1999 Bayliner Capri, Bigger outboard

[hicksjh]

I have a 1999 Bayliner Capri 1800 which is of course 18ft long, and weighs 1815lbs. When I get home from Afghanistan in May after my 15 month tour, I want to put a
2003 Evinrude 2-stroke 175hp Ficht Ram Injection motor on it. There will be a difference in weight of 124lbs from the current, 120hp Force motor and the soon to be 175hp Evinrude motor.
My questions are:

Will the added extra weight damage the boat?

Is there a law, in NC preventing me from going over the 120hp sticker limit?

How fast to you think the top speed would be with the175hp motor?

Is there a good hydraulic steering kit out there for this motor and boat?

 

[45Auto]

Re: 1999 Bayliner Capri, Bigger outboard

No Federal law against it (see link about capacity plates), not sure of state or local laws,

http://www.boatus.org/onlinecourse/ReviewPages/BoatUSF/Project/info1a.htm

but if anybody ever gets hurt for any reason and your boat is involved, I would expect that you will get to discuss it with a bunch of lawyers................

Any insurance you thought you were covered by will probably also be void.

Other than that, you can probably get away with it. My 1996 18' Capri with the 120 Force ran right at 50 MPH. Takes about 10 HP for every MPH gained around that speed so you should hit mid 50's.

 

[hicksjh]

Re: 1999 Bayliner Capri, Bigger outboard

Ok, thanks for the information, but would you know if the 1999 Force 120hp has a 20 or 25 length?

 

[JB]

Re: 1999 Bayliner Capri, Bigger outboard

There are lots of better choices than a FICHT V6, JH, and a lot of them are within the recommended max HP for your B'liner.

Overpowering by almost 50% is just plain foolish. It is not so much the weight as the torque that would put your transom and your life at risk.

I suggest that you swap the FICHT for a quality 115. There are plenty around in DFI 2 stroke and in EFI 4 stroke that would be a much smarter choice.

Thank you for your service. Come home safe and then stay safe.

 

[hicksjh]

Re: 1999 Bayliner Capri, Bigger outboard

I understand, I am just trying to more power when I am waterskiing. Because I am a 220lb guy, and on a slalom, that 120 don't cut it. You welcome for the service, this is already my 3rd combat tour in five years, and this time its with the 82nd ABN. I am ready for a break, and get water skiing!!

 

[45Auto]

Re: 1999 Bayliner Capri, Bigger outboard

I think the Forces were 20" shaft, but I'm not sure.

Not real familiar with slalom skiing, how fast do you need to go?

You could give up some top end and get a better hole shot by going to a lower pitch prop.

I know for some this may be an evil thing to say here, but a hydrofoil on the motor on my 120 HP 18' Capri made a world of difference pulling up wakeboarders. Without it the boat would plow along forever before dragging them up (pulling up two 150 lb kids at once). With the hydrofoil on it the back end popped almost straight up onto plane and pulled them right up when you nailed the throttle.

 

[hicksjh]

Re: 1999 Bayliner Capri, Bigger outboard

You need to be going 28 to 32 mph.

 

[JB]

Re: 1999 Bayliner Capri, Bigger outboard

82nd Airborne? Many friends in the 82nd back in the 40s and 50s. I grew up in Southern Pines. A first class outfit with first class warriors.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1999 Bayliner Capri, Bigger outboard

there is a big difference in the force 120 and the J/E V4 115, i had many v 4's they have more bottom end grunt to get your big tuss out of the water. the force was rated at the powerhead not the prop. 18 foot cobia,115 Johnny, would pull a combo of 2 slaloms and 2 pairs of skis out of a deep water start. would cruise out to 42-45 depending on load.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: 1999 Bayliner Capri, Bigger outboard

Cheap Fix! Buy a used 2-1 gear ratio lower unit for your 120. It will make a world of difference and with the same prop, you won't see much top end loss--maybe 2-3 mph. With a prop 2 pitches more you will still get better acceleration and the same top speed as now.

Get the lower unit from a Force 90 or some 85s. Be careful with the 85s though I think some had 2-1 and some had 1.78-1 so ask and check before buying.

That's if you want to save some money--not worth putting an expensive engine on a Bayliner--nothing wrong with the boat-- but you won't get back you money for the engine if you try to sell the combo.