What's your Mercruiser 3.0 in?

[fishrdan]

What type of hull (style, length, year, manufacturer) do you guys have powered by a Mercruiser 3.0 (140/135HP)

I'm looking for another hull to replace my 73 16.5' SeaSwirl tri-hull. I'm thinking of a 17-19' V-hull bowrider, but don't know if a 19' hull is going to be too much for a 140HP engine. It's going to be used for fishing and camping, not water sports. The 140 did well in the 16.5' tri-hull with a load of wet foam, so I think it would push a 19' hull without all that weight.

Sooo here's my strange situation. I blew the engine in my boat and decided to spend $1000 on a rebuild instead of getting another boat as I knew the SeaSwirl was mechanically sound. Right before the engine install I decided to remove the wet foam, but found some rotten stringers, they aren't totally rotted out (yeah surprised me too) but I'm not going that far into the repair on a hull design I don't like. I want to find a nice looking V-hull that needs mechanical/floor/interior,,, replace the stringers/floor and paint the interior,,, NO carpet!

I saw the perfect boat last Friday, 83 19' Bayliner bowrider (Bayliner, yeah I know) with good gelcoat, bad engine, bad floor, bad interior for $500, but it was powered by a Volvo Penta. Figured it would be too much of a PITA to mess around with the VP so I passed.

 

[JustJason]

Re: What's your Mercruiser 3.0 in?

Ive got a 120 (2.5L) in a 16 foot runabout as my lake boat. It boogies pretty good. I can have 4 people in the boat plus towing me (190lbs) on a wakeboard or tube alright... and thats with just a 3 blade prop. With just 2 people out for a light fishing trip i'm guessing (no speedo, no gps) it does 40+.
it all comes down to your goal. Obviously watersports are the most demanding on an engine setup.
a 140 on a 19..... well... thats getting (IMHO) to the upper end of the usefull power range of that engine) But I have also seen 140's in 20 plusers... with a top end of just over 20 MPH... so it all depends on what you want/expect for performance.

PS pass on the bayliner......
If you set on doing a conversion... you may be able to find something cut out for a cobra (the cutout is the same) for less.
If anyboat has a trashed interior... no floor, bad engine.... that means free for me. Don't be paying for it.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: What's your Mercruiser 3.0 in?

I'm wondering if 19' is too big also, don't know if it's a weight issue or more of a hull displacement/design issue? I had a 5HP outboard on a 10' boat and it was a pig, on a 12-14' jon boat it flew, they were the same weight so it came down to the hull design in those 2 small boats.

A free boat that's in good condition is going to be a tough find here in Vegas. Everybody thinks (at least the ones that advertise) that their thrashed boat is worth a bunch of money, but every once in a blue moon I've seen someone dumping a nice looking boat with mechanical problems. As long as the hull exterior (gelcoat and trim) is in good condition I don't mind spending some money.

I'm pretty sure I want a Mercruiser powered boat so everything is set-up correctly, steering, electrical, etc.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: What's your Mercruiser 3.0 in?

my friend has a bayliner cuddy 19' 3.0 merc.he does damn near 40 mph on the gps so we know its right thats with 2 adults and 2 kids 19 pitch.i get just about 30 mph on the gps so i know its right.my boat is heavy.no foam in it just plain heavy.for raritan bay i go about 20 mph i dont need more because im fishing takes me a little longer but i cut thru the wavs better than him and when im drifting waves dont bother me as mush as him.it depends on what you want in a boat.also my cuddy is larger i have a porta potty in my boat he doesnt.just a comparison for you.have fun and good luck.

 

[tmh]

Re: What's your Mercruiser 3.0 in?

IF your old 3.0 is putting out full power then I'd say a lighter 19' BR would be OK if you aren't doing lots of water sports. Certainly a Stingray type hull 17-19' would go OK with that engine.

btw, a 20+ year old boat with ruined interior AND non-working engine should be about FREE! Then you can part out the few useful engine parts to kick-start your rebuild project. Good luck.

 

[newcdnboater]

Re: What's your Mercruiser 3.0 in?

Mine is in a 19.5' cuddy. I am hitting almost 40mph as well....now that I finally have it running well again.

 

[myoung84]

Re: What's your Mercruiser 3.0 in?

Mine is an 85 Thunder Craft 170 17'. Just aquired this boat for free and in the process of restoring it. Supposedly it will do about 38-40 mph.

 

[stacyt]

Re: What's your Mercruiser 3.0 in?

Mines a 16'.8" SeaRay 170 BR, 1994. I can run 37 mph. 1900 lb boat.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: What's your Mercruiser 3.0 in?

Thanks for the replies.

I normally cruise at 32-3500 RPM, only taking it up to 4000+ RPM on rare occasions. If I can cruise around 30 MPH turning 3500 RPM in a 19' hull I'll be happy.

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: What's your Mercruiser 3.0 in?

1987 - 18' wellcraft bow rider....Dry weight according to literature 1800 and something....39 mph max trimmed out ....

 

[2kwik4u]

Re: What's your Mercruiser 3.0 in?

Mine's in an 18'6" long 1998 Rinker 182 model. I think it's ~16* deadrise at transom.

Had it out tonight and with two people and 1/2 tank of fuel it hit 43mph on GPS. Cruises at a slower 27-30mph at around 3200-3400rpm. Sips fuel at that cruising speed as well.

As for watersports. It does great. We wakeboard, wakeskate, double and slalom ski behind it all the time. Tubing is no problemo as well. Typically load is 5-6 adults, 1 cooler, and a plethora of "beach bags". With two in the bow, me driving, two in the rear, and one on the tube it will cruise for the entire day on a single tank of fuel (22gal). I can be up on the wakeboard before the prop-wash no problem with the same load, and I'm only int0 my second season on a board. I can't imagine if I upgraded to a 4 or 5 blade prop from the 19P stainless I have on there now. It already will pull the handle out of most peoples hands if I'm too aggressive with the throttle.

All in all it's a great little motor, and I'd have no problems getting another boat with one in something up to a 19' or so. My next boat will most likely have a V8, but thats only because I'm looking in the 26' range, and they don't offer a 6 or smaller in that sized boat (for good reason). Good friend of mine has a 23' cuddy with a 5.7L. I'll beat him to 30mph every time! As soon as he gets on plane though he runs around me like I've tossed an anchor out. If you're going much more than 30mph doing watersports then someones not doing something right IMO!

 

[IES99]

Re: What's your Mercruiser 3.0 in?

1988 17 foot Wellcraft. Just right!

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: What's your Mercruiser 3.0 in?

I have a 1987 19'2" Vhull/bowrider, just weighed it last weekend and it weighed 2680 pounds (I think I have some wet foam), but my 3.0 pushes it just fine. I'm no speed deamon and rarely take it to WOT and probably cruise around 22mph... but, I love that little motor.

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: What's your Mercruiser 3.0 in?

P.S. - Maybe try searching craigslist for a boat hull:

http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/


Or find if there are any local boat salvage yards that have any.. or even check local marinas and boat repair places for any old hulls.. You already have the motor, controls, and trailer... so you are in a good position.. I like your idea

 

[fishrdan]

Re: What's your Mercruiser 3.0 in?

Thanks Cptkid570,

I've been hitting the Vegas Craigslist 2-3 times a day as it seems the good deals go within a few hours, luck if they last 24 hours. Ebay doesn't look to be a good source for what I want as these type of boats go for WAY more than they are worth, $500-1000 for a basket case boat, at least out here in the southwest. With gas prices being what they are I'm not going to drive more than 2-3 hours to pick up a nice hull. I guess IF I found an exceptional hull/interior I would travel 5 hours, but that would be like rolling the dice... I haven't located a boat salvage yard out here, but was thinking of checking the marina's and boat shops like you mentioned.

 

[M@ 4T]

Re: What's your Mercruiser 3.0 in?

1991 Arrow Glass carisma sport. 17' bowrider put 6 ppl in it and drag a tube, knee board or whatever you want with it.

 

[oops!]

Re: What's your Mercruiser 3.0 in?

I'm wondering if 19' is too big also, don't know if it's a weight issue or more of a hull design issue?

19 s a bit big for a 4 banger, but your not pulling toys.....go lighter and your good !

run fron early bayliners

 

[fishrdan]

Re: What's your Mercruiser 3.0 in?

So what year Bayliners are bad? 70, 80's 90's?

I'm looking for mid 70's through mid 80's and guessing these are the ones...

 

[2kwik4u]

Re: What's your Mercruiser 3.0 in?

So what year Bayliners are bad? 70, 80's 90's?

I'm looking for mid 70's through mid 80's and guessing these are the ones...

Those are the ones.

From what I saw in my search, Quality seemed to pickup with the Bayliners around the early '00's and continue up to where they are today.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: What's your Mercruiser 3.0 in?

Yeah, I think I'll be OK with a light 19' hull. Just saw this on CraigsList, heavy 20' cuddy cabin with a 140 HP in it.

http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/boa/709598814.html

I'm not interested in it, but shows it's capable,,, just how capable I don't know?

Looked at a few Vhulls today, pretty rough and would be better off rebuilding mine. One had all sorts of growth and mussles on the hull, looked to be a huge job just to clean the hull, plus it would need the interior redone, take more time and $$$ than it would be worth.

The search continues