Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Hey guys thought y'all might enjoy tossing comments into the pond here...

Currently I've got an 18-foot Party Barge with a 60 HP Mercury BF hanging out back and while I'm generally pleased with the boat and its size I'm disappointed with its speed as the best I saw last year was 19 and this year something is up as I'm down to 17 this is likely prop related. I will be trying out a 3B14X10EC prop as well as a 4B13.8x11 Spitfire in place of the stock 3B14x11 prop and further checking into the motor to make sure that nothing is holding it back; but lots of reading says I'm pretty much in range and just not going to see much more speed from that motor as good as it is. I'm also going to the do under-skinning ASAP as I see that as a way to help improve top speed no matter what my end choice is.

I'm not sure that I want to upgrade to a larger boat as I simply know that it will just about always be just be me and the wife, and on occasion a couple more adults, even rarer occasions will see 4 adults and up to 3 kids... As it is now I enjoy the cozy atmosphere with 4 adults on board as everyone is comfortable.

If the different props and under-skinning don't bring the performance up into the low 20's and/or I don't like how the boat pulls a tube with the kids when they come next week I'm going to look into getting a bigger motor. The name plate data claims max HP is 75 and while another 15 HP is absolutely sure to boost top speed and tube pulling strength my thoughts fall on this thought. The Mercury 90 HP motor weights no more than the 75 does at 363 pounds (60 HP is 247) as they are the same displacement engines. So would you say the hell with name plate suggestions and opt for 30 more HP than you currently have? I think I'd be happy with the current boat if I could have speeds in the upper 25 to 30 MPH range... Or should I just look for a package made for higher speeds?

For insurance reasons I wouldn't upgrade past the max capacity. If you are really concerned id move up to a 20ft boat and buy a 115hp motor and call it a day. Or go nuts and order a 22ft triple toon with 250/300hp that should keep you happy for a season or two!

rdeterman wrote:For insurance reasons I wouldn't upgrade past the max capacity.

Yep that is one issue to look into as there seems to be very wide ranging comments as to this being an issue or not....

Finish out this year and keep your eye open for year end deals. Honestly, the price you pay to upgrade engine and labor cost, you might do fine just trading in your boat on a deal you see at the end of the year or later in the fall. I cannot believe some of the prices of Pontoon boats when they are trying to unload them, like 35% or more off.
If you do upgrade the boat, like said before, go with a 21 or 22 foot boat and get the 150, what a difference. Just adding some size to your boat will make it ride better, even if you are happy with the ride now. My buddy has a nice Pontoon boat (two toons), I loved the ride on it. I got my Tri Toon, and could not believe how much better the ride was, not even comparable.

teecro wrote:

rdeterman wrote:For insurance reasons I wouldn't upgrade past the max capacity.

Yep that is one issue to look into as there seems to be very wide ranging comments as to this being an issue or not....

The sticker on my boat says max is 115 hp. It's a 07 22' Sun Chaser twin 25" tubes. Sun Chaser sells the same boat new and max is 150. I don't get it.

I would love to repower and add a center toon, but I don't want to get into a grey area with insurance.

Crab Island Cruiser wrote:

teecro wrote:

rdeterman wrote:For insurance reasons I wouldn't upgrade past the max capacity.

Yep that is one issue to look into as there seems to be very wide ranging comments as to this being an issue or not....

The sticker on my boat says max is 115 hp. It's a 07 22' Sun Chaser twin 25" tubes. Sun Chaser sells the same boat new and max is 150. I don't get it.

I would love to repower and add a center toon, but I don't want to get into a grey area with insurance.

If you added a center toon, going bigger would not be an issue because the center toon adds buoyancy. Plus the center toon is the transom and will be much beefier than a normal transom.

Have you considered the water glide? I haven't heard a bad thing about them. I believe it comes with underskin kit. it would probably put you in mid 20's. one of my friends beefed up his transom and added a 90 to a boat rated for 75 10 years ago, no problems but I don't know about liability. I don't know what it takes or cost to solidify transom, but you know the cost of a larger motor. then of course your boat is still new so you probably could upgrade easily to a new boat. crab island; I bet the only difference on your sun chaser is the transom.

Thanks guys your input is welcomed...

One of the things I plan to look closely at is weather or not the motor pod and transom on the 20' Party Barge is any different than the motor pod on my 18' Party Barge. As my boat is rated for a 75 HP and the 20' is rated for a 90 HP to which there is absolutely no difference in weight to these two motors and Mercury is the lightest motor in HP class too... From the pictures the two pods look exactly alike even carry the same amount of gas so I'm thinking that they are indeed the same. This tells me the added HP rating and max passenger capt comes from the extra flotation the 2' longer pontoons....

I will also be looking into turning the exsisting non-flotation motor pod into a flotation pod by closing off the open transom and adding a meaning of self bailing and/or bilge pump to the pod; I'll keep it open to the air in the back so that I don't have any chance of fume build up.

You asked for the advice so here is mine......

I am with Scott. By the time you screw around getting a bigger motor, mounting, controls, etc., you will be close to enough to being able to buy a new (or slightly loved) boat with a bigger engine.

Jeez, I should have looked around more before I suggested the waterglide. there are plenty of horror stories out there.

Just thought I'd revive this thread to update y'all.... I was able to find a dealer with a very good 8K out the door price on a new 75 HP motor who gave me a fair trade on my 60 HP motor to which I sold my bike as I'm no longer interested in riding so my out of pocket was very little on this deal.

As to the new 75 Mercury it is a very strong motor that has improved my speed by a full 50 % and I'm sure that there is just a little more speed in there with the right prop as I've tried a 13P at 5K & 24 MPH as well as an 11P at 5.5K and the same 24 MPH so I'll be looking to try out a 12P soon....

Also very pleased with how extremely quite this larger class of motor is too, at idle speeds you can't even hear the motor and even at WOT you can easily talk to the passengers....

Them new 75s are a power house, 2.1l of displacement when the rest of the 75hp class are only 1.5-1.6l size. From other forums I visit it seems the only difference between the 75 and the 90 is a restrictor in the intake track.

rancherlee wrote:Them new 75s are a power house, 2.1l of displacement when the rest of the 75hp class are only 1.5-1.6l size. From other forums I visit it seems the only difference between the 75 and the 90 is a restrictor in the intake track.

More differences than the restrictor plate, It will need a tune to take advantage of more air. You run this risk of the motor shifting lean with more air and the same amount of fuel.

I'm not sure what the learning parameter are on the ECM, but I wouldn't chance it.

Just food for thought.

Mike

rancherlee wrote:Them new 75s are a power house, 2.1l of displacement when the rest of the 75hp class are only 1.5-1.6l size. From other forums I visit it seems the only difference between the 75 and the 90 is a restrictor in the intake track.

While I would tend to think that it takes more than JUST removing the restrictor to go from 75 to 90 HP; likely also needs a different program in the ECM... But like you I've read on some other forums of some fairly gainful returns from just removing the restrictor with no ill effects to be mentioned from those who HAVE actually done it...

Installed a stainless steel Mercury Vengeance 3-blade 14" dia x 12" pitch on the motor and top speed went from just under 24 to just under 26 at WOT of 5,200 RPM then I decided to try the motor with the intake restrictor plate removed and gained a full 1.1 MPH more with the RPM a solid 5,500 on the tach.....

Will have to wait till spring for more testing and checking the plug color to see if the motor is running lean or not...