Is 90hp ob enough??

[dansmail26]

I am looking at two Four Winns 17' Horizon boats and an 18' Freedom. One 17' is a 2004, i/o with a 3.0 i/o for an asking price of $8995. The other is a 2002 with 90hp 2 cycle Yamaha that I can get for $6200. The 18' is a 2003 Freedom with the 4.3 engine for an asking price of $9499.
I would prefer an outboard for a number of reasons mostly maint and deck space. But I have been told the 90 might not be enough starting power for skiing and knee boarding.

Any ideas or thoughts?

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Not enough HP

 

[dansmail26]

I was worried people would think that. Of course it's got the most space and $2000 cheaper - but if we won't be happy it's not worth it!
I can go cheaper with older models, but I really wanted to stay with the models that don't have wood floors.

 

[jbcurt00]

As far as I can tell, your 2002 4Winns Freedom is rated for 115hp, so at 90hp, you'd be just above the generally accepted minimum hp, 70-75% of max.

Kids under 12yrs old probably do fine w a 90hp w skis or kneeboards. Adults on slalom skis, are in for a drag before getting up. Less then extremely exuberant teens on knee boards may do fine. Expert, late teens and adult knee boarders might want more.

As the kids reach mid-late teens, a 17ftr is likely to get crowded w friends anyway, so you'll likely get 2ft-itis and start shopping for a 19-22ftr in a couple years

Or even find you dislike boat ownership.... always a possibility w families

 

[mr 88]

I would go with the 4.3 . More weight in the stern = bigger wakes for boarding at slow speeds. More engine = more torque for keeping wakeboarding speed constant. Smoothest running of the 3 , fastest of the 3 , biggest of the 3 . The 4.3 is a great engine and when you start loading her up , which you will , the 4.3 will not disappoint. The 3.0 idles rough , and will struggle with 3 or 4 aboard and a boarder behind it . The 90 isn't going to get it done over time either.

 

[dansmail26]

I would go with the 4.3 . More weight in the stern = bigger wakes for boarding at slow speeds. More engine = more torque for keeping wakeboarding speed constant. Smoothest running of the 3 , fastest of the 3 , biggest of the 3 . The 4.3 is a great engine and when you start loading her up , which you will , the 4.3 will not disappoint. The 3.0 idles rough , and will struggle with 3 or 4 aboard and a boarder behind it . The 90 isn't going to get it done over time either.

I am getting the impression the guy with the 4.3 isn't going to negotiate at all, and his price is a little high for the boat. It looks like I need to keep shopping!

 

[JimS123]

I am looking at two Four Winns 17' Horizon boats and an 18' Freedom. One 17' is a 2004, i/o with a 3.0 i/o for an asking price of $8995. The other is a 2002 with 90hp 2 cycle Yamaha that I can get for $6200. The 18' is a 2003 Freedom with the 4.3 engine for an asking price of $9499.
I would prefer an outboard for a number of reasons mostly maint and deck space. But I have been told the 90 might not be enough starting power for skiing and knee boarding.

Any ideas or thoughts?

When I was a kid we skied with a 35 HP 'Merc. We thought we were in heaven. But,.....Dad changed the prop out for power, and another for speed.

Your 90 will do just fine if you prop it right. Unfortunately, today if you don't have the newest or the fastest or the most expensive you must be wrong...

 

[dansmail26]

Great idea

 

[Chris1956]

The OB boat will have the most room in it. The I/O motors have the large doghouse, which eats up floorspace.

I like the OB. The power will be fine for most applications.

 

[RBoyd1971]

I had a 14 ft Duracraft V Hull with a
1972 Evinrude 65 hp triumph on it. My cousin was a hotshot slalom skier. I took him out in my boat one day and he joked about being able to hold it back on takeoff. He got in the water and signaled he was ready and I punched it. Liked to have snatched his arms off. He went over head first. With that said, it's all in how you have it set up and the weight of the boat.

 

[dansmail26]

I had a 14 ft Duracraft V Hull with a
1972 Evinrude 65 hp triumph on it. My cousin was a hotshot slalom skier. I took him out in my boat one day and he joked about being able to hold it back on takeoff. He got in the water and signaled he was ready and I punched it. Liked to have snatched his arms off. He went over head first. With that said, it's all in how you have it set up and the weight of the boat.

and the prop..

 

[Chris1956]

A 14 footer with a 65 HP motor is likely overpowered. That is a different scenario than we have here. I also would expect the skier would be able to drag the stern around a bit, due to the light weight of the aluminum boat.

The 90HP motor may need a different pitch prop for water skiing, especially slalom skiing.

 

[Scott06]

As far as I can tell, your 2002 4Winns Freedom is rated for 115hp, so at 90hp, you'd be just above the generally accepted minimum hp, 70-75% of max.

Kids under 12yrs old probably do fine w a 90hp w skis or kneeboards. Adults on slalom skis, are in for a drag before getting up. Less then extremely exuberant teens on knee boards may do fine. Expert, late teens and adult knee boarders might want more.

As the kids reach mid-late teens, a 17ftr is likely to get crowded w friends anyway, so you'll likely get 2ft-itis and start shopping for a 19-22ftr in a couple years

Or even find you dislike boat ownership.... always a possibility w families

This is really good advice I was given a 17 ft sea Ray w a 3.0 when my folks sold their cottage. Was adequate even for skiing by using a 16” 4 blade prop…. Fast forward a few years money is better wife went back to work now we have a 21 ft with 260 hp …

 

[Texasmark]

When I was a kid we skied with a 35 HP 'Merc. We thought we were in heaven. But,.....Dad changed the prop out for power, and another for speed.

Your 90 will do just fine if you prop it right. Unfortunately, today if you don't have the newest or the fastest or the most expensive you must be wrong...

Well Jim we do have some similarities. My first boat was an older 13' wooden stepped hull with a 25 Wizard. It came with a 2 blade aluminum prop from Western Auto, I bought new for $400 as I recall. Later I bought a Michigan bronze 3 blade. I called the first one my speed prop and the second my power prop. Ha. Had no idea as to pitch, nor rpms, nor this or that. It was just enough HP for water skiing, barely with me on 2 skis....but I had a boat and could attempt to learn to ski, could go out with my buddies with their boats and have fun, could take my girl friend out boating......priceless.

 

[QBhoy]

Initially my thoughts would be the 4.3 all day. I genuinely think it’s the best all round engine ever put in a boat.
but on the side. I’m always amazed these days hearing guys wondering if a 16/17ft boat with a 90hp or similar would not be enough to pull a skier or toy. Back in the early to even late 80’s…a 90hp was a big engine on a boat that size. Jeez…I remember my parents mono skiing off a 17ft Shetland 2 berth boat with a 55 yam on her. My mum even managed off a 15ft broom speed boat with a 35 mercury.
Id say you could get just about whatever you need to from a boat this size with a small engine. Just all about the prop on her. Not so much about the power (being sensible about it).
Ive an 18ft fast bowrider with over 300hp in her. I also have a 19ft cuddy with a new 115 ct mercury outboard. The cuddy with the mercury 115 would lose the other boat from a stand still hole shot every time. The v8 would see what way it went until it got up on the pad. I reckon it would be close to a mile covered befkre the v8 boat got past the 115. Just all about the way the boat is set up, I’d say.
Not so long ago, I got shown up by a 15ft rib with an old 80’s Yammy 55hp on it. Left me for dead out the hole. All about the prop for sure.

 

[dansmail26]

Thanks everybody. I ended up getting a tremendous deal on a 2006 Larson sei 180 with the 3.0. Hopefully it is truly a great deal!

 

[444]

Thanks everybody. I ended up getting a tremendous deal on a 2006 Larson sei 180 with the 3.0. Hopefully it is truly a great deal!

Congrats on the boat! Those 3.0's are dogs but I know people that water ski behind them. If you find you're having trouble you could look at getting a second prop for skiing.

 

[dansmail26]

Congrats on the boat! Those 3.0's are dogs but I know people that water ski behind them. If you find you're having trouble you could look at getting a second prop for skiing.

I was thinking the same thing. The boat jumped pretty aggressively in the sea trial, so I am hoping it will be ok!

 

[Scott Danforth]

I had 3 props for my 3.0

a 15p (watersports and trolling), 17p (general boating) and 19p (long-distance WOT with only 1-2 on board

 

[JimS123]

Congrats on the boat! Those 3.0's are dogs but I know people that water ski behind them. If you find you're having trouble you could look at getting a second prop for skiing.

An old buddy of mine has been a boater forever. His last boat had twin 454's and he said it was a dog. Now he upgraded to FOUR 300 HP outboards. If he isn't the fastest boat on the river, and can show up EVERYBODY, his boat is a DOG.

I resemble that remark. We had a 3.0 Merc for 35 years. It was the 2nd strongest engine we ever had. But, then again, it was propped to meet the WOT rpm at 100%, plus we had a DoelFin and tabs to boot.

We trolled, pulled skiers and tubed to our hearts delight. The poor engine is now discontinued, but when it was in production it sold more than all others. I guess the general public didn't know about dogs.

Anyone that called a 3.0 a dog doesn't know diddly about how to set up a boat.

And of course, that's simply my enedumacated option.