How To Motor Boat

I would like to buy a used motor boat for some family fun on the water. There are a few boats with a 50HP motor for sale in my price range but I'm skeptical that it's enough power to water ski with. Is a 50HP motor enough, or should I look for something larger? Thanks
Also... The size of the boat would be a 16 to18 footer. Dad is 200lbs... Mom says she's 115lbs but she's really 130, (Don't tell her I said that), 1 average teen, and 2 little ones ages 5 & 6.

I have to agree with the poster above.

A lot also depends on the hull design and of course the weight / consturction of the boat itself. Some hulls are more efficient at "planing" than others.

A friend of mine owns a Zodiac inflatable and he has a 25hp Mercury on the back and I have been tubing behind it ( I am 6 ft 4 ! ).

However I own a fibreglass ski boat ( twin hull ) and this has an 80hp outboard - more than enough for ski-ing, but thats probably because it's a twin-hull.

To me 50hp with 5 people and sk-ng sounds a bit on the weak side, imagine how disappointed you ould be to find out you can't get a skier out of the "hole"?

Save some more money and go for at least a 75, the more the better - remember you don't have to use all the power all the time but it might be very handy when you need it most.

Good luck and all the best with your new boat.

2007-06-21 06:36:10 by Matthew E

in this tutorial i will show you how to build a simple motor boat in lbp thanks for watching remember to rate and subscribe

i have a class project and we have to build a motor boat he gave us a little motor but we have to get the propeler and we have to build the body of the boat to hold the motor..the motor is like 2 pounds
so can anyone help me plzzz! :]

THANX!

Nikki, I am trying very hard not to be disrespectful to your teacher.

I assume he does not expect you to buy materials, and first build a boat, if he does, come back and add details to your question, and I will proceed to make up for lost time.

I am nicknamed after McGyver in the old TV show, he could make anything out of spare parts.

The way I would do it, buy the cheapest trolling motor I could find in a pawn shop, maybe $20.

I would remove the motor housing from the propeller shaft, leaving the cable shaft end sticking out from the the lower housing, it will lead to the propeller.

The lower unit should still have the clamp on it to attach the propeller shaft to the boat.

You now have to mate your motor to the shaft and housing, I would have to be there to help you.

2009-04-14 08:39:48 by nikki!

Price: $26.45 $23.17

I live in South Florida and though there are a lot of beaches here, not all you're allowed to launch a personal water craft from. I'm planning in the near future to purchase a motor surf board and since it has a motor, it's characterized as personal water craft. Problem is, I dont know where I can sail it and dont know where I can find a listing of where I am allowed to sail it. Where can I find this?

Boating restrictions are covered under sec 68D-24 of the FL. boating laws. here is a link to the restrictions. just click on the section you want to look up

https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ChapterHome.asp?Chapter=68D-24

hope this helps

2010-01-21 12:27:46 by Jamaal E

Price: $24.75 $15.17

Is a 21 year old boat too old to consider buying used?
The interior is replaced and body is fine, but don't know about the engine. Will the engine be too much cost to rebuild to be worth it?

My boat is 31 years old, the motor is 32. The engine OEM and several aftermarket suppliers still support it with parts, and fiberglass is forever. I've redone 1/2 the interior, the other half is in good shape.

The weak spot in the hull is the transom. Transoms can be replaced but it's a *major* project which, for an old boat is not economically prudent unless you do it yourself. Any soft wood in the transom means it's a goner.

A 21 year old motor would probably be more economical to replace with, say, a 15 year old motor, than to rebuild unless you do it yourself.

2009-01-30 08:51:30 by Grasshopper

Hey, I wanted to build a small motor boat! Something that could hold like.......oh two people probably! Something with seats, and a steering wheel, throtle......you know a motor boat! Anyway, I don't really know where to start, or how much it will cost. That is why I wanted to build it, so save money. Anyway, I don't really have a design either........any help would be appreciated!!

LOOK UP SOME OLD POPULAR MECHANICS MAGS. I READ IT FOR YEARS AND THEY HAVE OLD ISSUES YOU CAN FIND AT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY. ALSO I'VE SEEN PLANS IN SOME OF THE BOATER MAGAZINES. I THINK ONE IS EVEN CALLED "WOODEN BOATS" ALSO TRY THE BOOK STORES FOR PROJECT BOOKS.

2007-08-18 11:48:37 by wondering_hw