Repowering a 1963 16' Fiber Craft
 

hey guys, i just acquired my first skiff..... i just need some suggestions about repowering, i wanna go 90hp etec, is that too much? should i go less hp? i live in s. fl and will be mainly used flamingo, keys and chokoloskee, im open for suggestions, thanks.

Mac

Re: Repowering a 1963 16' Fiber Craft
 

Welcome aboard TJmedic,
Personally I would freak out with an etec 90 on a 16' FiberCraft. Here's a link to fellow forum member Joey's sweet FiberCraft which was powered by a 30 hp Nissan... I don't know your boat but I doubt it was designed to hang 335 lbs off the transom, especially in the skinny waters you speak of.

http://www.classicseacraft.com/joeyf...aft/index.html ;)

Re: Repowering a 1963 16' Fiber Craft
 

How about a 1964 16 ft. Lone Star (Aluminum) with a
1990 90HP Johnson 4 blade.. :eek: :eek:
Can you say "HANG-ON"
If you want to know what the numbers are, I couldn't
tell you.. [img]/forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] My eyes are watering so bad past
55 mph, I'm afraid to look!! :rolleyes:

"NoBones I" will run on wet sponge...

Keys, Lagoon, Sanibel, she loves them all!
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...Camping019.jpg

See ya, Ken

Re: Repowering a 1963 16' Fiber Craft
 

great boat! My friend's grandfather started fibercraft. He just passed away about 5 years ago.

Re: Repowering a 1963 16' Fiber Craft
 

thanks for the input guys, Joey's Fiber craft is awesome! ill see if i find something abit lighter than a 350lbs monster!!! its my first boat, she's solid as a rock, she came with a torn up 1980's (?) evinrude 60, i think i might stay around that hp, i really dont care for too much speed, 40-45 mph is fast enough, i think my biggest fear is being under powered.... :D

Re: Repowering a 1963 16' Fiber Craft
 

btw ken i really like your skiff! very simple vessel!

Re: Repowering a 1963 16' Fiber Craft
 

If you can find an older 2-stroke 90 Yamaha 3-cyl., that'll curl your toes, and it comes in under 300 lbs.
I used to run one on the back of my 15' Boston Whaler, with an over-hub 13"x27" chopper. I had to add trim tabs to stabilize it at speeds over 50 mph. I don't know how fast it would really go, but I could just walk away from my 21' Checkmate Starflight when it had a 220 Yamaha "Special", and it would do an honest 62-63 mph, so I guess the Whaler was touching the mid-60's.

The pre-2007 Tohatsu 90 TLDI uses the Yamaha design.

Re: Repowering a 1963 16' Fiber Craft
 

I grew up with a 16' fiber craft. Post some pictures. WE had a 70hp rude , one of the best motors I ever owned.

We ran that boat all over the Keys, Biscayne Bay, Flamingo etc.

I saw one one CL not too long ago and almost went to look but I'd be in the dog house if I had 'another' boat at the house.

Re: Repowering a 1963 16' Fiber Craft
 

Yes Sir, I had one on my first 16' Hewes....NEVER gave me a minutes problem, great, great engines!!! I've got a 1998 90hp Yamaha on my current 16' Bonefisher, another great motor. The only downside is it's carbed and gets bad gas mileage, however after 12+ years the compression is within two pounds on all three cylinders. I would buy another versus the 4 stroke in a minute!!!! Remember things have changed with ethanol.......my humble suggestion to keep the carbs from gumming up, ALWAYS run the carbs dry when flushing your engine!!

Would like to talk with anyone who has an old (prior to 1966) Fiber Craft.