looking for info on 16' speed boat w/50hp motor

[kmac]

I live on a small 67 acre private lake and currently our rules allow a 16' boat with a 55 hp limit. Some people on the lake have shown an interest in increasing the boat and motor size because they say they cannot buy a new boat----- "confortable boat" with our lake restrictions. They also say they want more power to pull up skiers not increase speed. My concern is the lake is not big enough for the increase in size and I feel safety is going to be affected. Can anyone give me info on availability of 16' boats with max 55hp and how to increase power to get a skier out of the water?

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: looking for info on 16' speed boat w/50hp motor

you can pull a skier quite easilly with a 16 footer and 50hp, just get a lower pitch prop and if its a through hub exhaust, drill some small 3/16" port holes in the prop, this will allow the motor top rev faster, thus taking off faster. and also, get a 2 stroke

 

[Oldsaltydog]

Re: looking for info on 16' speed boat w/50hp motor

I believe Bayliner offers a 50HP outboard with its 16-footer Capri.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: looking for info on 16' speed boat w/50hp motor

kmac, What are the dimensions (Width, Length) of the lake. It doesn't make sense to have a fast boat if the lake is too small. I have taken my speedboat(16', 150HP) on some lakes. Anything less than 3/4 of a mile, it seem like you are driving in circles.

 

[tomatolord]

Re: looking for info on 16' speed boat w/50hp motor

I have a 14.5 mckee with a 40hp and it can barely pull a skier, the boat weighs 665 boat...<br /><br />So boat weight would be an issue with a smaller engine for water skiing<br /><br />that is a small lake, and at wot you will be at the other end in no time flat,

 

[kmac]

Re: looking for info on 16' speed boat w/50hp motor

The fast boating area of the lake is approximately 3000 feet long by 500 feet wide. Not a very big area for boating. All boats proceed in a counter-clockwise direction no closer than 40 feet from shore.

 

[Solittle]

Re: looking for info on 16' speed boat w/50hp motor

Seems to me safety is the issue here. I have been on these smaller lakes when they are used by lots of people and lots of people in the water. The danger is a fast boat comming up on a swimmer and not seeing him/her until it is to late.

 

[jtexas]

Re: looking for info on 16' speed boat w/50hp motor

Jettison all the weight you can. Carry less fuel, fewer beers, fewer people, fewer firearms & less ammo. Wear less clothing. Get a haircut. Leave the tool box & spare prop on the dock, you're never very far away. Try Atkins or South Beach. 30 or 35 pounds can make a difference. I noticed a difference when I (don't laugh, this is true) pulled the carpet out of my 15ft/70hp.<br /><br />Turn off the stereo to reduce power consumption by the alternator.