How bout an 18' with a 60hp Mercury???

[spwilmot]

the problem is with weight. i have an 18 with a new honda 90 EFI. at 385 lbs it does not overload the stern and does 30 mph at wide open. I use it as a coach boat for sailing. the BEST in the San Francisco Bay when the wind and waves kick up. needed to gear down the prop size to a 15 pitch from 17 pitch however when I towed a few sailboats up wind. 15 pitch good for now. 13 was too low and i worried about over revving if i loaned the boat out. great punch however and probably would pull 12+ sailboats home if needed...

I know a 115 would have more power, however be careful of too much weight on the transom. seacrafts plane out nicely. but if overloaded at stern, kind of drives around with bow up until speed develops.

I wanted safe and reliable. didn't want stern nearly pulled under with weight of a 150 capsizing me in 5 foot chop.

Anyway 90 runs great. top speed 30 mph (garmin gps) and uses mayber 6 gallons in a whole day of coaching.