I just picked up an 87' Capri 1700 BR with a Force 85 on it and after running it for a day I'm completely disappointed with the Force. We didn't have any wake boards or ski's with us, but I would be surprised if anyone but a very experienced rider could get up behind this thing. The speedometer doesn't work so I don't know how fast we were going, but I was completely unable to throw my 150 lb. brother off a tube with it.
Fortunately, I came across a boat on craigslist with a good 175 horse Johnson on it for about the price of the motor ($1,400) and after calling a few shops realized it's fairly easy to swap outboard motors as long as you have the controls for both motors - which if I buy this second boat I will.
The plan is to swap the motors and sell the other boat and hopefully get a free motor out of the deal. I don't know the year of the Johnson 175 yet, but it's super clean and has electric tilt/trim which is enough of a benefit in itself.
My reason for posting is: I'm a little concerned on whether or not the boat can handle the motor. I've seen the boat come with 125hp motors, but not a 175. I'd also like to know if there are any difficulties you know about that I should expect in performing this transplant. I'm mechanically inclined, but have never owned a boat so the more information I can get before I spend a weekend breaking two perfectly good boats before I fix them would be great.
If anyone is wondering why I even want to bother with an 87 Capri, it's because I got it for next to nothing (I traded a pool table for it if you believe that) and redoing the interior is going to make a fun winter project. I'd like to use it this summer though, and I just don't feel the love from this Force.
Fortunately, I came across a boat on craigslist with a good 175 horse Johnson on it for about the price of the motor ($1,400) and after calling a few shops realized it's fairly easy to swap outboard motors as long as you have the controls for both motors - which if I buy this second boat I will.
The plan is to swap the motors and sell the other boat and hopefully get a free motor out of the deal. I don't know the year of the Johnson 175 yet, but it's super clean and has electric tilt/trim which is enough of a benefit in itself.
My reason for posting is: I'm a little concerned on whether or not the boat can handle the motor. I've seen the boat come with 125hp motors, but not a 175. I'd also like to know if there are any difficulties you know about that I should expect in performing this transplant. I'm mechanically inclined, but have never owned a boat so the more information I can get before I spend a weekend breaking two perfectly good boats before I fix them would be great.
If anyone is wondering why I even want to bother with an 87 Capri, it's because I got it for next to nothing (I traded a pool table for it if you believe that) and redoing the interior is going to make a fun winter project. I'd like to use it this summer though, and I just don't feel the love from this Force.
