Repowering 18' Potter

[BocaSeacraft]

Thanks T-Man. Nice looking 18.

[McGillicuddy]

I hear you clearly on the light weight, but at the risk of spending your money, I would seriously consider a little more umph to get out of tricky troughs if it gets sketchy in those southland inlets.

I think the the 90 etec, 90 zuke, and the new 2.1 Liter 115 Merc 4-s are all good calls. Nice mix of appropriate weight to power for a V-hull. They all have gearing available to spin more prop and can probably get you out of a jam in a jiffy. Not so sure about a Yammie 70.

If you're a Yammie loyalist and thinking new, their 115 has dropped 20 lbs into the first run etec 115 weight class (375lbs i think). I think new etec 115 is over 400 lbs. Mercs Optimax is in that 375 weight range too, but once you've run in relative silence, its hard to go back.

[Beaver]

Please give us a report when you get your motor on.

Thanks.

[fishfullthinking]

BocaSeacraft once you get the boat setup I would love to go for a ride. I have been looking for 18 but never actually rode one. I will bring your beer of choice. Cheers!

Fishfullthinking

[DonV]

"I will bring your beer of choice. Cheers!"

Really?? How many? I've got a 23'er you can ride in.

[BocaSeacraft]

I finally purchased the new motor and am bringing the boat in today to have it installed. Hope to be back on the water soon. Ended up getting a Suzuki DF90 for the same price I would have paid for a Tohatsu. Had to go 4 stroke. I will report back once I have some hours on the new set up.

[sidelock]

We're still waiting !

[BocaSeacraft]

Well, motor is installed and went for the sea trial this afternoon. I just want to say the guys at Drummond Outboard in Deerfield Beach did a heck of a nice job installing the motor. Joel and Zach are a great father and son team who really spend the time to get it right. First impressions of the motor are very favorable. I'm still in the break in period but the DF90 gets the boat up on plane with ease, even with 4 of us aboard (about 750#) and half a tank of fuel, all equipment, etc. It holds plane down to about 3200 RPM with the 14x16 Suzuki prop. At idle it is so quiet I can barely tell it's running. The wife and I are taking it out tomorrow for the day to put some hours on it and get ourselves familiarized with the new setup. I will report back once we get a chance to put it through its paces after break in.

[JayN]

Hi Boca, if it were my boat, I would go with a motor in the 115HP range, maybe a little bigger. like up to 150HP. It's nice to have the extra power, in case you need to carry extra weight, like dive gear, big cooler, or extra people. You don't need to run WOT all the time, and when you do it should get up and go. I have a 1971 20' CC with a Mercury 225, 25" shaft, 90 gallons of fuel under deck, and I can cruise all day between 3200 and 4000 RPM's all day long depending on the load I'm carrying. Once or twice a month I go out into the Gulfstream and collect 110 gals. of salt water, so I can do a water change in my reef tank, and this is when the larger motor really preforms to its max. Good luck with whatever size motor you decide on, but I always believe, go with the biggest motor your boat can handle, you never now when you will need it.

[Beaver]

Nice!!! Looks great on the back of your boat. I'm looking forward to hearing some mpg reports.