New Stratos 176....DEFECT?

[powerman970]

As I posted before, I have just bought the new Stratos 176.  Seems like a great boat and is cheaper than aluminum.  The boat was supposed to run about 35 mph with a Yamaha 50 on it.  Well, mine would run about 7-10 mph and would not plane out.  I take it back to the dealership and a mechanic plays with it and adjusts the throttle cable.  No dice, so he adjusts the other cable that pulls the boat into gear.  Back on the water yesterday and I still have the same problem.  I need the boat running because I'm fishing again today so I bring it home and tear into it myself.  I'm not a mechanic by any means but I was desparate.  I had my brother-in-law put it in gear and move the throttle while I watched it and noticed that the plastic housing on the throttle cable was hitting the piece of metal that actually puts the boat in gear.  When you put it into gear, the first cable pulls until the boat goes into gear and then the throttle starts advancing.  Well' we scratched our butts and drank a cold beer then finally, after looking at it for about 10 minutes and trying to figure out how I'm gonna take the housing off and cut it down for clearance, I notice that on the housing is stamped the word "UP".  Took it off turned it up and now she runs great.  Called a buddy that had bought the same boat but not had it in the water yet and his was the same way.  I suspect this will be a recall but it is a simple 2 minute fix.  If anyone is having this problem shoot me a pm and I'll send pics if you need them to fix it.  You don't need any mechanical ability or tools other than a pair of needle nose to pull a cotter pin.

[bigdog]

I just wondering is this in the motor housing or is it on the outside of the motor.And if it's inside the housing would you void the warenty by fixing it youf self?

[powerman970]

It is inside the motor housing but according to my dealer does not have any effect on the warranty.  If you are close to the dealer you may want to take it in but if you are far enough away to not want to drive to the dealership it is a simple fix.  It is basically taking a cotter pin out, turning a piece of plastic around and putting the cotter pin back in.  Use your best judgement, I simply wanted to inform people of the problem.

[Bassn Blvd]

The manufacurer would never know you changed it. As far as they know the dealership mechanic couldnt figure it out and made it worse.  See what a beer can do !!!!!!!!

[ThomasL]

I looked briefly at that model boat and for the life of me couldn't understand

why stratos would only rate a 17 1/2' boat to a 75 hp rating.I know when they made

omc,the models 254's were rated to a 70 at only 15 1/2' long!Think it could easily

handle a 90. :-?

[powerman970]

OK.  First of all, I spoke with my dealer this morning and it is not a factory problem,  When they put the motor on my boat at the dealership the mechanic apparently was stoned.  Problem is fixed and the boat runs out great.

As for why the boat is rated for the smaller motor, I had the same question.  Supposedly Stratos wanted to build something to compete with the cheaper aluminum boats so they actually chose the motor and hp rating then designed the boat to match the motor instead of the other way around.  The hull design on the boat is not the common V or deep V design of most glass boats.  It is more along the line of a skiff.  I had a tri hull Cajun with a 140 Johnson on it and let me tell you, at high speed turns it would skip like a rock across the water.  They held the hp rating down to accomodate the skiff design of the hull which allowed them to build a more affordable boat.

As for myself and others that I have spoken with, the smaller motor and fuel economy were more important than a larger motor that would get down the lake at 80 mph.  I can catch as many fish at 34 mph as I can at 80 mph and I'm saving tons on gas.  It is a matter of personal preference.  If you want to spend $50,000 and run 80 mph that option is out there.  I am glad to finally be able to but what seems so far to be a good quality fiberglass boat made by a respectable manufacturer for less than $13,000 brand new.  And, the 47 fish we put in the boat Saturday did not seem to know the difference.

[Its a big one]

I looked briefly at that model boat and for the life of me couldn't understand

why stratos would only rate a 17 1/2' boat to a 75 hp rating.I know when they made

omc,the models 254's were rated to a 70 at only 15 1/2' long!Think it could easily

handle a 90. :-?

my old boat was a 1984 stratos 375  17 1/2 it had yamaha 150 on it. done 60mph

[strick9]

I am considering this boat myself. Any opinions on advantages or disadvantages of the Yamaha vs the Mercury on this boat?

[powerman970]

I think it is a matter of personal preference.  I like the Yamaha and bought it because I know several people who own Yamahas and have had good service from them.  Buy what you have the most confidence in.  I also own a Yamaha V-Star motorcycle and have owned numerous Yamaha dirt bikes over the years.  I guess I am just a Yamaha man.