Outboard power question

reimelss

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Jan 28, 2008
Messages
76
I am looking at a 2000 Seaswirl Bowrider with a New Johnson 115 hp outboard motor.
It looks like the boat can hold about 7-8 ppl... But the 115hp seems a lil small..I have only dealt with I/O's in the past.
Will this outboard have enough power to get up and go with a full boat?
Does it have enough power to get a wake boarder out of the water?
Any help on this would be great...thanks.
 

Bondo

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Apr 17, 2002
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71,284
Re: Outboard power question

Ayuh,... How Big is the boat,..??

Just because there's 8 seats, don't mean ya gotta fill 'em with bodies...

There's probably a tag on the hull listin' the weight rating, 'n horsepower rating...
 

Philster

Captain
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Sep 15, 2009
Messages
3,344
Re: Outboard power question

Boat ratings for persons capacity = dreaming

an example:: A 115 will struggle to carry/plane 8 people on an 18' V-bottom boat. It'll get 'er done, but not with watersports. I think ''getting it done'' is also putting you at risk of stuffing the bow into waves or wakes.

Need more info about the size of the boat.
 

Home Cookin'

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Re: Outboard power question

generally, with boats of appropriate size for watersports, if they are full of full-sized adults, they don't do so well except for the non-skill activities like tubing. And especially with bow riders, they are seldom comfortable with the max capacity, unless you are carrying around people who like to just sit in one place all day.
 

Bob_VT

Moderator & Unofficial iBoats Historian
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May 19, 2001
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26,083
Re: Outboard power question

CAPACITY PLATE

It considers a person is 150 lbs

Even if it had seating for 20 people the capacity plate is the rule to follow.

A 115 will have enough power to pull a wakeboarder however, if it is not a wakeboard boat do not expect spectacular results.
 

spoilsofwar

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1,124
Re: Outboard power question

Simple answer, no, the boat will not get up and go with that sort of load and a 115 O/B. It will move, but getting up on plane will be a nightmare if its even possible at all. If you've ever been in a boat that was overloaded and/or underpowered, you will know what I'm talking about. If you haven't, it can require lots of slow throttle manipulation and slowing down slightly for a wave or another boat can drop you right off plane... then you have to start the whole process over again to get back on plane.

Now with four people on board, it may be just fine.

As stated by others, check capacity plate, and realize that capacity rating is a pipe dream.
 

H20Rat

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Mar 8, 2009
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5,204
Re: Outboard power question

A 115 will have enough power to pull a wakeboarder however, if it is not a wakeboard boat do not expect spectacular results.

Was about to mention that... Dedicated wake boats usually have fairly high horsepower engines, with low pitch props. They are meant to have thousands of pounds of ballast on board, so without the ballast, you can load them up with people and they just keep on going. (your gas mileage on the other hand, don't even want to look at it!) A 21 ft wakeboat is going to be rated for around 13-15 people, even though you have seating for half that if you want to get close...
 

CaptOchs

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Jul 3, 2007
Messages
230
Re: Outboard power question

You're probably OK. I once owned a 1974 115hp on a 16ft tri-hull. I had 6 people on and the boat performed great while tubing. Your engine being "newer" is rated differently. Back then they measured HP at the power head not the prop. Your engine is probably more comparable to a 125-135hp of my engine's era. If your boat is the 175 bowrider then your boat is heavier and longer. The advantage is offset. http://boatspecs.iboats.com/Seaswirl_Boats__175_Bowrider__2000/bp/66b78105
I'd agree with the other comments. If you're looking to host 7-8 people regularly you should look at a different boat. If you're exceeding the max weight for your boat you could get ticketed.
 

reimelss

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Jan 28, 2008
Messages
76
Re: Outboard power question

Thanks for all the advice.
Yes it is the 175 and its spec weight is about 1950lbs.
Yes i have been in an underpowered boat before, i used to tell the people to move to the front, then i could get her on top of the water and then they could go back to their spots..its was not fun.
What turned me on to this boat is the layout, it looks great with a nice wrap around bench seat in back.
Im on the fence because i think I would usually be carrying around 6 ppl and i would hate to have to worry about getting on plane
 

Philster

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Sep 15, 2009
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3,344
Re: Outboard power question

It's not unusable with six people; it is just that a big chunk of enjoyment is gone if you need to zip onto and off of plane a lot. It is hard to quantify, but on boats that size, and with just 'acceptable' horsepower, I've always felt six people to knock the fun factor down too far based just on weight/load alone.

The other contributing factor is space. Six peeps on a 17.5 boat. Little cruise through some calm channels and ferrying people to a favorite sand bar = very well then

Going out with skis, lunch/coolers, bags and stuff and six adult people for a day of boating? Do-able, but set your expectations accordingly.
 

ezmobee

Supreme Mariner
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Mar 26, 2007
Messages
23,767
Re: Outboard power question

On a 17.5' a 115 should do pretty well. A 140 would be better but I wouldn't consider the 115 to be underpowered.
 

reimelss

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Jan 28, 2008
Messages
76
Re: Outboard power question

It's not unusable with six people; it is just that a big chunk of enjoyment is gone if you need to zip onto and off of plane a lot. It is hard to quantify, but on boats that size, and with just 'acceptable' horsepower, I've always felt six people to knock the fun factor down too far based just on weight/load alone.

The other contributing factor is space. Six peeps on a 17.5 boat. Little cruise through some calm channels and ferrying people to a favorite sand bar = very well then

Going out with skis, lunch/coolers, bags and stuff and six adult people for a day of boating? Do-able, but set your expectations accordingly.


Well Said. Puts it into perspective
 

CaptOchs

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Jul 3, 2007
Messages
230
Re: Outboard power question

Sounds like a beaut.. I don't think I would worry about it.. You said you've dealt with I/O's in the past. Have to remember an I/O weighs a lot more than the outboard. "People" is a relative term. One person could count as two people. LOL.
 
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