70 hp on a 180 SS?

[bob johnson]

do you guys think the 70 hp( 1989 version) on the 180 SS is enough power?( new 3/4" plywood floor)....before I ran into total electrical issue....it was acting like a dog with a 15 pitch prop and I put a 13 pitch prop on and went with my son and it was still a dog even though I got up to 5500 rpms....I doubt I was doing 22 mph...previously alone I could do 25 with the 15 pitch at 5200 rpms.... and the new 13 pitch prop is a special on for pontoons and heavy boats, its got a CUPPED edge for bite....

 

[GA_Boater]

Hard to tell when you say the motor is running like a dog and was barely running last time out. A 70 should give you some decent performance when it's running right.

 

[laurentide]

This is an '82 70hp on my 18' Chieftain. It was too choppy to run it WOT this day, this is probably at 42-4400 RPM with a 13 1/4x 17 pitch prop. I'm happy with its performance. It can hit 30 on a flat day.

 

[MD28]

I have a 60 hp so it is the little brother to your 70. On my 18 footer last year I was getting 28-30. This motor also had a possible bad cylinder and a fairly chipped prop that is a 13.25x17. I would expect your 70 can do better than that.

 

[Watermann]

If like me a 70 HP motor would feel like a dog on an 18'r since I'm used to having more HP. My 18' SS has a 140 and the Chief, well it's an unfair comparison to say the least. :lol:

The biggest issue with having half the HP rated motor on a boat is weight will kill it's performance big time.

 

[DLNorth]

We have a 85 Merc (75 prop) on our 16 SS, and it's about perfect, I can't imagine less on an 18 SS. The 16 is rated at 85/90, the 18 at 120/140.
Dan