buying new boat need advice

[dhagens]

I am buying a new Lowe 1860 and I'm getting a mercury and need to know if it would be worth spending more money and getting a 75 or 90 HP or just sticking with a 60 HP. How much more speed will I get?

 

[JoLin]

Re: buying new boat need advice

You won't be sorry if you get close to the max capacity of the boat. Rule of thumb is to power with at least 75% of your max hp rating. It isn't just a matter of top speed- it's also how well the boat will perform with a full load.

My .02

 

[JoLin]

Re: buying new boat need advice

OH- and welcome to iboats!

 

[southkogs]

Re: buying new boat need advice

You won't be sorry if you get close to the max capacity of the boat. Rule of thumb is to power with at least 75% of your max hp rating. It isn't just a matter of top speed- it's also how well the boat will perform with a full load.

My .02

^^^^^ I concur.

OH- and welcome to iboats!

^^^^^ ... with that too.

 

[agallant80]

Re: buying new boat need advice

It depends on what you are going to be doing with the boat. If it is going to be loaded with people and equipment you will wnat the extra HP. The extra power also helps when the water gets nasty and the bad weather rolls up on you. I was at the dealer the other day talking to one of the sales guys, we were chatting about motors, he said and I have to agree with it that there is a point where you have enough power and people seam to like to spend thousands more to get a few MPH extra by buying a bigger motor. I think a 90HP on a boat that weights 600LBS is way over kill and may cause more issues than it solvs. I am thinking the 75HP is overkill but if it is only a small up charge I say go for the 75 and no one says you have to run at WOT.

 

[jestor68]

Re: buying new boat need advice

What 1860 model are you looking at? There are several models, with hp ratings from 60 to 90 hp, with hull weights from 600 to almost 1000 lbs.

I always recommend a person go with the highest hp rating. That way, you'll not need more power later. Even the base model weighs 930 lbs with a 60 hp.

If buying new, always get the biggest motor available. It'll cost a lot more to go back later and trade motors.

The bigger motor loafing along to run 30 mph will last a lot longer than the smaller motor running it's little heart out trying to keep up.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: buying new boat need advice

I'll comment on both sides of this.

I first had a 14' side steer Lund that is rated for 35hp. When I bought it it was w/o an engine and the 1st engine I used was an 18hp Evinrude. It did well with 2 people and little gear but loaded up it was a dog. Later switched to a 35hp Evinrude and it really didn't go any faster on top end but it sure would get to top end quicker. It really made a difference in total performence.

Now I have a 16' Alumacraft that is very simular in construction and design yet it is rated at 70hp! Twice the hp as the Lund yet only weights about 300 lbs. more. Whats up with that? It came with a 70hp that has some serious damage so it has been removed and replaced by a 50 hp 2 cylinder that weight about 60 lbs less than the 70. The 50 puts me at the bottom end of the 75% rule but I still feel it's enough to make this hull perform satisfactory. Yet again Time will tell.

I mostly boat/fish on waters that are less than 1000 acres so I don't need a speed demon and I'm thinking I'd exchange the performance for the extra load capacity. 60lbs in a boat this size is huge in my mind, especially when it will most likely never see that extra 60 lbs. as my habits and use won't change.

 

[dhagens]

Re: buying new boat need advice

Its a 1860 sc frontier

 

[aspeck]

Re: buying new boat need advice

970 lbs and rated for a 90hp. I am generally a "More Power" kind of guy, but it really depends on how you are using this boat. If you are going to "full load" it to the 1552 lbs most of the time, then I would run the 75 - 90. If you are making long runs (20 plus miles to get to your fishing hole) I would go with the 75-90. If you are going middle weight, small lake or slow moving river, then the 60 would be more than enough for that boat. It just depends on your use. For me, I would probably be as close to the 90 as possible because of the lake I run and how I would have her loaded.

 

[roscoe]

Re: buying new boat need advice

I've had underpowered boats, barely adequate powered boats, and what some would call overpowered boats.
Near rated capacity is better.

I look back to the mid 60's - late 70's, when a 500# 16 aluminum boat was rated at 75 hp, or my 18' alum open center console was rated for 125 hp. Those 2 boats did work with the small motor that were on them when purchased. But I was much happier when I maxed out the hp.

Really makes a difference when you throw in the cargo, be it passengers, coolers, duck decoys, or fishing gear.

 

[dhagens]

Re: buying new boat need advice

Well got the 60 hp. 75 hp was 150 lbs more in weight. And I was told that I wouldn't get much more speed out of the 75 and it was going to cost another 3000

 

[airshot]

Re: buying new boat need advice

Well got the 60 hp. 75 hp was 150 lbs more in weight. And I was told that I wouldn't get much more speed out of the 75 and it was going to cost another 3000

Many years back I had an 18 ft starcraft with a 70 hp outboard, never wished i had more power. The boat was rated for 120 hp but the 70 would hit 33 mph and pulled up skiers. Was always glad i did not have to pay for fuel for a 120 hp. Today I have a 22' Islander with a 140 hp I/O, many claim that engine is to small for the boat. Well it does 34 mph (gps) and only uses 4-5 gallons of fuel per hour at crusing speed (22-24 mph) and I no longer ski, on Lake Erie rarely is there a time when I can safely go more than 25 mph anyway. I believe you made the right choice unless you are a speed freak, and you did not sound as though you were. Happy boating

Airshot

 

[tazrig]

Re: buying new boat need advice

Well got the 60 hp. 75 hp was 150 lbs more in weight. And I was told that I wouldn't get much more speed out of the 75 and it was going to cost another 3000

$3000 to go from a 60 to a 75? or was that a typo?

 

[JoLin]

Re: buying new boat need advice

Well got the 60 hp. 75 hp was 150 lbs more in weight. And I was told that I wouldn't get much more speed out of the 75 and it was going to cost another 3000

Goes to show there's always more to consider than the obvious. Whoever told you that was right on the money. A 150 lb. weight penalty on a 1000 lb, boat, to gain 15 hp, is not a good tradeoff. I think you made a good decision there.

Best of luck with the new toy!

 

[dhagens]

Re: buying new boat need advice

Not a typo.. 2900 plus tax

 

[bonz_d]

Re: buying new boat need advice

Goes to show there's always more to consider than the obvious. Whoever told you that was right on the money. A 150 lb. weight penalty on a 1000 lb, boat, to gain 15 hp, is not a good tradeoff. I think you made a good decision there.

Goes along with what I've decided and stated in a previous post. That being with the original 70hp maxed outboard on a 660 lb Alumacrft is overkill and why I feel comfortable putting a 50hp on it and saving 60lbs. If I was to increase power, which I still might, I would be looking for a 55hp or 60hp 2 cylinder in the same family which would increase hp but the weight would stay the same.

I just don't see were there would be that much of a performance drop between the 70hp 3 cylinder and the 2 cylinder 50hp on this setup. I see it as the law of diminished returns.

 

[NYBo]

Re: buying new boat need advice

150#??

 

[southkogs]

Re: buying new boat need advice

60HP vs. 75HP - you're right, not worth it. 60HP vs. 90HP (from original post) probably a different conversation. I once had a boat rated for 100HP and we ran a 65HP on it. There were times when the extra 40 horses would have made a big difference.

At $3k, though ... I'd have done the same as you.

Enjoy the boat!

 

[jestor68]

Re: buying new boat need advice

Well got the 60 hp. 75 hp was 150 lbs more in weight. And I was told that I wouldn't get much more speed out of the 75 and it was going to cost another 3000

If you were comparing 4 strokes, I agree that the performance difference would have been minimal.

I had (hoped) that you were considering upgrading to the 75 or 90 Optimax motors. They are different animals. That's 93 cubic inches of 2 stroke versus 60 cubic inches of 4 stroke. That Optimax wouldn't notice the extra 128 lbs. It would pull a boat length(over the 4 stroke) out of the hole and keep on pulling away.

I'm sure you'll be satisfied with the 60.

 

[tazrig]

Re: buying new boat need advice

not a typo.. 2900 plus tax

WOW! for the $3,000 difference alone I would have said go with the 60 but with the 150 lb. difference you wouldn't have seen any difference. Congrats on the final deal!! you must be looking forward to warmer weather, ENJOY