15' 76 Seasquirt-25hp Mercury-tow tube?

[want2seaitall]

Hi everyone! This is my first official question...though I have been lurking for quite some time.

We are the new proud owners of a 1976 Seasquirt fiberglass 14'6" boat. It currently has a 25hp Mercury, but is capable of a 50hp. Do you guys think we could tow a tube? If so, do you think we could do a 2 person tube?

Thanks! This is the ad for the boat we just purchased.

http://lakeland.craigslist.org/boa/1144474598.html

 

[txmntman]

Re: 15' 76 Seasquirt-25hp Mercury-tow tube?

I had a 15 ft SeaSquirt with a 40HP evinrude on it....it would run great. It was quick out of the hole, and that 40 HP would push it about 30-32 mph. That is a fairly quick hull, but I"m not sure what it would do with a 25HP on it. Would it pull a tube? sure! Will it pull a tube fast enough to satisfy an 8 year old? Probably....at 15 year old? Maybe not.....some of you question is subjective and depends on what is wanted. You cannot make a small boat ride like a big one, or a 25HP run like a 50HP....but you can still have fun with your boat.

I would suggest you run it and come up with some ideas as to top speed, handling characteristics, etc, etc....in short, get some experience with your boat.....the trial and error period in a boat can be great fun!!

 

[want2seaitall]

Re: 15' 76 Seasquirt-25hp Mercury-tow tube?

Thanks for your response. It is for my 13 year old son. He is a thrill seeker...so I'm sure he'd want to be ripping it up. We are heading out camping on the river this weekend with several boaters...so I think I'll borrow a tube and see how it does before I spend the money.

Happy boating!

 

[ProbeGT]

Re: 15' 76 Seasquirt-25hp Mercury-tow tube?

you can try it but i don't think it'll have enough torque to pull a 140lbs person on the tube.

my brother had a 16' legend fishing boat (aluminum) with a 25HP and it couldn't not pull a tube. Depends on the propeller you have too. now it has a 50HP engine and performs pretty well.

 

[skibrain]

Re: 15' 76 Seasquirt-25hp Mercury-tow tube?

I would say definitely NO on the two person tube.

While 25 hp may get the tube on plane with a light person, some of the challenge/fun with pulling a tube is swerving and varying the speed of the boat to get the tube to swing around. I'm guessing you'll be giving a fairly tame ride.

A kneeboard might be more thrill for your 13 yr old.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: 15' 76 Seasquirt-25hp Mercury-tow tube?

My guess is it will be a little underpowered but you don't know till you try it. Like you said your best bet is to try it this weekend with a borrowed tube and judge from that. Do yourself a favor though and try pulling a few different tubes. 1 Man, 2 Man etc and see the difference in performance.
Good Luck and have fun.

 

[want2seaitall]

Re: 15' 76 Seasquirt-25hp Mercury-tow tube?

Well...tried it out yesterday. Definately didn't have the get up I was hoping for, but my son enjoyed it none-the-less. We'll be back out there today. One thing is for sure...having a boat with a 25hp is better than nothing at all .

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: 15' 76 Seasquirt-25hp Mercury-tow tube?

Well...tried it out yesterday. Definately didn't have the get up I was hoping for, but my son enjoyed it none-the-less. We'll be back out there today. One thing is for sure...having a boat with a 25hp is better than nothing at all .

You don't go into detail of how it performed but you may get a better tubing performance out of a different prop. You have to make sure the "tail" does not wag the dog though with a smaller boat.
Glad he had fun.