Kid's OB boat. TOO DANG FAST!!!

[jdlough]

So, I ignored iboats forum advice for a teenager's boat and bought the teenagers a lightweight 16' WAHOO side consul skiff powered by an 85HP PTT Yamaha OB. I am SO sorry I didn't listen to you guys.

HOLY S***!

The boat is rated for 90HP, but DANG! This boat is stupid, Stupid, STUPID fast. I was hoping to get a safe boat for the kids. Forum guys recommended a 15' or 17' Whaler with a maybe 40HP. Around here, Whalers cost too much, and this "Whaler-clone" came up for $3800 and I talked him down to $2300, so I'm still not sure if I got a great thing, or the fastest non-jet ski death trap on the water.

Of course they love it, and I'm a friggin Hero.

BTW, I'm not talking about speed only at WOT (even the oldest teenager can't hold it at WOT for more than 2 seconds); the instant acceleration of this thing is scary.

Is there any way to safely 'governor' or slow down the intense acceleration of this thing? The kids right now are respectful of the power. But, being kids, I suspect they will push it till the inevitable oops!

Of course I don't want to underprop and burn out the motor.

I don't want to disappoint the punks by 'trading down' to a lesser boat. This boat is only rated for 640lbs of people (which is AT MOST 4 teenagers).

So, I'm thinking that my best hope is to find on CL a maybe 19' center consol that needs a motor. A 19' would be bigger (the older teenager likes to stand up while driving), could hold a couple more of their friends, and a bigger boat wouldn't go so dang fast.

Other than this idea, If I could find someone with a newer maybe 50HP OB with PTT who wants to trade up, and could do the motor switch themselves, I'd be all for it.

I have a SeaSwirl 2100 with a 175HP OB. The kids leave me behind in 2 seconds.

Any other thoughts on slowing down an OB?
Jim

 

[krakatoa]

Re: Kid's OB boat. TOO DANG FAST!!!

jajajaja, you are my hero, take the price down from 3,800 to 2,300.00 aNd bought the kids thE fastest boat in the crowd??? wow!!!! you are SUPER DAD!!!!!

 

[5150abf]

Re: Kid's OB boat. TOO DANG FAST!!!

The only thing I can think of is to call a Yamaha dealer and see if they can detune the engine somehow.

Maybe they can get some kind of throttle stop installed.

Since the throttle cable and shift are linked it isn't as easy as adjusting the throttle.

 

[allpoints360]

Re: Kid's OB boat. TOO DANG FAST!!!

I think you're on the right track. Keep the motor, get a bigger boat.

You could look for an older Mako or Cobia center console in the 18 ft length and I don't think the motor would act evil.

Good luck!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Kid's OB boat. TOO DANG FAST!!!

there has to be a way to put a throttle stop on the throttle linkage. but, boys will be boys, and figure a way around it. Wahoo is an excellant boat.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Kid's OB boat. TOO DANG FAST!!!

Try putting a GPS on board that records top speed. Give the boys an ultimatum - if they exceed some arbitrary set top speed, say 25 mph, they lose privileges for a week. And, if they haven't done so, make sure they take a boater safety course, whether it's required or not...

Also, make them pay for ALL gasoline. When they realize that the boat will go through 8-9 gallons in an hour at wide open, as opposed to 2/3 that at a decent cruising speed, they will likely ease off the throttle...
- Scott

 

[pine island fred]

Re: Kid's OB boat. TOO DANG FAST!!!

Sorry, they are going to get in trouble with it. Detune it real fast by breaking off the electrode on one of the plugs. Then set about designing some kind of permanent throttle stop to restrict the WOT. Kind of like giving a youngster the keys to an SS 396 or BOSS 302. The results are predictable. Raised 2 boys so I have some experience. FRED

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Kid's OB boat. TOO DANG FAST!!!

A speed limiter (throttle stop) should be easy enough to rig up. You could also adjust the throttle cable (maybe) and give it a good couple inches of slack. Thus they may only get about half throttle, also this would be harder to detect and correct (for the boys) as there won't look like anything is out of place. Also, if I remember correctly my old Merc had a throttle stop setting on the side by the carbs....

Ian

 

[HappierWet]

Re: Kid's OB boat. TOO DANG FAST!!!

jajajaja, you are my hero, take the price down from 3,800 to 2,300.00 aNd bought the kids thE fastest boat in the crowd??? wow!!!! you are SUPER DAD!!!!!

YEAH, UM next time I'm looking to buy I want you to negotiate

 

[nitsuj]

Re: Kid's OB boat. TOO DANG FAST!!!

I don't want to disappoint the punks by 'trading down' to a lesser boat.

Don't take this the wrong way, I mean no disrespect...
But that statement is your problem right there. If they don't want to be disappointed, let them buy their own boat. If you're buying, they'll like what you get. If they don't, they don't have have to get anything. There is no such thing as a lesser boat. They have 2 choices, the boat your comfortable with, or no boat. So any boat is better than no boat.

I'd check the classifieds. You can either get a bigger boat, or a smaller motor. Do which ever one you find a good deal on first.

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Kid's OB boat. TOO DANG FAST!!!

It may be too late to detune the motor or restrict it some way because they already know what it is capable of doing. A bigger boat to haul more friends is logic they will understand. Good luck, dad!

 

[Bowser4x4]

Re: Kid's OB boat. TOO DANG FAST!!!

Don't know the Yamaha OB's very well, but on other motors, we have put on restrictor plates on the carbs. Did take some rejetting, but it is the same thing that NASCAR uses to reduce air flow into the engine. Reduced airflow= reduced power.

Woof
Bowser

 

[jdlough]

Re: Kid's OB boat. TOO DANG FAST!!!

I think I'll try to find a 19' center console underpowered with a maybe 50HP, and just switch the motors.

 

[Numlaar]

Re: Kid's OB boat. TOO DANG FAST!!!

I don't remember how old you said they were when you posted your original thread...

If they are "responsible" then you would probably be ok with what you have, it is all really up to your level of trust in them...

When I was 16, I got a 17' Aquasport CC with a 100HP Evinrude on it... (most came with 90's) max rating was 115 I think... back then no GPS and the boat didnt have a speedo, but I would say it was easily a 40MPH + boat. That 100 was more than enough motor for that little 17 footer!

All in all I was pretty responsible with the boat... there were a "few" times where kids will be kids, and got a little crazy with the boat... but mostly since my dad/grandfather knew about my abilities on the water, they let me just go with it...

I would launch/retrieve the boat myself, was responsible for gas/repairs, so I knew if I broke it, I bought it basically...

Maybe just instill that thought into them, and see what happens??

The GPS thing isnt a "bad" idea but what about skiing/wakeboarding? You need to get out of the hole and up on plane then back off the throttle... so that speed cap limit might not work...

I say just make them responsible for repairs and gas for the boat, and just see what happens... You obviously have a level of trust in them to get them the boat in the first place... This way you don't have to go shopping around for another boat, work on swapping motor's etc.

 

[werthert]

Re: Kid's OB boat. TOO DANG FAST!!!

If they are "responsible" then you would probably be ok with what you have, it is all really up to your level of trust in them...

All in all I was pretty responsible with the boat... there were a "few" times where kids will be kids, and got a little crazy with the boat... but mostly since my dad/grandfather knew about my abilities on the water, they let me just go with it...

I would launch/retrieve the boat myself, was responsible for gas/repairs, so I knew if I broke it, I bought it basically...

Maybe just instill that thought into them, and see what happens??

I say just make them responsible for repairs and gas for the boat, and just see what happens... You obviously have a level of trust in them to get them the boat in the first place... This way you don't have to go shopping around for another boat, work on swapping motor's etc.

Kinda/sorta agree. You already got them the boat. Best you can do now is talk to them. Make it fun, but perhaps have them give *you* a safety brief before they take it out... make them do some research and never the same brief twice as part of their responsibility.... once a week, etc. Just a thought.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Kid's OB boat. TOO DANG FAST!!!

The seed has already been planted and the boys will know what you are up to. Now we all know everyones kids are angels and would never think of doing something bad on purpose. However, as was mentioned, boys will be boys and if you were to put a 50 HP motor on the boat the boys don't have to be rocket scientist wanna be's to figure this out. So why not beat the be-jeepers out of the 50 and then plead with you to understand that the motor was just too small for the boat and it died a natural death because of it. The key here is to offer an ultimatum. Explain very bluntly that you screwed up buying a boat that has exceeded their capability and you are doing something about it in the interest of their safety. With the new setup you have let them know that you are looking out for them. After the moans and groans, if they are responsible kids they will understand. Let them know also that you are smart enough to know that any attempt to break this engine/boat in hopes you relent and buy another is futile. Let them know in no uncertain terms that if they break it the boat is gone. Kids learn quickly when hit in the wallet or through loss of a privilege. When my kids started driving I sat them down (in the car) and explained in great detail what the idiot lights were for and exactly why they were called idiot lights. To this day they are very attentive to every little noise a car makes and they know the costs associated with neglecting to check oil and destruction of a perfectly good engine.

 

[skysurfer2010]

Re: Kid's OB boat. TOO DANG FAST!!!

Just an FYI. The GPS idea won't work. You can reset the top speed on just about every GPS with a simple push of the button. "Look dad, I didn't even go over 15mph today!"

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Kid's OB boat. TOO DANG FAST!!!

Skysurfer. True, but a GPS can also record your track. If they're gone all day, the gas tank is empty and the tracker only shows they went a half mile, then well, bye-bye privileges...

 

[SeanT]

Re: Kid's OB boat. TOO DANG FAST!!!

If it were me I'd do the throttle stop idea. Toss in a healthy dose of fear of God to boot. Everyone with kids knows - you can't TELL them that the stove is hot.

 

[bad_boy]

Re: Kid's OB boat. TOO DANG FAST!!!

Don't take this the wrong way, I mean no disrespect...
But that statement is your problem right there. If they don't want to be disappointed, let them buy their own boat. If you're buying, they'll like what you get. If they don't, they don't have have to get anything. There is no such thing as a lesser boat. They have 2 choices, the boat your comfortable with, or no boat. So any boat is better than no boat.

I'd check the classifieds. You can either get a bigger boat, or a smaller motor. Do which ever one you find a good deal on first.

Clearly this has nothing to do with the situation, are you just looking for a reason to preach?