115 hp to little hp?

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Bar_Hopper

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I'm looking at a used V-20 step lift with a 115 hp ocean pro on a bracket. This would be a family boat and I wondered if that would be enough power to pull someone on water skis. Any input would be helpful. Thanks.
 
Welcome!!
IMO NO!! 115 will be the bear min, on this boat!! and good for short runs only!

150 will get you to 30 knots and a 175 into the mid 30's 200 will get you to low 40!'s
 
MJ's right(as usual)...140/150 is min on the v20...you'll feel sluggish and over-work that 115...on the other hand if you're sittin' on a FREE 115, hang that puppy on there and go fishin' ;D...if you gotta pay for one, throw a few more bucks at a 150 :D...
 
Bar Hopper, glade to see you made it over to this site with your questions. I have a 115 Hp. Yamaha on mine and it is slow 23 mph at 5200 rpm. Like most have said 150 seems to be min. If you get a good price you can repower with a good used or new motor, thats what I hope to do. Yes it is a great family boat. I live in Doylestown not far from you and boat in Tuckerton N.J. Crusher
 
Barhopper - 115 is small, especially for the hole shot with a water skier in tow. But if that is what you have to work with, then use a low pitch/high diameter prop. You will lose a little top speed, but get a better hole shot and less wear on the motor for being underpowered. Since your buddy, Crusher, has a similar setup, he could probably be more helpful than I as to the exact prop to use.
 
Like Seakindly said. Also, a four bladed prop will give you very good holeshots. Again, you loose a marginal top end though. Most boats that are looking to tow water skiiers or any sort of water sports go for out of the hole performance rather than top end speed.
 
Crusher, thanks for the tip on this site. Between here and the “Barn” it just amazes me how much good information is available on the web. I’ll have to see where the owner wants to go with his price and see if I can get the boat for a low dollar and re-power and sell of the existing 115 hp. Although it would be cool to see if it could take twin 115’s. Thanks to everyone here for their advice, I greatly appreciate it. Enjoy the holidays.
 
I need to ask Macojoe (I guess you have been asked ,but I missed it) what does the weight of the outboard do hanging back there ? I think you have a 115, but what will a 150 do ? wiill the stern squat when sitting since my scuppers are only just above the water line with the 175 evenrude? any trim changes when running
 
I can't believe I missed this thread. Barhopper, I have a 112hp Sea Drive on my '86 Step Lift. It eventually gets up on a plane and I could pull a tube, but I definately wouldn't be able to pull a single ski up out of the water. Maybe a patient, experienced double skier who could then drop. I have the second smallest prop listed in my owners manual on, a 13 3/4 X 15. I'm considering trim tabs. I am too cheap for a GPS so I have no idea how "fast" the boat goes, but I do know it's not as fast as most of the others around me. On the other hand, it sure rides smooth ;). When I do repower, I won't go lower than a 150.
 
Maybe I'm thinking to far outside the box. But do you think it would be possible to just add another 115hp on the bracket the currnet 115 hp is on?
 
well if the transom is strong and you have anough room?? That would be the big issue!!

But just remmeber tow motors twice the repairs, twice the gas, twice the headaches
 
[glow=red,2,300][/glow] i have a 1978 step that came with a 150 mercury black max with oil injection and the boats top speed according to my gps and fish finder is about 35mph.
i dont think you would be happy with a smaller engine because i would like to have a 200hp on mine
but my boat and engine has its own personality, it always gets us home safe and i would not change that for anything
i broke down 3 times, once at the launch ramp and to times on the traler at the mariner when i was flushing her out,she always brought us home,and i love her for that
 
Wow, some of these replies have me worried, my new Center Console came with a 120 Mercruiser,,,,I hope when I get it in the water I am satisfied with the power it has
 
Mirage, CC is a little lighter, I think...that 115 was on a cuddy...plus your i/os probably turnin' out a little more torque, so I wouldn't sweat much...til you splash it and throttle up...then you'll know... ;)...
 
Mirage,

Worried? Dont be. I bought the boat that Bar Hopper was talking about. 1985 with 1999 115 Ocean Pro. Its plenty fast for me. 22-23 kts cruise. I had it up to 27-28 ish so far at 5500. Honestly, for bay fishing and going outside on nice days, you really cant go much faster in the wind blown chop etc. Or at least i dont like to. ;D If you boat on a lake or are a speed freak, then the mecruiser may be slow for you. I really dont need to know what 50 knots feels like in a V20.

Now, I must say that I am a little "used" to 20-30 knot speeds, as for the last ten years or so I fished primarily on larger sportfishers offshore. If i can tolerate a 3 and a half hour ride to the canyons at 23 knots, a little run across the bay or out the inlet at the same speed is not a problem.

My boat gets up on plane with two people, full fuel and all gear with no problems and no hesitation. Remember, some v20's were sold from the factory with 112 hp sea drives. If the boat was completely ineffcient and would not run right with that power, they wouldnt have offered it. CTV20 just took his old seadrive off after almost 20 years and it still runs!

Dont let anything you read here worry you. (Unless its one of macojoe's posts - then be very worried! ;D) I was ready to rip out my original fuel tank in my 85 this winter after reading a bunch of posts and coming to the conclusion that mine had to be leaking. Well, its not. ;)
 
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