125hp 1989 Force outboard... HELP!!!!

[djhype]

Hi all,
I just joined this forum, i'm also new to boating, I've always jet skied, I took my boat out today it's a 1986 bayliner capri with a 1989 125hp Force outboard motor, (the boat has been out of the water since 2000 i think) I changed the gas oil, and grease. I didnt change the spark plugs. it runs smooth, almost too smooth, no skipping, no bogging just nice and smooth, but it dont seem to go very fast, i called the marine shop and asked, a 125hp force outboard motor on a 20ft. bayliner capri goes 30 - 35 mph top speed, it that normal? they said it was, but it seems way to slow. Is it cuz im used to jet skis? or is that normal top end? If so is that fast enough to pull a water skier or tuber? adults about 180 - 220 lbs. Also batteries keep going dead on me, as if something is draning juice, any ideas?
Thanks in advance,
Tim

 

[skibug]

Re: 125hp 1989 Force outboard... HELP!!!!

Yep, that's normal. I have an 18ft Trophy walkaround with the 120 force and I top out at 36mph

The batteries probably just need replacing

 

[valencehsift]

Re: 125hp 1989 Force outboard... HELP!!!!

Ya your speed is about right. I have an 18 foot with a 150 Force, same year as yours and I get just over 40 mph. You can pull a skier or tuber with that. You may want to see the prop you are running. if its a 17, you might want to move up to a 19, it will give you a little more speed but less whole shot. As far as the batteries, get the manual and troubleshoot it. You can find them on ebay for $20 or so.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: 125hp 1989 Force outboard... HELP!!!!

Remember: A jet ski is 13 feet or less, has up to 200 hp (now, old ones were less) and weighs much less than 1000 pounds. It goes between 60 and 80.

Your boat is well over 1,000 pounds with 20 feet of length and 125 hp. Its hull is not designed for speed or acrobatics. Of course its going to go slower.

I have a 21 foot Manatee Cuddy with a Force 125. It goes just about 35 at wide open throttle. I either use a 17 cupped or a 19 uncupped. the 19 brings RPM to the lower limit of 4500 at WOT.

I changed my lower unit to a 2 to 1 gear ratio and with a 19 uncupped prop it now turns about 5500 at WOT and a good solid 37 MPH.

By the way: My icon is a 90 Force on a 14 foot flat bottom. It is going 56 MPH in the photo.

 

[djhype]

Re: 125hp 1989 Force outboard... HELP!!!!

Thanks again you guys, now i dont feel so bad about my boats speed. I do have a couple more questions,....
:redface: Is 30mph fast enough to pull a water skier? or a tube?
:redface: Do starters just stop working completly or do they slowly die? Because its almost as if the starter dont have the nuts to turn the flywheel as if it's a dead battery.
:redface: any way to stop the tilt trim motor from slowly fallin back down?

Thanks again guys and Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!!!

 

[bass4brains]

Re: 125hp 1989 Force outboard... HELP!!!!

To ski you'll need at 24-28 mph. Ex brother in law and I used to ski behind a 14' glasstron with a 35 evenrude, had to throw some slack in the rope to allow the boat to plane off. But spent many hour behind that little ol' boat. A tube on the otherhand especially if your pulling kids doesn't need to pull more than 20 mph most manfacturers reccomend 20 as top speed, you can pull faster but the danger really increases for every 5 mph above 20mph. People get the mistaken idea that tubes aren't dangerous, wrong in some ways they are way more dangerous than anything else, because in truth your just along for the ride, ie. you have no control and the only way to stop is fall off. Make a 90 degree turn at 20 and a tube at the end of a 75 foot rope can reach speeds of 70mph as it penduliums around a little wind gets under it and your air born and upside down before you know it. And water HURTS at speeds above 40 at 50 it might as well be concrete. Be safe out there, You'll have a lot of company this weekend. Half of whom won't be back till the 4th or labor day, and way too many drunks.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: 125hp 1989 Force outboard... HELP!!!!

Amen Bass4brains! You covered tubes right on. Let's remind djhype that you only need about 18 for a wakeboard. And go down 2 pitches to tow a skier. Its way easir on both the boat and skier when you pop him out fast instead of dragging him through the water for a 1/2 mile.