Horsepower

[ae708]

I don't know why the thinking today is that a boat with a 3.0 135hp motor can't pull skiis well. I learned to ski behind a 25hp Evinrude. I admit that you had to LEARN to get up.. it didn't snatch you out of the water. I've also pulled 2 skiiers behind a 35..pulled many on a slalom from deep water with the same. My 3.0 with a 17 pitch prop pulls a slalom just fine. You don't need a gazillion horsepower to waterski.

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: Horsepower

I just think the big V8 and V6 boys want to justify the huge amounts of gas they burn every time they go out! <br /><br />I love my 3.0 too! I use the 17" prop as well...and judging by the tons of 3.0's out there, they can't be so bad!

 

[ae708]

Re: Horsepower

Don't get me wrong.. I'd love to have a boat that would run 65 or 70 but it just ain't in the cards for me.. can't afford such. But with a 23 pitch prop I can cruise all day around 40 and with a 19 or 21, top out at 49 - 50. A big motor would be more fun but it's not mandatory to have one to ski or tube.

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Horsepower

Don't ski and don't need a excuse. I like to go fast with a big thumping V-8!

 

[Boatist]

Re: Horsepower

If I were buying my 21 foot boat today I would get the 4.3L V6. Not for the power but for the multi-port fuel injection and electronic package. I do not think anyone makes a 3.0L with the multi-port fuel injection.<br /><br />Still very happy with my 3.0L, it has more power than I need. When I run with a buddy out 26 miles to fishing grounds fish half a day and return will end up traveling 70 miles. I will use 18 gallons and my buddy with a 18 foot boat will burn 23 gallons. Even on the best days I can not safely run over 3200 RPMS or about 26 MPH.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Horsepower

I'm with f_inscreenname,<br />I've owned Several Extremely Over-Powered Boats.... <br />A 14' Glastron Jet-Flite, with a 135hp Mercury "Tower of Power" was probably the Most Extreme........<br /><br />But,<br />I've Never had a Boat with Too Much HorsePower............................

 

[ae708]

Re: Horsepower

Guys... you've all lost track of the original post. What I said was that you don't need a million horsepower to waterski. I'd LOVE to have a throbbing big block in a boat to run 80 mph. But a 3.0 can pull skiiers just fine contrary to what most say about them. If I were to buy a new boat today it definitely WOULD have either a V-6 or V-8 preferably.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Horsepower

Nobody is Arguing your Point.............<br /><br />But,<br />Even Yourself States, <br />

I admit that you had to LEARN to get up.. it didn't snatch you out of the water.

et,al,<br /> More Power IS Better ...................

 

[ae708]

Re: Horsepower

I admitted that I had to LEARN to get up behind a 25hp.... I don't have that problem behind my 3.0, it brings me out of the water nicely.

 

[bluewater19]

Re: Horsepower

My buddy has a 75 hp 17' starcraft superfisher and I have to work a little to get up behind it. It is great for knee boarding and tubing and awesome fishing platform. I have a 17' glastron with a 190hp V-6 It will break ropes pulling my fat rear out of the water.<br />It is alot easier on me than the starcraft for sure but it sucks for fishing. I guess it all comes down to what you use your boat for the most. Do you need the top speed? Most of the time we cruise at 30 mph. You can do that in with a 4 cyl. or a smaller outboard. But I hate to say the first time I was in my buddys boat and we were driving 25 miles in the delta I thought to my self I will not own a boat where you have to run wide open to get any where. My boat 3300-3400rpm = over 40mph.

 

[DJ]

Re: Horsepower

There is nothing wrong with the 3.0.<br /><br />The problem is that many people buy that engine package in a boat that is far too big for it. They do that to keep the cost down.<br /><br />On top of that, many people try to pull water skiers/toys around with 12 people in the boat.<br /><br />The 3.0 is adequate for most, but does not leave a great deal of reserve for heavy loads.