18' Superfisherman performance
 

I've finally put the 18' in the water. It has a 1987 Mariner 115 hp motor, with under 200 original hours. I put a 4 blade Turning Point aluminum prop on it, 17" pitch.

The 1987 115 inline 6 cylinder is the same motor as the old 140's, right down to the size of the jets in the carburetors. We tried to put it on the hydro-dynamometer, but had to look at the gauges, as the computer interface wasn't working, and the printer was out of paper. It appeared to be producing about 123-125 hp at the prop-shaft.

Auto-Blend oil mixing is disabled and removed, running on 5-:1 premixed fuel. There are no trim tabs, but I will be adding Sport Tabs later because Choctawhatchee Bay is frequently very choppy.

Hole shot is very impressive, at just over three seconds. Very little bow rise with the stern-lifting 4 blade prop.

Best cruise seems to be at 3700-3800 rpm and 25-27 mph.
Top end is at 5800 rpms at about 41-42 mph.

Overall, I burned about 8 gallons in just over 80 minutes and traveled 31 miles according to my GPS, with an average speed of 17.8 mph over the entire time, for an average of almost 3 mpg. That actually surprised me, as I was expecting a fuel burn closer to 2.3 mpg based upon owning many inline 6 Mercs over the past 40+ years.

I'm looking at/considering repowering with a new or NOS motor in the 90-150 hp range. So far, I'm leaning toward either a Suzuki 115/140, or a Mercury 4S 115EXLPT Command Thrust or 150EXLPT, both of which can be found as NOS leftovers in the 2015-2016 model years, with a purchase price of $7600 to $8100 for the Zukes to $8300 to $8500 for the Mercurys, not including rigging, controls, gauges, or props.

I leaning toward these motors mostly because of price, because the Etecs are 2017-2018 model year only for an extra $3K, and because Yamaha now wants you to replace the flywheel/balancer assembly on 2014 and newer motors inline 4 and V6 motors every 80-100 hours because of known failure issues, and it costs over $900 each time.

If anyone has simple data on the Zukes and Mercs, let me know. I can't buy the motor until July, though, as I'm taking a sabbatical trip to Israel in June, and have to pay for that first!

Note the weight change from 315 lbs to ~375 lbs with the Merc 115 - I have a 90 yammie on my 1979 and it just (barely) drains when I put an extra 100 lbs on the engine. Might be different if it's an '80s 18SF

I put a new Zuke 140 on my old '75 18SF in early 2002, and sold the rig in '06 (and have regretted that decision ever since). Lotsa motor/weight for sure, but crazy quiet, powerful, and 100% reliable. We didn't prop it for top end, as she was mostly used in the ocean, so maxed out at 41-42 mph on the GPS in flat water. Good hole shot even with 3-4 people onboard, and wonderful mid-range power - really great for shooting rough inlets, kind of like skiing between the bumps! I used to run it all over the USVI and BVI, and would average around 5 mpg on a full day of mixed use, which made me smile a lot! Snookerd's folks put a 140 on their 18 and he says they love theirs too.

Vezo, Part 1 has an ‘88 SF, original OMC 112, then a rebuilt 150. Loves the boat so much he pulled the trigger on a Zuke 140 4S. Lost some top end, but sweet. I think he has @ 650 hours and Happy. Nice rig.

Back in the early 2000’s we ran my MA OMC 175, along side his OMC 150 through the gallery of boats on Sunday of the Heritage Golf Tournament, outside Harbortown and the 18th hole. Blimp shot the almost twins running just shy of 50 mph. Must have been a lull in the action. Fun s#it.

Vezo, Part II

18SF Performance
 

Fr. Frank-I have owned an 87 (150 Johnson and 140 Zuke),88 (130 Yamaha), and 89 18SF(130 Yamaha). I had the 89 when I met you at the Anclote gathering.

Your 88 with the 140 Suzuki is doable. My parents 87 currently has a 140 Suzuki on it. It is too heavy on the 87. But.....the 88 is a Tracker with a different and lighter layup schedule of fiberglass and it can better handle it. At best, it will be borderline self bailing. I would recommend a 90 -115. There are some very light motors from etec to Yamaha's new 25" 115B at 386lbs. After seeing Terry's mighty 90 Etec, I would lean that way for the lowest weight.

The hard part is waiting to get a new motor, even though this old Tower of Power runs very well. I haven't purchased a new motor since 2006, when I bought the 90 Optimax to put on the back of my 2-boats-previous 20 Seafari, the Fishalot III.

My local Evinrude dealer is going to see if he can get one of the several left-over 2016 E115DPX motors another dealer has up in Illinois. No definite word on price yet, but he thinks he can get the purchase price under $8K, not counting controls, prop, and a tach with idiot lights, and sensor harness for NMEA2000, or about $9K to $9.5K out the door including tax and rigging, (assuming I bring it ready to rig).

I'm going to look into that right now...

I just priced out a 115 Suzuki from International Marine in Florida for a customer, and shipped to us complete with all needed rigging etc, was about $8600.
You would of course then have the labor of rigging it either by a yard or by yourself.

Oh and an extra $150 if you want it in white.
;)

Just a thought...Have you looked at the Tohatsu 90? Low pressure fuel injected 2 stroke that gets fantastic fuel economy. They're suppose to be super reliable and they're super light. I keep seeing them advertised for about $7300 new (which includes rigging). When my current Tohatsu 90 gives up the ghost I think I'm going to go this route.

I've looked at the Tohatsu DFI 115 and 90 2 strokes. Nearest actual servicing dealer is over 3 hours away in Eastpoint, FL. Lots of "dealers" listed closer, but none of them stock parts for motors over 40hp.

Okay. Weights for new 2018 motors, not left-overs.

Mercury 115 25" shaft is 363 lbs.
Evinrude 115 25" is 375 lbs.
Yamaha 115 25" is 383 lbs
Honda 115 25" is 485 lbs
Tohatsu 115 4S 25" is also 485 lbs
Tohatsu 115 2S 25" is 392 lbs
Suzuki 115 25" is 412 lbs

Top 3 look good for weight.

and the 3cyl ETEC 90 is 320 lbs

Drove over to BassPro in Destin to inquire about re-powering through them. They had the specs for this boat right there, seeing as it's a Tracker SeaCraft.

The 1988 18' Superfisherman is designed to carry up to a 465 lb outboard motor and still be self-bailing. The hull is rated for 150 hp max, and was designed to carry the heaviest 150 in production at the time, the Suzuki DT150CTX, which weighs 465 lbs.

In contrast, according to them, the previous year, which was also Tracker built, was only designed to carry up to 140 hp, and 370 lbs on the transom.

Ed said that although they only sold the 18' pre-rigged for Evinrude and Mercury/Mariner, they actually did sell two of the 18' hulls locally upon which the owners installed the DT150 SuperSick motors, but the "standard" power for this boat when new was either the Evinrude 110 hp V4, or the Mariner 115 hp I-6. Very few saw the Evinrude 140 or 150 loopers, or the Mariner 150.

He then offered to re-power my boat with a 2-year old left-over 135 Optimax counter-rotator for $10,200 out the door, including de-rigging my current power, and also offered me $750 on my running '87 115 Mariner as a trade-in, for a net $9650.

I'm a research nut, (you guys probably know that by now), but after all that, I think I still want a 115.

You might look at the G1 Etec 150 which I believe comes in at 425# or the new 4 stroke Merc 150. I run a 2004 Evinrude DI 150 on my 1968 19' Seacraft and its a very nice combination. 32mph cruise, 44 mph on top. great holeshot and economical. Mine is on a bracket though.

The irony is that Tracker can take credit for "the design" for 465lbs. when this 18 hull that came from Carl and Bill and they never built it for 465lbs.

The primary difference in this hull from mid 1987 when SIC ( 1980-1987)stopped producing was lighter cores and less glass (still a great boat). The 1987 boat that my family owns is a tank. It is too heavy for anything over 400lbs. - That is why Ed said that an 87 only says 370LBS -because it would sink like my parents did with a 400 lb 2 stroke Johnson 150! (Tracker owned SeaCraft half of 1987, and they were selling off the old SIC boats that Tracker never built) . The primary difference from SIC back to Potter was a better strength to weight ratio with fiberglass schedules on Potter boats AND the console is farther forward on SIC and Tracker 18SFs(that's the most noticeable design change). Under 400lbs is ideal for a Tracker, 465lbs is insane and is not self bailing, and 425 is do-able, but borderline.

Maybe I'm looking at the wrong numbers, but the Suzuki web site is showing the current "X" length DF140 at 405 lbs., with the same displacement (2044 cc's) as the 115. The only time I ran into wet feet problems in my '75 18SF/140 was when I forgot to fasten the washboards and tried backing down into a chop. I did put the battery under the console and kept the stern free of junk and big humans, but I don't recall ever coming close to sinking it. Good luck with whatever you wind up with... I'm still wrestling with the repower decision on my 23' Sceptre.

1987 18SF freeboard with a 140 Suzuki (the water line is 6” above the chine :(

Bmajvi-You're right the Zuke web site does show around 405. The DF140 25" weight has always been around 420lbs(I checked NADA for 2010, it's still 421, but the 2017's show 407???). Suzuki either cut down the weight or they are going to the Mercury school of "lowball the weight" to compete with engines that either weigh less or also lie!

Well this is getting interesting.
My `89 20 Slacker is rated for 235 hp per CG plate. The transom is 2 3/8" thick.

Padre, how thick is your transom?
Another vote for the smaller ETEC here.
The idle mpg is over 9 on Denny`s ole safari w a 150.

No water here
 

Here's a shot of my 18 with a150 etec and me on the transom but I did raise the floor 2 inches and moved console forward a little.

Rick-Your boat is amazing! Raising the floor 2” and adjusting the console gives you the perfect boat with the 150. Potter 18’s are great boats.

Underway -

Terry,You got another hidden talent you can sell them like Boatpix minus the helicopter

Transom is 25" high, and 2.68 inches thick.

My two tracker transoms were very solid. The transom widths compared to the 87 looked to be the same. Most seacraft guys know that in the 80s prior to tracker, the cores were very heavy plywood. So, it wasn’t just more fiberglass, it was also heavier Coring. Multiple tracker 18s have had their decks replaced and all of them have been heavy plywood.

I've got two major factors in considering what motor to plunk my down payment on:
#1: weight; and
#2: cost.

My wife has given me permission to spend "less than $10,000", AND I have to keep the payments under $140 per month, after a $2K down payment.

I like the new Mercury 115, and I like the Etec particularly, because if I put my money down by Easter, they're offering a 10 year limited warranty on the Etec. Still trying to negotiate with my local dealer...

Fr. Frank, have you had a chance to read the link on THT about the History of Etec, I believe provided by Seahorse? Very good read and broken down in two parts, Gen 1 and Gen 2. Gen 2 is to follow. I think you’ll agree it’s a good read.

Michael.

Not yet, but now I will. Thanks, Michael.

Of course, I have not been able to login over there in six months, and could not locate it yesterday for reference. But it was definitely a topic and/or link started by Seahorse, an old time OMC guru.

Michael, I found the article on Scream N Fly.

I know you were focusing more on a 115hp outboard, but I repowered my 18 SF back in 2015 with a new Suzuki DF90. My 18 is a 1975 model and is pretty weight sensitive. The 343# DF90 keeps my scuppers above water 99% of the time. It has great low end power, excellent fuel economy and plenty of top end for where I use it (near shore Atlantic Ocean). I had the chance to run a friend's 170 Montauk with a new Mercury 90 (with command thrust) for a bit and my SeaCraft/Suzuki combo definitely feels quicker and more responsive. The DF90 holds plane down to about 12-14 mph with my boat. I have some large Bennett tabs which are very nice for keeping things trimmed correctly. Anyways, I just wanted to give you some additional info. to digest. I think the 18 SF SeaCraft is one of the best all-around boats out there for Florida. Good luck in your decision.

Just launched my 18 SF for the season yesterday. Last year I put a 2009 Mercury 90 horsepower carbureted motor on it. Last year I had a 13 3/8 X 15 Michigan Apollo 4 blade propeller on it. It would run 32 mph @ 5700 to 5800 RPMs and hold a plane down to about 16-17 mph. This year I put a 13 X 17 4 blade Michigan Apollo propeller on it. It will now run 34 to 35 mph at 5700-5800 RPMs and hold a plane down to about 14-15 miles an hour so definitely headed in the right direction. I'm even thinking it could stand just a bit more pitch so may get it cupped a bit.
Rod

Have you had a chance to figure what your average MPG is with that Suzuki 90?

Picked up a 2011 Etec 90 today. 200 hours, pontoon boat motor, got it from the original selling dealer who has serviced the motor all it's life & with all records . Getting a 1 yr. parts warranty and 30 days labor warranty with $75 deductible.
Getting ready to go to Israel, so it won't get it rigged until after mid-June.

Went out Saturday on the 18' for the first time with the Etec 90hp. I'm very pleased with the performance.

My GPS is set to read in kts, not mph, so Top Speed was 34.4 kts at 5200 rpm, with 2 people and a German Shepherd on board, with full fuel, full livewell and fishbox full of water, too.

Cruised very well at between 3500 and 4100 rpms, between 20-24 kts.

Traveled a total of 69 NM, most of that trolling at 8 kts, burning a total of 12.5 gallons of fuel, for an average of 5.5 NMpg.

25" Etecs 90hp and up are all equipped with V6 gearcases, and my prop is a stainless BRP Viper TBX 14.75x17P.

This 18' has a smoother ride than my 20' Seafari. It was amazing.
At 21-22 kys, we traveled along through 1-2' seas, with a very occasional 3', and never jolted my cup of tea on the console.

I think I'm in love all over again.

Those numbers are outstanding Fr. Frank! It sounds like the perfect boat/motor package.

Love my 18 with a 90 Suzuki, too. Seems to be a good combo/hp for these boats. Enjoy!

frank did you sell the 115 ?

Frank-The Tracker 18SF's are no joke, as you know! When Denny and I cleared the Lake Worth inlet at our Peanut Island gathering in my 88 18SF with a 130 2stroke Yamaha, he also made similar comments vs. The Restless Lady II (20 Seafari).