18 foot center console

[FishinchefPA]

Hey Guys, looking at an 18 foot Mariner center console(have been searching for one forever). It has a 70HP late 1980s Merc. I drive a V6 4WD Kia Sportage and just want some opinions on towing. I am fairly certain it will be ok but just wanted a little feedback before I close the deal. Thanks!!

 

[barato2]

Re: 18 foot center console

easy. i tow both my 18' holiday with 100hp OB and my 18' Starchief with I/O using my 4 cyl Tacoma, even through mountains and canyons of New Mexico. doubt you'll be going over any 5000'+ passes in PA. i pulled the Starchief 250 miles home from ABQ, and the only places where we were laboring was coming up out of some of the canyons near T or C that have an elev gain of 500ish' in a mile.

no worries, buy the boat and post some pix. maybe if you have auto trans, look into upping size of your trans cooler......this is easy install, i even did a tempo job on a rental truck once. but depending on where you'll be towing, speeds, and how far, that might be gross overkill.

 

[FishinchefPA]

Re: 18 foot center console

Thanks Barato. I'll usually be towing about 120 miles each way over flat ground to Jersey. And a few times a year a little further than that. I keep you posted if I can close this deal. Any other guys have some feedback on the towing question? Thanks Again

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 18 foot center console

Hi Fish. I think you'll be OK. Tinnies are much lighter than a comparable glass boat. A couple of questions though. What is the towing capacity of the Kia? And did it come with a towing package? And finally, what year is the Mariner?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 18 foot center console

You'll be fine towing that rig with the Sportage.

 

[mpm87]

Re: 18 foot center console

Fishinchef,

Is this boat in NJ around the Trenton area? If not please disregard the story below. If so, I saw this Mariner. The guy is very nice, but delusional. He told me he put $3,000 into it, but I don't know where he came up with that number. He painted the boat with a brush AND a roller (brush marks and roller hairs if you look closely). He told me he replaced the floor but there is a very soft spot up in the bow area. He put absolutely no money into the motor, but the compression was ok. It did take long to start shooting water with the muffs on though. I also believe there was a hole in the cowl cover and water got in and rusted some of the head bolts inside. He now wants $2,700 for it, but it definitely needs work. The trailer looks like a homemade one, but he told me it wasn't. I would definitely get a new trailer if I were to drive far distances. I waited and found a way better 18ft Mariner center console which I just bought. I'm really glad I did. I know how hard they are to find, especially in the New Jersey area. Just lookin' out for a fellow boater!

 

[FishinchefPA]

Re: 18 foot center console

Thanks mpm, I sent ya a private message

 

[Gibbles]

Re: 18 foot center console

I think it was lakelover that was towing his 16ft jetstar with a sedan...

my FIL has a 4 cyl toyota taco, he has the smallest engine size they offer...

I always wondered how he would do towing my boat (jetstar) or his trihull crestliner up the canyon...

I have not let him try towing much with that thing

And I tow his crestliner and my jetstar with a chev blazer that has a 4.3l v6, and I have no issues.