enough guts

[the_anarchy16]

my friend found an 17.5" fiberglass bowrider in perfect condition (the hull is the best ive EVER seen this age) its got an 87 merc 70hp outboard on it in good running condition. we are taking it for a run this weekend. this seems underpowered to me. Will the 70 push this boat with say 6 adults or say 4 in and a tube or skier out back? just curious sorry i dont have more info.... not my boat so :facepalm:

 

[sublauxation]

Re: enough guts

With 6 adults in the boat its going to be a tough one for skiing unless they're pretty experienced or very light weight. You may have to leave a couple on shore, just make sure you know the local laws for a spotter or rear view mirror. My bil got nailed on a 300 acre WI lake that had likely never had an officer on it until the day they skied with no spotter. Tubing shouldn't be as much of an issue.

 

[the_anarchy16]

Re: enough guts

as long as it will plane out with 6 in it.... to ski would only be 3 or 4 in the boat 1 out back

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: enough guts

it's enough power for the boat but 6 adults in a 17' bow rider is cramped. Skinny teenagers would be OK, though

 

[the_anarchy16]

Re: enough guts

would usually only be 4 he just wants to make sure it would work.... thanks we are goint to take it out this weekend

 

[sw33ttooth]

Re: enough guts

i had a 17 foot tri-hull with a 90 v-4 on it i pushd about 1400 lbs and it was slow going we were just out for a slow cruise 15-20mph and i dont think i would put a tuber on the back end of that. another nice thing to know is wieght not just people with 6 adult males i would place you around 1100-1300 lbs, with 6 women i'll try to be honest say about 750-1100lbs sorry if i offended any of you but peoples size and wieghts also vary.

 

[the_anarchy16]

Re: enough guts

sorry not adding gass/floring the motor ect just people im thinking commonly have 650-1100 lbs

 

[ajgraz]

Re: enough guts

If that motor gets that boat on plane in under 3 minutes with 6 people and gear or 4 people, gear and a tuber I'll be impressed.

 

[roscoe]

Re: enough guts

my friend found an 17.5" fiberglass bowrider in perfect condition (the hull is the best ive EVER seen this age) its got an 87 merc 70hp outboard on it in good running condition. we are taking it for a run this weekend. this seems underpowered to me. Will the 70 push this boat with say 6 adults or say 4 in and a tube or skier out back? just curious sorry i dont have more info.... not my boat so :facepalm:

The real test would be to load the boat up with 6 adults on your sea trial.

Seems awful weak to me. I know I would not be satisfied.

 

[MAXXIE]

Re: enough guts

I've got a 17' bowrider w/85hp Force & the most I've ever had in it was myself, son & 3 of his buddies taking turns on the 2 person tube. It was tight for sure, but no problem with power. Another time I had mother & father inlaw (a bit on the heavier side), wife (100 lbs soaking wet), & 2 year old + myself with son (160 lbs) out back on tube. Again, no power issues, but real tight when son got back in. I replaced the deck this spring & changed the lounge, back to back seats to 2 single buckets for driver & passanger. Lot of extra room now & a little less weight as well. Only been out alone so far this year, but the boy is asking about the wakeboard I got for him so I'm expecting a group of teen's in the next week or so. We'll see how the power go's.

 

[Susquehanna Squid]

Re: enough guts

I have a feeling that you find it to be well under powered.

 

[NHGuy]

Re: enough guts

I grew up with a 16' 85 HP, then a 17'7" 115. The 85 couldn't pull us skiing on a single unless we could hold our breath for awhile during starts. And at wide open it wold do maybe 28 MPH with a teenage boy skiing on the back loading it down. The 115 was better and could plane out with a full load. I'd say you'll probably want to find more HP unless you just want to tube.
One good thing about those outboards is the immediate power from the 2 stroke engine when you give it the gas. Merc's have good reputation, I'd expect it would be good for riding around but won't win any towing awards.

 

[aspeck]

Re: enough guts

I'm thinking underpowered as well ... I was not satisfied with the power of my 16' bass boat with a 70hp motor on the back ... the 88spl was more to my liking, and I only had 2 - 3 adults in the boat. If your friend gets the boat, I see a bigger motor in the near future.

 

[the_anarchy16]

Re: enough guts

thanks guys..... either way im sure it will beat my 15 lmao...... we are going to see if it will plane out with 4 adults ok.... he is ok with a little underpower as long as it will do what he needs it to.... plan is a hp upgrade down the road.