18 foot fibreglass bow rider minimum engine size?

[ShoestringMariner]

Guys, I’m thinking about picking up a decent lookifibreglass bow rider without a motor. It might be a Chris craft but I’m not sure. V-hull, not a tri- hull.

I have a strong running 65hp merc. Do you think I could get away for a season with that set up, or would that not be enough to get it on plane? (1-2peoe) It had a 115 Merc on it.

 

[dwco5051]

Not knowing the exact boat makes it tough to answer but my gut feeling is 65hp would not do it. Most boat that I have seen that fit that description have had between 115 and 175 hp. The last two workboats I operated were Grady White 19 footers. One with a Yamaha 175 and the other a 200 Merc.

 

[tpenfield]

Agree ^^^ I'm thinking about 2X of your current motor. It might be OK with one person, but not with 3-4. Boats need a lot of HP initially to get up on plane.

 

[Texasmark]

Save yourself a lot of trouble for nothing but a disappointment. Forget the 65! Find yourself a 115 (prop rated) or better and get it propped right.

 

[ShoestringMariner]

That’s what I thought. Thanks everyone

 

[ShoestringMariner]

I really like the lines of this boat. Owner thinks it’s a 1986 Chris craft by Grew but I can’t find any info.
I’m not opposed to looking for a motor to suit.
anyone know where I could find the specs on this? (Weight, max hp, capacity etc)

 

[QBhoy]

65 should plane it...but will it be a good match...certainly not.

 

[ShoestringMariner]

65 should plane it...but will it be a good match...certainly not.

Thanks. It would be just temporary until I could repower

 

[roffey]

I really like the lines of this boat. Owner thinks it’s a 1986 Chris craft by Grew but I can’t find any info.
I’m not opposed to looking for a motor to suit.
anyone know where I could find the specs on this? (Weight, max hp, capacity etc)

I did not know Chris Craft built Grew. I know Grew was a Canadian company. When I was a kids the people across the lake had a Grew and it was fast and handled like a sports car... loved that boat.

 

[Maclin]

Not easy to see in that pic, but...Might need a different trailer.

 

[ShoestringMariner]

Not easy to see in that pic, but...Might need a different trailer.

Agreed

 

[76SeaRay]

I ran an early Glastron, 18 foot, 18 gallons of gas with 5 gallon spare, 4 people, fishing gear for years.. It planed quite nicely with a 65hp Merc outboard and never had a problem...

 

[Sea Rider]

Firstly need to buy the boat, you already count with a 65 HP motor assume in excellent running condition. To take the max HP out of that horse need to install a tach, go for a wot run on flat calm water cond and report max chieved rpm numbers. Will know how much prop pitch to drop to pull the wot rpm towards its max factory stated. Correctly propped should plane that boat with 2 up with minimum effort.

A boat is rated for Max HP along Max allowed passengers, if will be boating with fixed 2 souls on board not Sumo boaters though don't need to go towards the Max HP rated for. Won't be a speed demon but will have boating fun untill can get a larger motor to increase the boat's speed if speeding it's what you enjoy doing...

Happy Boating​