16' with 100hp enough to ski?

[Mazda3GT]

I am looking at a boat for waterskiing, its a 1989 sea ray 16' bow rider. it has a 1989 100 hp mercury. It appears to be a fairly narrow boat. I am a salomn or however you spell it (ski on one ski) skiier and I weigh 155lbs, and my friend weighs about 185lbs do you think this boat with a ski bar and someone sitting in the bow to help it plane faster will be sufficient in getting us out of the water? Anyone have a boat of similar size/horsepower that skiis on one ski? Thanks.

Steve

 

[hibbert6]

Re: 16' with 100hp enough to ski?

Steve,

I'll say "No sweat!" - assuming that you have the appropriate prop.

I have a 15' tri-hull bowrider with a 65hp OB, and it will pull up a moderately skilled slalmon skier. I'd LOVE to have 80hp, though!

So, your 100hp ought to be plenty.

Dave

 

[shipoffools]

Re: 16' with 100hp enough to ski?

That should be plenty of power for skiing, We seem to have been sold on needing a ton of motor for waterskiing, I run 1988 70hp Merc. on an 18' aluminum bowrider and it pulls pretty well. (it did come up a little short when my 240lb nephew tried to slalom behind it for the first time, but after he got a little practice it was sufficient to get him out of water and give him a pretty good ride)

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: 16' with 100hp enough to ski?

I am looking at a boat for waterskiing, its a 1989 sea ray 16' bow rider. it has a 1989 100 hp mercury. It appears to be a fairly narrow boat. I am a salomn or however you spell it (ski on one ski) skiier and I weigh 155lbs, and my friend weighs about 185lbs do you think this boat with a ski bar and someone sitting in the bow to help it plane faster will be sufficient in getting us out of the water? Anyone have a boat of similar size/horsepower that skiis on one ski? Thanks.

Steve

Hey Steve, I would go to the Mercury Outboard section of this forum and read the threads about that specific vintage and sized Mercury. If you don't find some specific advice previously given: start your own thread. I run much older real simple ol' girls, (inline 6s), so I don't know the answer to yer question. Sea Ray Boats are very good boats, (I think due to their reputation for longevity, which: may mean extra weight). Some of the Mercs had a goofy system that droped the cylinders at certain rpms, and for that reason would not be good ski engines at all.

My older engines from a different era, are quite powerful, but they run on all six cylinders all the time. In fact, newer engines (of all types or manufacturers) which since 1986 have all been rated at the prop (verses the crankshaft), are generally heavier then my old Merc engines are (for a similar rated output).

There was a poster on this section of the Forum having trouble with a modern 90 HP engine, (can't remember the make).

I think any ski boat should be able to pull a 250 lb person out of the deep water with two feet in, (as many have learned to ski that way), and go at least 35 MPH with that large (and not uncommon IMHO) skiier in tow pullin' as hard as he can. You may gain weight and you may get ski buddies who are the weight I just talked about.

My 1969 Merc 1000, (100 HP at the crank), on a relatively light weight but fairly big 18 footer with 4 foot high gunnels is VERY POWERFUL outa the hole to 35 MPH plus, (it also has a small wake due to the lightweight nature of both the boat and the engine). Your engine should be 8% to 13% more powerful as mine is rated at the crank and yours is at the prop. Don't count on it! I think the old inlines were really underated.

In skiing: more POWER is MUCH better, take a big friend out fer a sea trial n' see if the 100 HP has what it takes to pull the big guy out, (with both feet in). Good luck JR

 

[1730V]

Re: 16' with 100hp enough to ski?

Plenty of power. Prop it right (minimum 5500 RPM with light load) and she'll pull well.

If the engine is a 1989 it is 100 HP at the prop.

 

[fishdog4449]

Re: 16' with 100hp enough to ski?

You kidding? We used to ski behind my friends old Swan Point 15' Center console with a Evinrude 28 SPL on it.
Pulled us up fine, we weren't jumping wakes or anything though.

 

[npd4432]

Re: 16' with 100hp enough to ski?

I have a 16' with 75 HP, Ski pole, and smart tabs to plane out quick, never a problem with my 325 lb. driver a 200 lb. spotter and me 230 lbs.

 

[dsujen]

Re: 16' with 100hp enough to ski?

I have a 1986 110hp rude on a 1983 18 foot cobia center console. It pulls 3 adults on a tube at between 30-35 mph and it accelerates like a rocket.

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: 16' with 100hp enough to ski?

I have a 1986 110hp rude on a 1983 18 foot cobia center console. It pulls 3 adults on a tube at between 30-35 mph and it accelerates like a rocket.

Tubin' n' skiin' are real different Kettles o' fish: Dsujen! I can pull a tube up behind me 25 hp Merc n' go 30 MPH, n' the 25 HP could not pull me outa the hole on one ski!! That 110 HP rude is the same as the ol' 140 HP V-4, n' they were real good ski motors!!!

 

[204 Escape]

Re: 16' with 100hp enough to ski?

I had a 16' 1976 Sea Sprite tri hull with a 100 hp Merc. Worked out great

 

[oops!]

Re: 16' with 100hp enough to ski?

no problem with that power for skiing.
prop size is the thing.
if you cant plane when u got 6 people in the boat and a cooler full a soddee pops and a 225 er that cant ski on the end of the rope, drop the pitch on the prop 2 inches. but when u do that, dont runn it WOT.
(with the smaller prop).

i understand where ol merc is comin from and hes right, but remember hes a very experianced skier. 45 foot rope shootin a course with 25 foot roostertails, layin his body on the side strechin out round a bouy and aimin for the next (WAAAHOOOO)

for the average joe havin some fun with his buds thats lots o ponies.

and btw
if your asking that question, that means your realitivly new to the sport.
please take a safe boating course and allways rememder.. the captain of the boat is responcible for all the souls on board

cheers oops

 

[guy74]

Re: 16' with 100hp enough to ski?

All I can say is i've been pulling a 175lb slalom skiier around for the last 3 years with a 1988 60hp johnson on my 151/2 foot trihull. It was borderline pulling him up with both feet in, on a compition ski, but it did it over 500 times the last 3 years. It will be more fun this spring since I upgraded my power on the backend to 100hp. The 60hp motor would even pull my 6'3" 315lb arse out of the water on two skis. I think the secret is to be propped correctly, my neibors bass rocket with a 225 on it would pull a skiier up as well as my boat. But it was propped to go FAST, not to pull a load.
Goodluck, be careful, and have a good time
Brian

 

[oldtwainer]

Re: 16' with 100hp enough to ski?

I have a 75 model 16 foot tri hull with a same year 115 Merc on it and have pulled 4 skiers up with it and sped along at about 32 mph with a little throttle left. These persons weighed from 125 to 200 lbs and we were seeing how much power we had with it--granted we did have a 17 pitch prop on it at the time. It pulls my big frame out of the water with a 21 pitch and run like a banshee.

 

[Mazda3GT]

Re: 16' with 100hp enough to ski?

Okay well a year later and I still havent bought the boat. But this weekend I am going to look at a 1999 larson 186 sei (18 foot) with a 1999 135 hp mercury 2 stroke. I am a very experienced boater, I used to ski behind a 1972 20' starcraft american with a inline 165 mercruiser (i/o). It was a big water boat and was probably heavy, it pulled me up fine (160lbs) but struggled a little bit with my friend (190lbs). I just want a boat that will pop us out without dragging us through the water for a while. Mind you the starcraft didnt have a ski bar, the larson has a ski bar which a high tie point will pull you up and out versus through and then out. I agree propping the boat is key, but at the same time by dropping pitches you increase the rpm, i dont want to be redlining the whole time i'm skiing, I would like to keep the rpms below lets say 4000 if possible otherwise I'm sure it will be rebuild time real fast. Anyway lets see what your thoughts are on that.

Thanks again.
Steve

 

[electricjohn]

Re: 16' with 100hp enough to ski?

The 135 sounds like plenty. They are torquey motors that don't mind running at 6000 rpm. Propping it to high to reduce RPM's (lugging mota) is more harmful then letting it spin and it won't save you any gas. Gas comsumption is proportional to the work you are asking the motor to do, not RPM's.