2008 Lowe FM 165 Repower

[nuffsaid]

Lowe 2008 FM165 Repower

I have a 2008 FM165 Lowe with the factory ELPTO Mercury 50hp two stroke motor. I have added a full walk through windshield and normal fishing gear. At sea level I run a 11 pitch prop and at 7000 ft I run a 10 pitch. The boat is still under powered. This boat is rated for a maximum 75 hp and today I ordered a brand new 2015 fuel injected Mercury 75 hp 4 stroke. What pitch prop should I start with? With one person and gear in my boat with the 11 pitch I could get 27 mph. With the 10 pitch I can get 25 mph. Add another person or two and getting on plane is a challenge. Hopefully the new motor will solve my issues. I thought about going for a 90 hp, but was warned about exceeding the nameplate on the boat.

 

[ondarvr]

There's no way to know for sure until you start testing it.

 

[nuffsaid]

How big of a no/no is it to exceed the maximum hp rating on the boat plate. I am still wondering about a 90 hp, it is only 150.00 more than the 75 I just ordered and I still have time to change it.

 

[nuffsaid]

I found a really good deal on a new boat motor and my wife gave me the ok to buy it. My original motor is a Merc 50 hp 2 stroke and it is underpowered for my boat. I ordered a brand new 2015 75 hp Merc 4 stroke today because that is the maximum rated HP on my boats name tag, but I can't help but think I should buy the 90 and remove the sticker. Any words of wisdom on this. If I have three men in my boat with all of our gear and a 10 pitch prop I can barely get up on plane. The motor runs great, just not enough power for the weight. I am not looking for a speed demon, just something that can get me out of trouble if I have to out run a storm on the lake. I just ordered the 75 a couple of hours ago, so I am sure I could substitute the 90 very easily. They are the same block, and the 90 only costs 150.00 more. Any thoughts?

 

[Cat nip]

If it were me I imagine that plate would disappear. I have never heard of anyone being checked for hp.

 

[nuffsaid]

I just recarpeted my boat last year and I moved the plate, it could disappear pretty easy. A friend of mine that lives in Northern Montana told me some friends of his got ticketed lately for having a larger motor on their boat than the plate showed. I am thinking about changing my order now.

 

[ondarvr]

It totally depends on where you live on whether you can be ticketed or fined for having more HP than what it says on the plate, the regulations are all local, but not having the plate could be a problem too.

I'd stick with the 75, 15' to 16' glass boats frequenlty are rated for around 90hp, but that doesn't mean yours can handle it.

 

[jbcurt00]

Here overpower is expressly prohibited in the boating regs.

As is removal of or tampering w the plate.

 

[hunter200524]

You might want to check with your insurance company first......

 

[jbcurt00]

Merged the 2 topics

Please dont have multiple topics w the same queations in n multiple topics

 

[ondarvr]

You might want to check with your insurance company first......

Insurance companies rarely have an issue with it, just tell them what want insured and they issue the policy if it's OK with them. So far when I've contacted insurance companies none have had a problem with it.

 

[hunter200524]

Insurance companies rarely have an issue with it, just tell them what want insured and they issue the policy if it's OK with them. So far when I've contacted insurance companies none have had a problem with it.

So your insurance company said it would cover you if you put a larger motor than the boat is rated for on? Maybe they dont care until you get in a accident.

 

[ondarvr]

This has been discussed on this site many times, even insurance agents commented.

I went to the insurance company(s) and asked this question directly, also filled out their questionnaires online, in both scenarios, most, but not all, asked the HP of the motor. I asked if they would cover my 150HP rated boat if I put a 200HP motor on it, none of the companies I contacted said no, some did raise the rate though.

The agents that were on this site at the time said they had never heard of a claim being denied for overpowering. One commented that if they didn't cover claims where people did stupid things they wouldn't be paying out nearly as much money as they currently do.

 

[hunter200524]

Odd i still wouldnt do it unless the serial numbers on the motor were of a 75 and not a 90. I know as a company, if we were to rig a bigger motor than rated, not only could we get in big trouble with the coast guard, but also any insurance liability if anything ever happened to the people in that boat. Around my parts insurance companys will look for any excuse to not pay out a claim.

 

[nuffsaid]

Well, the company I was looking to buy the motor from turned out to be in Indonesia. I knew something was up when they replied back that they were unable to accept my credit card and needed me to wire the money from my bank. No thanks, I backed out!

I found a used low hour 2015 mercury 4 stroke in Delaware, I am in Wyoming. I am working on making a deal and we will see how it goes. I know where I can get a low hour 90 hp Merc off a vendor on Iboats for 5900. The 75 is probably enough motor to give me the speed I need, but have a little extra is always good. Kind of like the 540 rear wheel hp my truck has, usually don't need it, but when I do, it is a lot of fun.

 

[Sea Rider]

75-90 HP, insurance issues. You can always optimize a under powered OB performance maximizing a prop pitch, For that need a wot rpm reading test and don't see one on any of both post.

Anyway when OB has ended its break in period, go for a wot test as usually loaded and maximize a less prop pitch if in need to pull wot revs middle to max wot rpm range factory stated, although max range is preferred. Just keep and eye on tach when boating lightly loaded if like running wot so not to over rev.

Happy Boating

 

[nuffsaid]

75-90 HP, insurance issues. You can always optimize a under powered OB performance maximizing a prop pitch, For that need a wot rpm reading test and don't see one on any of both post.

Anyway when OB has ended its break in period, go for a wot test as usually loaded and maximize a less prop pitch if in need to pull wot revs middle to max wot rpm range factory stated, although max range is preferred. Just keep and eye on tach when boating lightly loaded if like running wot so not to over rev.

Happy Boating

My prop on my 50 hp is optimized based on rpms. The 10 pitch works the best at high altitude lakes and the 11 pitch works good at or close to sea level. The motor is just plain under powered for the weight of my boat. My new to me 75 hp 4 stroke is shipped and headed my way. I am going to try a 15 pitch prop to start and see how it does. It might be a while though as the ice on the lakes in Wyoming is about 2 feet thick right now. My fishing buddy sent me a photo of my boat running on a canadian lake last year and the bow was barely out of the water with two men in the boat, fishing gear and a live well full of fish.