I have a 20 plywood cabin cruiser that weighs 1100lbs empty from the factory. It was made in 1966 and is rated at 110hp. It came new with twin Merc 500s. Im assuming that the Boat was designed with twin OBs in mind in 66. It has a very wide transom notch and splash well.
I yanked the Mercs when I got it and installed my old trusty 83 115hp evinrude. I feel its a tad over powered. With a very flat prop I get 5800 WOT(was anticipating maybe pulling a skier) and top out around 27 knots gps. Got 35-36 knots with old course pitch prop but struggled to hit 5500 rpm.
I think Id do just fine with 90hp from the same vintage 2 stroke. Would love an e-tec but Im not made of money. I feel I could plane with as little as 50hp. Minimum planing speed is roughly 13-15 knots gps.
So the question is..
How do you think an 85 70hp rude with flat prop would do? Not interested in trying to pull a skier anymore. And Im content to cruise at 18 knots and wot just over 20. The weight savings alone would be about 100lbs. Currently I squat a little in the rear. The fuel savings is also a plus.
The goal is really a smaller hood footprint so I can make the splash and transom notch smaller. I need deck space! These are pretty rare boats and I love it otherwise.
There is a good deal on an ?85(crank or prop rated?) 70hp locally.
I yanked the Mercs when I got it and installed my old trusty 83 115hp evinrude. I feel its a tad over powered. With a very flat prop I get 5800 WOT(was anticipating maybe pulling a skier) and top out around 27 knots gps. Got 35-36 knots with old course pitch prop but struggled to hit 5500 rpm.
I think Id do just fine with 90hp from the same vintage 2 stroke. Would love an e-tec but Im not made of money. I feel I could plane with as little as 50hp. Minimum planing speed is roughly 13-15 knots gps.
So the question is..
How do you think an 85 70hp rude with flat prop would do? Not interested in trying to pull a skier anymore. And Im content to cruise at 18 knots and wot just over 20. The weight savings alone would be about 100lbs. Currently I squat a little in the rear. The fuel savings is also a plus.
The goal is really a smaller hood footprint so I can make the splash and transom notch smaller. I need deck space! These are pretty rare boats and I love it otherwise.
There is a good deal on an ?85(crank or prop rated?) 70hp locally.