new motor for 14' Hinton

[Geoff-]

Hi,

We're on our first boat, and pretty new to the scene. Got a 14' Hinton with a 90hp johnson V4 on it that is not without its quirks (it's an '86 motor after all) and looking to repower with something new. Current thinking is that 75hp will be ample, the main question is whether to go carby or injected (have settled on a mercury as far as brand goes).

The boat has a ~40 litre tank in it, and will sometimes be used for extended periods towing kids around on ski biscuits and so on. Occasional use towing a skiier, and otherwise used as a general runabout / fishing boat. Yeah it's a bit "small boat big motor" but anyway

Range is a factor as we don't want to be filling up all the time when towing skiiers, are the claims of 45% less fuel for injected really accurate at all throttle openings or just at part throttle?

If anyone has a similar size boat with a carby motor on it how much fuel do you normally carry and what's your range?

Cheers,

Geoff

[darkside]

Don't be shy champion, a picture tells a thousand words.

Would love to see a pic of the new boat. !!!!

[Geoff-]

bugger.. took my camera today as we went to show it to someone for a quote on fitting a motor and got home, put the cover back on and then realised i didn't take a bloody photo! I've only got a pic of the old johnson, if you've seen one you've seen em all..

suffice to say my brother in law bought it for 3 grand from a guy who hadn't used it in years, spent a fair bit on the old motor trying to get it going reliably but they are not interested in fiddling with chokes and throttle levers so it's looking more like we are going to spend the extra for the direct injection model, which should be turn-key to start. in the meantime we've re-painted the deck, new visor (which was old and foggy), re-carpeted it put in 4 new seats and fitted a new bimini - she looks like a new boat almost!! the old grungy motor has got to go, I'm sure it will serve someone well who doesn't mind fiddling with it.

once it's got a new merc hanging off the back I'll be sure to post a pic

[Pommy Matt]

Hey Geoff,
can't really help with engine choice for skiing, as I don't tow skiers, but I have the same hull as you and she goes very well (31kts) with a yammy F60, so I reckon you will be flying with a 75 2 stroke.
matt

[Geoff-]

I'm sure it would Matt, on our first outing we were doing 25kts with the V4 dangling one spark plug lead behind it!! With all cylinders firing it does that speed on half throttle.

Well boating has sure proven to be a slippery slope, as the other powers that be wanted desperately to get away from the whole throttle lever and choke business that made starting the old motor a nightmare. We've ordered an Optimax 90hp, so I'll be surprised if there's any hull left in the water when we open it up. The only downside to the Optimax is the weight (170kg) and it's a pricey motor but you only live once, right? (there are a few of us putting in for it so it's not quite so painful).

I still think we're crazy putting such a big motor on a small boat but maybe I'm just being a wussy girl's blouse

speaking of big motor small boat...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhmN5um1LzA

[Geoff-]

Don't be shy champion, a picture tells a thousand words.

Would love to see a pic of the new boat. !!!!

OK well after a long road we picked up the boat this afternoon complete with new motor - and boy she is a big one! The mechanic said "I thought it was too big when putting it on... but it's awesome". Mech tells us despite their best guess it's underpropped (they will swap it out for us next week) and we were given strict instructions to behave - RPM-limited during break-in to 4000RPM. Can't wait to give it some stick, 4000 seems to be where the powerband starts!

[bigjimg]

Geoff, boat and the new motor look great.Did you get the smartcraft gauges as well?You should be able to get a wakeboarder up and going with that.All i see in the youtube video is a fool.Jim

[Geoff-]

thanks Jim! We skipped the smartcraft gauges as we were already spending a lot of dough. In the basic analogue package we got RPM, MPH, trim and an hour meter which suits us perfectly. Better than expected, actually.

She still needs a new radio, fish finder and stereo when the hip pocket recovers!! I have wakeboarded before and keen to give it a go sometime. That youtube guy is a fool but pretty funny, gave us a good laugh when I emailed it around and said "this is what our boat will look like with the new motor" and Paul (brother in law) goes "only if Lauren's driving it!!" (my sister, she inherited the leadfoot gene).

[Steeler]

Hi Geoff-

Great looking rig and a excellent choice in power, now you will be " No1 on the water ".

I can't get over just how similar those hulls are to the old Haines Hunter V16R's.

Cheers

Steve

[Alchemy]

I still think we're crazy putting such a big motor on a small boat but maybe I'm just being a wussy girl's blouse

speaking of big motor small boat...

Hi Geoff,

I had a friend who years ago (mid eighties) ran a V146 Haines runabout, with a 140hp Suzuki. Pulled two skiers with it. Would have been deadly without the skiers I reckon!.

Dave.