I am putting together a 14ft Jon and want to do a vanguard 25 with a SPS. Not sure if I should go with the Subaru engine or kohler or vanguard.

Is that 14 footer big enough for a 25 horse?

All those engines are good choices from what I hear, but I've also heard Subaru is getting out of the small engine business.

http://www.dieselprogress.com/May-2016/ ... CvZ_sk6emo

Hp aside, the weight is not that much different between the small blocks and big blocks. Nobody ever wished they had less Hp on their boat....

Aggh , neither the Subaru or the Kohler is a vanguard . Vanguard is briggs . With that being said I had a kohler 25 , couldn't kill it or tear it up , it was a tourqe monster. It wasn't however very fast.

H Finn

Go with backwater!!

H Finn

I also had good experiences with Kohler 25's, had two of them. I am running the swomp 26.5 efi on a grizzly 1648, not the best hull but the swomp is great! Getting 20 mph with just me, 18 mph with two hunters and gear.The Phowler 1744 looks like a good match, but I have the ss 59" drive so a short transom is best, not sure if Phowler makes them like that. From the price, you could probably go custom and get what you want/need and still not cost more, probably less, than the factory.

ya im definetly sold on the backwater setup! I think even if phowler has a taller transom I should be fine with the longer shaft BW setup?

Most LT's are designed for and run best on a 16" transom, if you get a 21" transom go with a SD. IMO

I have a 14 heavy duty riveted hull ,forgot the width but it wide....with a 25 kohler gd on it,its not really overpowered,id probally prefer a 16-21 hp on it......but it what i got.
With a load and 2 men i see a good 15-16 mph.
No load and alone i get 21mph.

Briggs,suby,kohler......i own a 22 suby,great engine.....but pricy on parts and dont like many mods.
The kohler is a beast that will take a beating in stock form.
In the end im a briggs man.
V twinn briggs reminds of the 350 chevrolet small block.
Reliable,can take a beatting,handles mods well and cheaper on parts.