Weight questions on an 85 & 125 force

[laydback]

I am new to this but I have a couple of questions. First some history.... I have an 1987 Bayliner Capri with a Force 85 on it that runs like a champ. We can tube, ski, board... all the fun stuff, but not as fast as I would like to and when I am turning corners I see a loss of about 10 to 15 mph depending on how sharp I turn and how many are in the boat with me. I recently found a 1988 force 125 for $500 and I am considering buying it. My Questions are.
1) Is a 125 alot heavier than a 85 and will it damage my boat, and is it ok to put on if the CG sticker says 90 horse max?
2) Is a 1988 force actually made by mercury, and will I see a noticable improvment in performance if I swap motors out.
3) Will any of the major parts, lower unit, stator etc... fit from one to the other if needed?
Thank you.

 

[timdan94]

Re: Weight questions on an 85 & 125 force

the 85 hp force without power tilt/trim weighs 259 lbs and the 125 force with trim/tilt weighs 300 lbs according to my owners manual that is for the us marine built forces

 

[john from md]

Re: Weight questions on an 85 & 125 force

Take that hydrofoil off of your motor and install a set of smart tabs. They will keep your prop in the water during the turns. Since the auto adjust, they will also compensate for the amount of people in the boat.

I have an 85hp on a 16ft Bayliner Capri and the smart tabs made all the difference in the world. When I made tight turns with the Dole fin, sometimes I wondered if it was going to go all the way over. The smart tabs made the turns more controllable.

Many of the parts from a 125 will interchange with an 85 and vice versa. One difference though is that they have different lower gear ratios. I don't Know know if that is a good thing or not for your application. Additionally, if the capacity plate says 90hp max (like mine), you may be violating some state laws by putting the bigger engine on it.

John from MD

 

[roscoe]

Re: Weight questions on an 85 & 125 force

no, no, no, maybe, yes.

 

[JoeCrow]

Re: Weight questions on an 85 & 125 force

In most states the Coast Guard can and will issue a citation (at the very least) if the boat is overpowered beyond the max specified on the plate
Also, if you have insurance, that will create more problems as they may not cover you
And on top of that, there's always the transom being ripped out to consider
I'd get a LOT more input before jumping from an 85hp motor to a 125
Especially if the boat calls for an 90 hp max
Your entire 95 lower end will bolt right on a 125, but as mentioned it is a different gear ratio

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Weight questions on an 85 & 125 force

Well, no one can make the decision for you but here are a couple of pros and cons:

The 125 will use the exact same bolt holes and controls as the 85. The installation should take only about an hour if you have help.

If the transom is soft or not up to par, the heavier engine may cause problems. But if you reinforce it then it will most probably be safe. Bottom line here is if you stand on the cavitation plate and bounce on it while the boat is on the trailer, if it (the transom) moves, you need to rebuild and reinforce it.

The heavier engine on a small boat ( I am guessing 15 or 16 foot) will cause water to wash up over the transom during rapid slow downs.

You will see a noticable improvement in straight -away speed ---obviously you are putting 30% more power into the water. However on a smaller boat, a skier will still drag the back out on hard cuts and the boat may become a bit more unstable at speed. It may (depending upon hull andseed attained) start to chine-walk which can be very disconcerting.

You will need to change props since the engine is almost certainly propped for a larger boat.

The authorities can give you a hassle but if you normally boat where the gendarmes do not frequent, and if you behave , and don't act irresponsibly (Yeah, I know! Some guys will say bolting on an engine that size IS irresponsible) you may get away with it

And lastly, there is nothing like doing 50+ in a small boat.

I have a 15 foot Glastron which is rated for 90 and I will be mounting a 140 on it for fun. I expect it to come close to 60 but I intend to use it alone and when the water is clear of other boats. As an example, this same hull was used in the James Bond "Live and Let Die" to perform the longest jump ever recorded by a boat. It was powered with an OMC 135.

 

[Seon]

Re: Weight questions on an 85 & 125 force

... I recently found a 1988 force 125 for $500 and I am considering buying it...

I've got the opposite situation. I just bought an '89 Bayliner Cobra with a Force 125 that maybe too much motor for me being that I slow troll for Striper, Trout and work the banks for LMB. I'd like to swap out to a 60-80 hp.
I don't know where you're at but I'd swap straight across .