Bow Rider/Tubing Question

[Purecarnagge]

Whats the difference in service aspects from a 3.0 Volvo and a mercruiser. Just different companies or different build/quality? Alot of people tell me to get a bigger engine, but what do you know every salesmen is telling me a 3.0 is powerful enough.

Also wondering if there is a better company available for a 19-20 ft bowrider than a bayliner or sea ray that comes with a sunpad on it? Mainly want my boat to seat 6 comfortably and possibly pull a tube once in awhile.

 

[cr2k]

Re: Bow Rider/Tubing Question

If the boat is 16 to 19 ft. OK If bigger, heavy, taking lots of people, etc. Get at least a 4.3 V6. It's better to have a bigger engine and wonder if a 3.o would do it than have a 3.0 and wish you had a V8

 

[sltintexas]

Re: Bow Rider/Tubing Question

is a 3.0 a large enough motor or should I make sure I get something bigger?

There have been very few times when I have had issues tubing with my 3.0. All my tubes are big 3 person tubes. I have one tube that digs in more than any other tube I have used that gives me a few problems if I have one my daughters..um, er, bigger friends along. Wifey has pulled me (200lbs) and our 2 kids in a big bertha with out issue.

I have pulled skiiers up, wakeboarders, and tube all day long with a 3.0. I have never had anything else, so I can't vouch if more power is better. I am sure it is, but it hasn't stopped us from having fun.

I can run pretty hard for a good portion of the day on about 8 gallons.

My boat is 18 ft. I have had it full with 8 people and pulled a tube as well.

 

[sltintexas]

Re: Bow Rider/Tubing Question

yikes, looks like the question changed after I typed my response.

 

[Purecarnagge]

Re: Bow Rider/Tubing Question

I find alot of the mid 90's has a 5.7L (250hp to 260hp rated) mercruiser. I think that's my dream boat for entry level, but I just see all these 3.0's litterally dropping in price. i know what I want. I want a 19-21 footer. 17-18's you can get by with a 3.0 because you basically can fit 5 people max on those comfortably and still get performance, or at least that's what I've been told. I guess you could get 6 on there with kids, but it would be way crowded.

Am I wrong in my thinking?

 

[Purecarnagge]

Re: Bow Rider/Tubing Question

My boat is 18 ft. I have had it full with 8 people and pulled a tube as well.

Wow, that's a lot of people in a small space, I sat in one of them 18 ft glastrons and just kept thinking 2 in the front 2 in the back and wife and i. No room for anyone else and the back 2 are gonna be cramped for leg room.

After getting in the Glastron I basically wrote a 18footer off as its just too small.

 

[sltintexas]

Re: Bow Rider/Tubing Question

It was pretty tight. You find its not the 8 people thats the problem, its the 8 people's stuff. You have to really be strategic on your storage and not allow people to bring their own cooler. We can easily fit 3 people in back on the bench, 2 in the captains chairs and kids always want to be in the front (3).

It was not something I want to do every weekend but it was tolerable. a few of those were on the bigger side so we had to adjust people due to weight and the boat leaning. we were over weight capacity I'm sure. My boat is rated for 8 people but only 1100 lbs. we did still have power to pull the problematic tube, on one run it gave me some problems. Otherwise we were OK and we wakeboarded without issue.

When I was looking for boats, we were looking for a V6 and a 20ish ft boat but I found a really good deal I didn't want to pass up. We originally bought this one thinking we'd resell it and make about $2k but kind of decided we liked the boat and just kept it. I've enjoyed it.

 

[BrianBSHS]

Re: Bow Rider/Tubing Question

I bought an 18.5ft (official reading) Sunbird and the first time I took my parents on it, they were like "You need a bigger boat" (Im 17). So, YES, an 18 footer is TOO small and too light. The heavier the boat is, the smoother the ride. and obviously, the bigger the boat, the heavier it is.