Safe or not?

[cucuman]

I have an 87' 40hp Evinrude on a 16'lenght 4' bottom flat aluminum boat and was recently given a 76' 85hp Johnson motor in perfect running condition. My boat is rated for a 70hp and I would like to install the 85hp on it. Can anyone help me with the pros and cons of doing this? Is this safe? Also, what type of prop would be best?Also, along with the 85 motor, I was also given another motor with a burned cylinder looks alike to the 85hp but don't know the year. ser# is 100293r.

 

[oldboat1]

Re: Safe or not?

don't know what the 70 hp weighs, but the 85 will weigh in at over 300 lbs. I don't think I would exceed the stated limit for the boat. The 85 is too heavy -- will probably produce a lot more torque than the 70 as well. <br /><br />Sounds pretty risky to me.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Safe or not?

Yes I'll be safe here as long as youre there. Thanks for asking.<br /><br />Good luck! You'll need it!

 

[cucuman]

Re: Safe or not?

Thanks for the info, but what would be unsafe about it? is it the speed or too much boat in the water? I am not one to run any motor in the WOT position. I would like the bigger motor for hauling lumber and other materials for working on a house boat. getting from point A to B using the 40hp takes too long. I also would like it to pull the wife and kids in a tube. Tried it with the 40 and its almost impossible to get on plane.

 

[JB]

Re: Safe or not?

The 85 is a 300+lb V4 with huge torque compared to the 70. The 70 is a 250lb inline 3.<br /><br />The boat manufacturer, using USCG guidelines, calculated that 70 was the maximum safe horsepower.<br /><br />Go ask the USCG why you should want your boat to stay in one piece, afloat, with a living operator.<br /><br />The bottom line, Cucuman, is that it is not safe and it is not technically legal to overpower.<br /><br />Swap the 40 and the 85 for a good 70.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[cucuman]

Re: Safe or not?

Thanks again for all the help. This site is very, very helpful. I turned to this site when none of the local mechanics would not lend some info. The only answer I got from them was "Bring it in and let me take a look at it." This forum has helped me bring back an 87' 40hp Evinrude and a 77' - 80' 40hp Japanese Mariner back from the dead. Thanks again guys!

 

[sloopy]

Re: Safe or not?

I think its safe.. just don't go WOT and cotomize the boat a little so its not a factory boat that might work, the coastys will not care, thy go after people who ave 150's on 15 john boats

 

[oldboat1]

Re: Safe or not?

In my experience, getting an older good-running motor is quite a bit tougher than finding a good hull. If you like the 85 hp, you might consider getting a hull that will handle it without any question. Motorless hulls are readily available, and they are cheap. If you are patient, you can find one that needs little or no work (may have to junk a blown engine that makes the hull expendable to the current owner -- although I would be alert to valuable motor parts. If you are really lucky, you might find a parts motor that way for your 85, along with a hull.)