Enough horsepower??

[fishKILLER1987]

I have a 24ft Robalo center console. The boat has a Mercury Black Max 275 on it, but the motor needs a little work. So my idea is to take the 275 off and work on it. While the 275 is off, I was considering putting a spare Evinrude 115 that I have in my garage on the boat just to get me around the bay while the 275 is in the shop. My only concern is that the 115 will not be powerful enough to move my boat. Will I be able to get around the bay with the 115 or is it not worth the trouble to swap the motors??

Thank You.

 

[DJ]

Re: Enough horsepower??

You will kill the 115.

 

[fishKILLER1987]

Re: Enough horsepower??

Thats what i thought...but if i just use the 115 to put around in and not going over maybe 10 or 15 MPH or on long trips, would it be ok??

Strictly just to putt around in...Nothing FAST or FANCY.

 

[trendsetter240]

Re: Enough horsepower??

I swear I answered this exact question less than a week ago but I can find it in my history..deja vu?

Sure you can putt around with the 115 but as mentioned it's way too much boat for that motor. Put on a low pitch prop and you can probably cruise around at 20-25mph. It sure won't be as much fun as the 275

 

[DJ]

Re: Enough horsepower??

The problem with putting around is that it will be at displacement speeds. Outboards don't like that.

 

[fishKILLER1987]

Re: Enough horsepower??

Yes! I actually asked this exact question last week but after posting it, I could never find it again.

Anyways, yeah if I could cruise around at 20mph that would be great! Thats more than I need for the time being. If I decide to do this swap then I will look into swapping the prop. Is there anything else I can do to help the 115 push my boat??

Also, Im not too worried about buring up the Evinrude. Its an older motor which doesnt have much life left in it anyways, so i figure what better way to go then on a BAD A** boat!

 

[trendsetter240]

Re: Enough horsepower??

I knew it! I wonder what happend to that thread?

All you can do to help that 115 is chose the correct prop, reduce weight and reduce drag by cleaning the hull. If I remember correctly that hull has tons of growth on it.

I think the 115 will be fine as long as you can get up to the recomended RPM range at WOT. Just a guess but I would start off with a 4 blade 13" pitch prop. Might even need a 12" pitch.

Still, performance will be marginal at best and your fuel economy will be terrible as you'll need to floor the motor to stay on a plane. But it can be done.

 

[fishKILLER1987]

Re: Enough horsepower??

Beats me! I guess it was deleted...

Yes the hull is deffinitely in need of a good cleaing, which I have already begun. Never thought it would be so much work scraping barnacles off the bottom of a boat... Ok good, I feel alot better about putting the evinrude on the boat for a few good runs in the bay. I wasnt even considering trying to get the boat on plane, I was content with simply putting around as if I was in a giant NO WAKE zone. HaHa. But if that 115 can get her going 20MPH I will be extatic!

I'm going to deff swap the prop out. Sounds like it will help alot, and the way I'm doin things Im gonna need all the help I can get.

And I dont anticipate making long trips in the boat with the 115 so hopefully the terrible gas mileage wont eat too big of a hole into my pockets.

Thanks for the advice! Much appreciated.

 

[trendsetter240]

Re: Enough horsepower??

It should plane with the right prop. Just remember the most important thing is that your motor is able to reach the recomended RPM range at WOT.


Cheers~!

 

[saumon]

Re: Enough horsepower??

... but the motor needs a little work...

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=382826

That's not exactly what i call "little work"!

BTW, here's the other port you were looking for:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=380309