65hp will it pull a skier

[bsh21wash]

I have a 16ft fiberglass ski boat and was wondering if you guys think that a 65Hp Merc 3 cylinder will pull a skier? thanks -Brian

 

[MurdockJr1]

Re: 65hp will it pull a skier

I don't see why not I've pulled skiers with a 40 hp on a 16ft aluminum boat.You may need a different prop depending on load and weight.

 

[MajBach]

Re: 65hp will it pull a skier

Dad (185 lbs) used to ski behind our old 1964 18hp 'Rude on a 14' boat.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 65hp will it pull a skier

i've got a 1960 14' Lonestar w/ 1955 15hp rude, that will pull and experienced adult with no problem. the kids love it.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: 65hp will it pull a skier

I use to ski behind a Chrysler 9.9...And it only ran on one cylinder! Depending on your boat, the load in it, the prop and your size, you can ski with almost anything. Maybe not very well, but...

 

[bsh21wash]

Re: 65hp will it pull a skier

Thanks guys, it was either that engine or a 115hp Chrysler but have heard there a pain to work on among other stuff (hard to find parts ect.) You think a Merc 65hp compression 155,156,158 with newer lower unit he says everything runs good and shifts good. For $975. He is also a boat mechanic. I thought this was a pretty good deal. Let me know...thanks -Brian

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 65hp will it pull a skier

you did not state what year the 65 is. but i see 30 year olds selling for 5-800 on ebay. an old motor in good shape can be worth a lot more than a newer motor in bad shape.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: 65hp will it pull a skier

My across the street neighbor and brother in law both had Johnson 3 cyl 60's on 15' fiberglass trihulls and pulled skiiers reasonably well...depending on how many were in the boat. It required a 15" pitched prop as I recall which really bit into their top end but they wanted to ski, not race so it didn't matter.<br /><br />Mark

 

[Texasmark]

Re: 65hp will it pull a skier

Forgot. The Chrysler probably wasn't loop charged and got horrible fuel mileage....my 3 cyl 85 wasn't and did get horrible mileage. The 3 cyl OMC engines were loop charged which is good for about a 2:1 improvement over the Chrysler.<br /><br />Mark

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: 65hp will it pull a skier

I had a 85hp Chrysler on a 17ft Malibu that pulled out 3 slalom skiers at once, so a 65 merc will with out a doubt be perfect for pulling skiers ....

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 65hp will it pull a skier

not at the bottom of the lake. i'm bad.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 65hp will it pull a skier

bsh21wsh, These folks are pulling your leg pretty good. 10 and 15HP motors do not pull skiiers. 30 HP is the minimum (and marginal at best)to pull a light adult. I sorts-skiied on a picnic table behind a 3.5 HP Merc, but that isn't real skiing.<br /><br />When I was a kid (circa 1970), I went to a watersports camp. Our ski boat had a Merc 65HP outboard on it, and it could pull a salom skiier and a two ski at once. It of course, was propped for it!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 65hp will it pull a skier

chris i learned to ski with dads 1950 15hp on a 12' 3/8" plywood boat. and we still ski behind my '55 15hp just for fun. people can't believe it.

 

[DJ]

Re: 65hp will it pull a skier

I guess I wasn't really sking behind those 15's and 18's in my young adult life. Hmmmm.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: 65hp will it pull a skier

I really did learn to ski behind a 9.9 Chrysler in the mid 60's. It's a power verus load issue.

 

[bsh21wash]

Re: 65hp will it pull a skier

Thanks guys I guess I'll see picked it up a couple days ago.