Pre Spring Questions

[Bwana Don]

As many of you know I recently purchased a 1970 Starcraft 18 foot Offshore V. At least I think it's a 1970, the plate says offshore V 18 I/O, so I am sure on that at least. It has a Mercruiser 3.0 140 hp inboard/outboard in it.

Well any way I have a slew of questions to ask. Rather than carpet bomb you with a zillion questions all at once I'll keep stringing this out until spring. It'll give us a little something to do until the thaw.

I-boats says my boat weighs 1550 lbs. Trailer weighs, I don't know 300 pounds?? Gear including a 5-10 horse kicker 150 lbs I'll guess. Total 2000 pounds or so, I guess.

Question #1
Will my 2001 Ranger pull this? It's a 2.3L automatic w/2 wheel drive. towing capacity about 2200 lbs. Bigger question will it pull it up a ramp?

More questions to follow. Thanks for your support.
Don

 

[Fastwin548]

Re: Pre Spring Questions

For what it's worth....your trunk might be a little light. I had trouble (spinning) when the ramp (average incline) was wet (duh) in 2 wd with my jeep hauling out my 16 footer w/ a 50 outboard. I'm guessing around 1200 lbs w/gear. Good Luck!!!

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: Pre Spring Questions

Crap, it's paid for and has 78000 miles on it. I was afraid of this.You're the second person that's said exactly that, spinning that is.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: Pre Spring Questions

My 95 Jeep 4 WD would pull my 19 ft glassply and launch and retrive were no problem. In 2 wheel I would slip sometime and the reason I have since replaced the Jeep. is It was like the tail wagging the dog. Breaking in a emergency was not possible and quick traffic changes caused a bit of swaying.

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: Pre Spring Questions

I think your truck is alittle too small, braking is going to be poor unless the trailer has good brakes, which most do not unless you spend some money, traction at the boat ramp is going to probably be an issue, especially a gravel ramp, wet ramp, or slimmy ramp. Also on a steep ramp a 2wd is going to put a lot of strain on the trasmission with no low range. The 3L v-6 my wife had in her ranger 4x4 was just enough power for the truck and a light trailer. If you have to go up any hills of any size I bet you are going to be at 25 mph.
Just my speculation.
I have never pulled a trailer over about 800lbs with anything less than a 1/2 ton ford or 2500 pickup.

 

[fshngho]

Re: Pre Spring Questions

Bwana, I am sorry to say but your going to have problems. I have a S10 chevy truck with a small 4 banger and I have used it ( and still do ) to pull my bass boat. You do lose speed on a hill, cant go over 60 mph without swaying, and I have to put it in low gear to pull out the boat on a concrete, slight incline ramp. If it gets a few rocks on the ramp I will spin. I know I wont be able to pull my SC with it. Too light in the rear and not enough HP. I'm in the same boat ( no pun intended) as I will have to put a hitch on the wifes van, Toyota Sienna AWD. I know it sucks, but I can't afford another truck right now. Good luck. Dale

 

[Bob Gilvary]

Re: Pre Spring Questions

If you're swaying at high speed, increase your tongue weight by sliding your winch tower an inch or 2 forward, and that will bring the boat forward on the trailer.

It's not always possible to do that with all trailers, and boats, but light tongue wieght is usually the cause of high speed trailer sway.

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: Pre Spring Questions

I suspected as much. I've been looking at f-150's and 4.0 liter Rangers with 4 wheel drive. Got a family member that wants to by my truck and all.

Just finished paying off mom's van, a Freestar with a 3.9 liter in it. That would pull the boat no problem. Only thing is I would have to borrow her van every time I wanted to fish. I don't know how that would go over.

I just found this 1970 GMC on Craigslist.............. Would look real good pulling my 1970 Starcraft.

Thanks a lot for your responses.

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: Pre Spring Questions

Question #2.

What size kicker will I need to troll or get me home in an emergency. I would hate to be out on the Detroit River and have the main motor fail. I need something to get me back in case or I'll be swept downriver into Lake Erie.

I'm thinking a 10 horse or maybe as low as a 7.5 horse. what do you guys think? I saw an old Scott Atwater 10 for $100 on Craigs List (I'm addicted) and I'm thinking of going to look at it.

thanks,
Don

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: Pre Spring Questions

Caution Do not spend $$ on some Motor you may need parts for. A nice 8 hp or a 9.9 would be a good choice

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: Pre Spring Questions

I have a 21foot cheiftain.
15hp 2stoke kicker 2001, 9.25x9 4blade prop (4500rpms) push the boat 5 mph gps at sea level in the bay.

I now have a 1995 25hp 2stroke kicker, factory prop (rpms ?, think too low) push the boat 7mph. I plan to get a different prop to bring the rpms up to spec., but I expect to keep my 7mph speed or maybe 8mph.

I have heard alot of people like the new 9.9hp big foot type motors with a big prop, they are made to push bigger boats. No personal experience.

Long shaft is a must so the prop gets below the bottom of the boat, good motor bracket that give you some adjustment up and down. 15" travel is good to have.
Short shafts do not work well for kicker motors, my grandpa had one and in rough weather the prop comes out of the water and then almost sinks the motor.

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: Pre Spring Questions

Would a 15 hp be too much? I've seen a number of 15 horse longshafts.

Is a long shaft 20" and a short shaft 15"?

Thanks for mentioning a long shaft, I didn't think of it. I have a kicker plate on the boat, I'll measure the amount of travel it has. It is adjustable.

Thanks for the answers, I've never owned a boat larger than 12' before let alone an I/O. It will take me a few years to get up to speed, I'm looking forward to learning.

Woooooo, it's 36 degrees out. getting close.

Don

 

[Bob Gilvary]

Re: Pre Spring Questions

Yes sir, long shaft is 20" and short shaft is 15".

15 hp engines are hard to find in many parts of the country. I'd like to have a warehouse full of them here in saltwater country.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Pre Spring Questions

The 15's from most manufacturers are the same weight as the 9.9s. So you get the extra HP with little to no sacrifice. I think a 15 would be ideal.

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: Pre Spring Questions

EZ; I thought there was little difference between a 15 and 10 weight wise and all. I would rather have a little too much than not enough. I'm scared of losing power in them big rivers. The Detroit River flows at 9 mile an hour and I'd like to know my kicker could move me along home if need be. Especially when the Edmund Fitzgerald is bearing down on you.

15 is probably overkill but, if I get a good price on a longshaft I'll go for it. 9.9 or 15 horse is what I'll limit my selection to.

Thanks all.

 

[JimbC]

Re: Pre Spring Questions

This I know first hand Evinrude/Johnson 9.9/15 hp are the same motor weight wise size everything the only difference is the carburetor jetting to make the difference in hp. I know because I have one of each 9.9 and 15 hp evinerude.

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: Pre Spring Questions

A 15 is not overkill for a 18 foot starcraft. I have a 21 foot starcraft and a 15 2-stroke Johnson 2001 will only push it 5 mph with a 4 blade prop and engine rpms at 4500, on a strong incomming outgoing tide I had the coast guard pull me accross the bar. You get a 3-5mph tide and you are not going to make any head way.
A 25hp will only push the boat 7mph maybe 8 with the correct prop. At this time I have a 25hp with a factory prop and I get 7mph, I need a different prop to get the rpm higher and maybe I will get 8 mph.

If you are in a 9 mph river you will not make it home with a 15hp kicker based on my experience.
Best think is to know where the next boat ramp is down stream and get a ride back to your truck/trailer.
My prop is below the bottom of the boat so I am not trying to pull water from behind the transmom.

The attached file shows my setup, 25hp johnson in the up position. This will only push the boat 7mph (gps) at sea level at wot with a factory prop.

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: Pre Spring Questions

The current is only 5 mph in the Detroit River, 9mph must have been a maximum in one area or a misprint. I did another internet search and 3 different sites quote the same 4-5 mph.

The St. Clair River is a little faster but I've fished that river in a 12 foot rowboat with a 10 horse many times. Also the St. Clair River flows into Lake St. Clair which is a familiar place to me. I now all the launches and where to go, plus there's almost no current and I'm confident I could safely navigate around with just the kicker.

I'd rather have a little more than less. I'll look for a 15 HP longshaft.

Thanks all.

Nice looking boat there Elkhunter, quite the fishing machine.

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: Pre Spring Questions

Question #3;

I didn't get the key with my boat so I'll need an ignition. I saw a few on Iboats.

http://www.iboats.com/Sierra-Heavy-...84564192--**********.858766894--view_id.47124

How do I tell what I need? I can pull the old one off and get some pictures of it. In between snow showers, another 3-5 tonight.

Again thanks for your answers.
Don

ps; emailed on 7 kicker motors that were on craigslist. These were new adds no more than 2 days old. One person emailed back, how disappointing. 0h yea it was a short shaft.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Pre Spring Questions

Question #3;

I didn't get the key with my boat so I'll need an ignition. I saw a few on Iboats.

http://www.iboats.com/Sierra-Heavy-...84564192--**********.858766894--view_id.47124

How do I tell what I need? I can pull the old one off and get some pictures of it. In between snow showers, another 3-5 tonight.

Again thanks for your answers.
Don

ps; emailed on 7 kicker motors that were on craigslist. These were new adds no more than 2 days old. One person emailed back, how disappointing. 0h yea it was a short shaft.

I am totally with you on both of your issues BD!

I didn't get a key for my rig either (the Baja) so I am just now figuring that out too!

And, it seems for me that so many folks out there listing on CL never get back with me. Shoot, I nearly gave up on my Islander. Untold number of email and phone calls went out. Come to think of it I actually did give up for about a week as I thought it was a scam, he finally called me back but then disappeared again for a week

Ah, all water under the bridge now. Cheers Man!