1997 Alaskan

[gchess]

Newby to boating : Just purchased a 1997 Lund Alaskan which came with a 1995 75 Mercury 2 stroke. Boat has gone immediately for winterizing/storage and I will use it for the first time next spring. Previous owner primarily used it for duck hunting and loaded it with lots of gear and up to five hunters. Using this page have found the maximum horse power rating for the boat was 60 hp. A 1995 60 hp Merc wieghed 205 as opposed to 305 for the 75 hp.

I will be using the boat primarily for fishing with my four year old twin boys. Any performance/handling issues with having the larger than recommended engine out back, other than popping wheelies? If I mount a trolling motor should I put it up front to try to neutralize the weight distribution? Any other recommendations? Insurance agent will have a field day I'm sure.

 

[Expidia]

Re: 1997 Alaskan

You never mentioned the boats length but no matter . . . Sell the motor on Craigslist and buy another used one rated correctly for that model boat.

If the boat has no capacity plate on it call Lund and ask them what the boat is rated for. Also ask them (in case you go with a 4 stroke over a 2 stroke) since 4 strokes are heavier than a 2 strokes you might not even be able to go with a 60 on that boat. Ask them what the maximum 4 stroke and 2 stroke HP and motor weight would be for that boat.

What the previous owners had for weight on the boat has no bearing on how you should push its capacity.

Seeing that this is only your second post I hesitated in even answering your question because I figured it was a joke as it's hard to believe you would even ask it especially with little kids on board.

I figured your next question will be "do you think it's OK if I buy a 60 HP emblem and stick it over the 75 hp one"? . . .

 

[gchess]

Re: 1997 Alaskan

It is a 18 foot Alaskan with tiller. Everyone has to start somewhere and I will remedy my mistake before Spring. Thanks for the reply.

 

[Expidia]

Re: 1997 Alaskan

That's a big boat and the 2008 18 Foot Alaskan "is" rated for 75 hp for the tiller model. So with the 75 you just might be legal. But hull designs over the years might have changed and even though you have a 2 stroke, because of the extra weight of 4 strokes outboard capacity plates have changed too.

Check out this link off Iboats which also gives the 1997 model a 60hp rating: It may have been the one you were referring to . . .

http://www.iboats.com/Lund_Boats__18V_Alaskan__1997/bp/64b49717r0

The 2008 has a built in gas tank which further distributes the weight away from the back of the boat on a tiller model. Notice the side console model is rated higher because you are sitting in the middle. Some tiller models have the driver, motor, gas and battery all weighted towards the back of the boat.

If your capacity plate is missing (which could be a sign that the previous owners removed it because the 75 was over limit). Someone here might own the same year you have boat and let you know if a 75 2 stroke is legal on that boat. But your best bet is give Lund a call in case you ever swap the outboard out for a 4 stroke.

What you don't want to have happen besides being overpowered is too get in an accident and have a guest or the boat you hit sue you and they find you overpowered the boat.

This is off of their site:

1800 ALASKAN SS & TILLER PREDATOR SPECIFICATIONS

HULL IPS™ (Integrated Power Strake™)
IPS™ CHINE 69.5"
LENGTH 18'9"
BEAM 83"
TRANSOM 20"
FUEL 19-gallon built-in tank
BILGE N/A
LIGHTING Navigational
POWER N/A
OUTBOARD RATING 90 HP (SS)
75 HP (Tiller)

Sorry to sound harsh on my first response but it was because you mentioned you planned to have two little kids on board!

Since you're new to boating absolutely take a boating course over the winter. I like the ones that with the Coast Guard Auxiliary or other qualified instructor gives on a couple of Sat. mornings or eves. I feel it's better than taking it on they web like some do because of the interaction of the other boaters and the instructor. It's cheap and priceless.

My Wife and I had to take the course in NY if we wanted to drive jet ski's that a friend of ours owns. We took the course (my Wife scored a 100 on the test, how scary is that). But I've been boating for 30 years and learned at least a dozen things I was doing wrong all the time. Like I said, the course is priceless.

Do a search here as others have talked about the value of taking a boating course in other threads.

There is also a ton of info from other boaters here in this forum. You can learn a lot about boating by surfing through the threads here.

Good luck.

 

[gchess]

Re: 1997 Alaskan

So I have corresponded with Lund. They replied in a timely fashion and have indeed confirmed that my hull number is a 1997 SV-18 Alaskan tiller. The Lund representative stated in his email that "the maximum horsepower rating is 60, you will have to find out what a two-stroke 60 horsepower motor weighed in 1997. Four-stroke motors were not available then and remember that a four-stroke is heavier than a two-stroke. If you mount a four stroke motor on your boat the motor should not weigh more than a 1997 60 horsepower two-stroke."

I looked at data for a 1997 Mercury 60 ELHPTO 2 stroke, it had a weight of 207 lbs. The newer Mercury 4 strokes in 50 or 60 hp have a a dry weight of 248 lbs. A new Mercury 50 hp 2 stroke has a dry wieght of 204. I want to do things correctly but for 41 lbs?? The 1995 vintage 75 hp Mercury 2 stroke currently on the boat has a dry wieght of 307 lbs. Any suggestions on having a modern engine and staying under the 207 lbs or should I not fret the additional 41 lbs of a modern 4 stroke?

Thanks

 

[Expidia]

Re: 1997 Alaskan

Boating is a very personal thing as to how one is going to use a boat. There are so many variables and they are sure to change with each year as your interests in boating grow.

That Lund is a great boat and it will take whatever is thrown at you weather wise so luckily you only need to focus on getting your outboard within the legal limits.

Normally, I would say just use it as is for the first season but since it's over powered that is not an option. I can't see (even if money is not an issue) going out and buying as an example a brand new Honda 50 hp 4 stroke because it only weighs 212 lbs (could be the lightest on the market) but you're probably looking at 6k. I bought a few months back a 2007 merc 4 stroke with cables, power trim and electric start for 5k so a 50 hp 2008 Honda is going to run at least $5500 to 6k.

So since you just want to get legal I'd sell that motor on Craigslist and replace it with a used 60 hp 2 stroke if max power is important to you. You have the whole winter to search around for a replacement. You might even try and swap it out with a dealer for the peace of mind of some type of initial warranty. People don't part with good outboards so you need to be careful when buying used. Good outboards that were not abused get sold to the owners or dealers friends or relatives first.

I say at this point don't invest too much with this first rig because I guarantee you your tastes will change.

My personal tastes from experience found me hating my last tiller model. I fish to some extent but have been cruising more so I like sitting next to my passenger instead of me at the back of the boat and my passenger in the middle or up front.

The Alaskan has great room to move around but with little kids on board I personally would rather have a side console so I can be in control of any situation better (like grabbing a 4 year old who is leaning over the bow when you turned your head) than being tied to the back of the boat. As they grow older and you want to start pulling them around a tube I'd rather have a steering wheel for better control.

So I think your tastes will change and since this is your first boat just spend enough money to get you legal for now. Search around for a 50 or 60 two stroke (I'd stay within the 7 year old range for better resale value and better reliability.

If you knew that this was absolutely the style of boat you are going to stay with for the next few years than a new four stroke would be sweet. I just put on about 100 hours last season on my motor which has a 3 year warranty and I'm going to send in the $357 to extend the warranty out another 3 years, because just one repair is going to cost a lot more than $357 and I'll have this motor covered for 6 years. It's transferable to the next buyer too.

So that's my personal tastes . . . if I bought a "used" rig the first thing I would do is dump the motor and buy a brand new one. But since you're new to boating just get it legal and shell out as few dollars as you can for now on a reliable (not too old) 2 stroke due to your weight limitations cause your next rig will probably already have a 4 stroke on it anyway.


Don't know if you caught this thread on the merits of tiller steering on an 1800 Alaskan tiller model: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=200902

I think depending on the type of use you will be using your new boat for after the first season you might be pining away for a steering wheel!

 

[Betowsss]

Re: 1997 Alaskan

I didn't read the whole thread, so maybe this has been covered and if so I apologize.

One thing to consider, is insurance. It won't cover a boat with an over rated outboard. I know a local guy who paid the $100 per year on his boat insurance, and promptly lost a lower unit when he hit a submerged tree stump right off a boat ramp on Baker Lake near here in WA state. His insurance sent him a check for $2200 for the lower unit, which is more than he paid for the whole outboard. Needless to say, he is big on cheap boater's insurance.

If it was me, I would take the hit and get the correct HP.