To Ski or not to Ski?

[zubrick]

I have a 16' Aluminum mirrocraft that I'm looking to repower. I don't need anything crazy (its rated up to 80HP), but I would like to know what horse power would be likely to pull a skier. I don't absolutely need to pull a skier, just want to keep it in the back of my mind while I look for engines. I know its probably pretty different from boat to boat, but if you have any general advise and/ or experience with such things, that would be great.

Thanks

 

[oldjeep]

Re: To Ski or not to Ski?

You could pull a skier with 80HP - might be painful to get up on one, the bigger problem is if they are on a slalom that they are going to drag the back end of that boat all over the place.

 

[roscoe]

Re: To Ski or not to Ski?

We used to ski behind a 33, on a 15' wooden boat.
Also with a 40 on a 14' trihull.

But realistically, you will want 50-60, or more, so you can pull the skier up quickly, then maintain a nice 22-25 mph.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: To Ski or not to Ski?

We used to ski behind a 33, on a 15' wooden boat.
Also with a 40 on a 14' trihull.

But realistically, you will want 50-60, or more, so you can pull the skier up quickly, then maintain a nice 22-25 mph.

22-25? I'm assuming you mean on a pair of skis. There is no way that anyone but a small child is going to stay on top of the water on one ski at that speed.

 

[roscoe]

Re: To Ski or not to Ski?

And neither would a barefooted, but thats not what he asked.

He asked about "minimum hp" to ski with, so its probably safe to assume he is not an experienced competition skier.

There are thousands of boats out there pulling skiers with 70 hp omc motors.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: To Ski or not to Ski?

And neither would a barefooted, but thats not what he asked.

He asked about "minimum hp" to ski with, so its probably safe to assume he is not an experienced competition skier.

There are thousands of boats out there pulling skiers with 70 hp omc motors.

Skier around here means 1 unless you are 5

 

[KD4UPL]

Re: To Ski or not to Ski?

If the boat's rated for 80 hp then get an 80 hp engine. Skiing will be possible but not spectacular.
I don't see any reason to get a smaller engine. You won't save that much money or fuel by going slightly smaller.

 

[moosehead]

Re: To Ski or not to Ski?

If the boat's rated for 80 hp then get an 80 hp engine. Skiing will be possible but not spectacular.
I don't see any reason to get a smaller engine. You won't save that much money or fuel by going slightly smaller.

^ +2, though old jeep is correct, skier with two skiis, or possibly a 110 lb slalom skier.

 

[southkogs]

Re: To Ski or not to Ski?

Skier around here means 1 unless you are 5

^ +2, though old jeep is correct, skier with two skiis, or possibly a 110 lb slalom skier.

Nah - I learned to ski (on two) behind a 14' with a 35HP. Did most of my skiing behind a 16' tri-hull with a 70HP. I could ski on two or slalom. Heck, we could pull two behind that boat (they couldn't get up on one, but they could get up).

I skied a LOT behind that boat, and I banked in at about 180# at the time.

With 80HP, you'll be able to ski fine ... especially if you're just goofin' around with it.

 

[zubrick]

Re: To Ski or not to Ski?

Went with the 35hp. As you can see, it worked just fine.



Thanks