speed and quicker hole shots, but for your described use, it might be overkill and just burn more fuel.
If budget and fuel efficiency are considerations, the 115hp seems like a very sensible choice, leaving room for that kicker later!

 

[BornThisWay]

I mean we're all for speed and power, but you'll be pushing it to the limits and might end up damaging it. I don't have any specific experience, but I believe that the 35 hp increase in power will be noticeable but I don't think it would be worth it since you'll probably be killing the longevity of the boat.