a pleasant surprise

[steelespike]

Some years ago we had a basic 15ft aluminum utility with a 25 hp.tiller steer.It served us well for years but was really too small for the many people and luggage we were always hauling.<br /> So we bought a basic 18ft utility and put the same 25 hp on it. Heres the pleasant surprise.<br /> The 15 would not plane with 5 people and luggage. The 18 with its longer wider bottom planed easily and obviously ran at a much faster speed.We would often set out for a ride with 5 or 6 adults and 2 children on the St.Lawrence River in new York State.<br /> The boat would actually plane,Not fast but <br /> enough to get from here to there in a timely<br /> safe fashion.<br /> So when youre trading up or getting that first boat check out the longest widest you can handle<br /> and you may get that pleasent surprise.

 

[MIKE F]

Re: a pleasant surprise

Spike,<br />5 or 6 Adults and 2 kids on a basic 18' utility doesn't sound safe to me.

 

[roscoe]

Re: a pleasant surprise

Co-worker has a big but empty 18footer. It says<br />1800 or 1900 # on the capacity plate. Safe enough for me.

 

[steelespike]

Re: a pleasant surprise

This is a bare bones utility not a flimsy utility.<br /> Capacity is something like 1500 lbs plus a 55hp motor.The 15 is a beefy old Lonestar rated for <br />1100 lbs. plus a 35hp motor.Both boats are still in the family and have served long and well under all kinds of loads.The 18 now has a 50 rude on<br />it and it flies yet is amazingly stable.

 

[Solittle]

Re: a pleasant surprise

Reminds me of a sad tale here in Florida some years back when 4 guys + gear went out fishing in their 14'. The boat capsized and two didn't make it back. They also thought they were within safe load limits.

 

[Bondo]

Re: a pleasant surprise

I also boat in the St. Lawrence, out of Clayton ny. I Don't see Anything Unsafe with spikes loads.....

 

[miloman]

Re: a pleasant surprise

spikes load is safe but if the water gets rough and you start getting pushed all over the place well I have always felt that you should never exceed it in fact about 75% is about the max I will go

 

[steelespike]

Re: a pleasant surprise

Ive been boating on the St Lawrence since I was 6.<br /> Keep in mind that while the river can blow up<br />pretty good you are usually just a minute or 2<br /> from saftey on shore or the lee of an island.<br /> Ive never felt I needed to leave the river in<br />in these boats.Ive gotten soaked to the skin<br />from spray many times and paused in the lee of an island for some relief for our bodies being pounded by the waves.<br /> We seem to have lost the thread I started with.<br /> The bigger somewhat heavier boat performs better<br /> with the same hp.Because of the larger surface <br />for it to plane on.