pontoon rating for motor and other questions

[coolguy147]

well i have a 1962 rivera cruiser i think its called its 20 foot with nothing on it my first question whats the max hp can i get on does it depend on the transom?(need to replace anyways) and the boat is lower than the newer pontoons good shape too. so will the newer motors work fine on it? and transoms? my other question is that im thinking about getting 30-50hp motor on it maybe less but how fast could i get on it with the side railings on it and no furniture on it? well of course the deck too. any estimates on how much it weighs?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: pontoon rating for motor and other questions

How much it weighs depends on whether the tubes are steel or aluminum. There were lots of steel tubes around in 1962. If they are aluminum I would make a guess and say the boat minus engine, furniture and railings is in the 1000# range. As for power, 30 HP is too small. That size pontoon being used primarily for low speed cruising would be typically fitted with a 50 HP motor. If you are on a big body of water and need to cover long distances a 75 might be a better choice provided the boat is designed to handle that much power. The capacity plate should tell you that if it is still in place.

 

[coolguy147]

Re: pontoon rating for motor and other questions

well its aluminum and i have a old 1962 10hp evinrude on it and it gets it up to speed and it has the railings on it and it really weighs that much u sure? cause newer boats usually only weigh 1200 lbs mine has no furniture u know just railing, deck and motor only 10hp i want to kik it up but where can i find the plate thats tells all this

 

[Silvertip]

Re: pontoon rating for motor and other questions

Since we can't see your boat, can't see how it's built, can't see whether the deck covers the pontoons from the tip the back of the tubes (many don't) my 1000# weight was just a guess. My 18 footer with furniture (four bass seats, a lounge and console weighs 1150 empty (no fuel, batteries, gear, motor, or accessories). If you have compared your boat to others and come up with 1200# dressed, then yours probably weighs less. Only you can determine that. As for the data plate, if the boat has no furniture, the plate, if it had one, is long gone since it is usually on the helm or one of the rails. As for speed, a 50 will provide about 20 MPH. Maybe a touch faster if it has no furniture.

 

[coolguy147]

Re: pontoon rating for motor and other questions

thanks man ill look into it any motor barnds u would recomend that r cheap 4stroke or 2 stroke is nicer