new boat

[pwgun]

i am thinking of changing my boat this winter, at the moment i have a 15ft waverider(shakespeare)sportsboat with a 60hp johnson. What are your oppinions as to what is a good skiboat,a good speed/wavecutting boat, and a good allrounder. I want to go up in engine size(but not too big as i need to afford to run it). But the boat must not be too much bigger as it is stored in a garage.<br /><br />Thanks pwgun

 

[Hasbeen]

Re: new boat

Give us some more information to go on! What type of fishing do you do if any, where do you fish? What type of activities do you enjoy on the water, how many people do you take with you? <br /><br />Hasbeen

 

[pwgun]

Re: new boat

I dont fish, at least not yet. Guy at work is pressurising me to start.<br />I have my boat to ski(novice), kneeboard(novice)and use a ringo(insane!) Although i also enjoy ploughin thru largish waves at speed(already replaced a set of seats as my bum went straight thru the other(were very old though) after taking off.

 

[pwgun]

Re: new boat

never more than three in the boat. 3 for safty.but any more would make boat struggle as one of my friends is a big lad.

 

[Hasbeen]

Re: new boat

I think you will start to get a few replies to your post now that we all know what your interests are!<br /><br />This is my opinion on engine size! Dont let others try to tell you to get a lesser engine for economy! I tend to tell people to power the boat at the maximum power rating for the boat! This way you actually get better economy because you do not have to run the motor at WOT all the time!<br /><br />I have no prefurence on outboard brands, you will get lots of help here! but as others in this forum will tell you I am a very big advocate of synthetics, both upper and lower!<br /><br />As for the actual boat, take into concideration what others will tell you and then find one that you like and buy it! Its vurtually impossable to pick out a boat for someone else as it would be for me to buy you a car and you would actually like it! What fits for one wont do for others!<br /><br />As for you liking to (Plow through waves at power) Boats are fun but very unpredictable in rough water! If you must, please wear you lifejacket and install a kill switch and wear it!!<br /><br />Hasbeen

 

[pwgun]

Re: new boat

fear not, as mad as it sounds, i never go more than 1 mile out from shore or venture into water i do not know (nearly always the thames,SE england, near the southend pier,which is 1 mile long , hence my shore distance). I also always wear jackets and have an ign kill that attaches to my jacket. <br />Thanks for you help and opinion.<br />synth? why? would it be wise in an older engine or is it designed for todays modern engines.

 

[Hasbeen]

Re: new boat

Well, Why synthetics, Thought you would never ask! I am not an Asoil dealer so I could go on and on about it as it is by far the best! However so as not to beat a dead horse I would ask you to do a search on synthetis on the forum!<br /><br />You can start using synthetics at any time with no problem! They burn cleaner and lubricate better than dino oils, (regular oils) As with anything else there are people that like and dislike them! Mostly the cost! I feel that I like the Idea that Im doing the best for my cars and equipment, not to mention having to buy expensive things like decarb treatment, spark plugs, etc! Its actually pretty much a wash and you still have the best!<br /><br />I had an 85 HP Evenrude on a 15' Ranger Bass boat that had a gadzillion hours on it when I bought it and switched to 100:1 Amsoil and ran the crap out of it for two years fishing tournaments and never changed the plugs once! Also used synthetics in the lower unit and never changed it either, just checked for moisture every once in a while! Just changing over to synthetics gave me a 300 RPM increase, enough to change one pitch on my prop which in turn gave me an increase in top end!!<br /><br />Youll hear people say they had a freind who had a freind whos brother blew a motor up using synthetics! If it blows up it must be the oil, right!! You couldnt prove it by me!! There are lots of reasons motors blow up!<br /><br />Guess I beat up the dead horse anyway!!<br /><br />Hasbeen

 

[bluewater19]

Re: new boat

I had the same question as you this last winter.<br />I ended up buying a little glastron 175sx with the 4.3 190 hp motor. I can pull 3 people sking with a power prop and have a top speed of more than 50 mph with the prop that came on the boat. I can play on the water all day and only burn a half tank of fuel. It handles well enough in chop <br />but sits pretty low so the ride can be wet if you go to fast in the bigger waves. Not to pricey either. I paid 16000 new for mine. You can get a nice used model alot cheaper. They seem to be put together pretty well.

 

[pwgun]

Re: new boat

thanks guys, time to go glastron searching, see what they look like. As for synth, ill see if its available locally , weigh up the cost, and i may find im converted.

 

[Spidybot]

Re: new boat

I'll throw in my 2 cents:<br /><br />As you are facing fuel costs way above any US boater, a careful look into motor sizes should be taken.<br /><br />Displacement and number of cylinders to feed has a lot to do with consumption. I run a 115 4-cyl Merc on my Sea Ray 160 and am quite happy I did not go for the next step in power (135hp 6-cyl).<br />115 is really sufficient and the difference in comsumption is noticeable. <br /><br />The Waverider isn't a bad hull at all. It tends to chinewalk at high speeds and is quite sensitive to weight distribution, though. The 12'6" is rated for 60 hp max, 14'3" for 90 hp and the 15'3" is rated for 150 hp. So if you are happy with the way it performs and just need more power, the boat can handle an upgrade. In our marina we have a fella with a 16' Waverider and a 150 hp Merc and it is as fast as it is dangerous. At top speed he has a hard time controlling it - on flat water! It runs so high on the hull at wot, that it is balancing on the very keel and even the smallest force (wind, water, persons moving) puts it out of control.<br /><br />Regarding wave-cutting you should look for a hull with rather narrow beam and sharp, long bow. It'll cut like a knife if it has the shape of a knife. Next you have to make sure it's well build as no hull, regardless of design, will withstand heavy pounding over time if it is not build for it. Check those who make hulls for off-shore racing to get an idea (although you may not find one in your size). Boat weight can be seen as a measure as a very light boat has less strenght and is easier moved by a wave - all else equal.<br /><br />As most manufacturers try to make their smaller boats safe and roomy, most are pretty wide. In your market Fletcher has a good reputation of rough sea racing so that might be one to check.<br /><br />Others (some only available second hand nowadays)could be Phantom, Bristol or Smuggler. The Smuggler design has proven very good and fast and has inspired many racing teams when building boats.

 

[pwgun]

Re: new boat

i have been told about the phantom before,but does it pull resonably well? Never heard of bristol or smuggler, time to do some homework.<br /><br />I have read that my boat(which must be actually the14'3" as it was originally named waverider mustang) as you have said is rated to 90hp, but it was regarded ok with a 110hp. Withyour knowledge would this be correct or would i be creating the monster that your friend has with bad control. What speed would you guess my 60hp is capable of, and what imorovement would a 90hp give to top end speed.( i ask this as i have no speedo in the boat,we guess we are doing between 30-40,but this is with no benchmark.)<br />one other question.after taking plastic tank out and rocking boat on trailer,i have noticed a sloshing of water in what i thought to be a seald underfloor. It does not sound like much , and it may have accumulated over much time(years possibly), i also recently sealed many tiny holes in the floor from prvious seating . Is it how ever common for water to seep into these areas. I will be draining it tomorrow and putting in water tight removeable seals, in case of future required drains.

 

[Spidybot]

Re: new boat

The Phantom will, as any boat, pull according to the fitted engine and prop. We were talking about wave-cutting which relates to hull design and Phantom is built with that in mind. Take a look on this hull and you'll see an example of a wavw-cutting hull: http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/F20592 <br /><br />Not knowing your setup or achieved rpm at wot my estimation is:<br /><br />With 60 hp and a 17" pitch prop you reach 40-42 mph.<br /><br />With 90 hp and 18" prop it's 47-49 mph.<br /><br />Both with boat and two avg. persons, no gear or equipment. Extra weight draws back severely on performance.<br /><br />Water trapped in sealed compartmens are quite common if boat has been exposed to rain etc.<br /><br />A drain plug should be fitted to allow drainage - or as you suggest, removable seals.

 

[pwgun]

Re: new boat

uu/blu/has<br />thanks guys