Repowering

[Quarry Man]

I have a 2007 Triton VT 19 that is rated for a 135 hp. It has a jackeplate on it and a 2007 90 hp optimax on it right now. Top speed by myself is decent at about 42 mph. With a full livewell or anyone else in the boat, it takes forever to get on plane. I am thinking of putting a newer 150 hp on the boat. My logic is that because it is an older boat, newer 150 hp will be similar weight to the weight of 135 hp engines back in 2007. I have no intentions of driving recklessly or out of control.

[KYRANGERMAN]

You're probably correct on the weight issue but before you order that 150 you need to check with your insurer.  Some companies will not cover, or pay a claim if they find that the engine horsepower exceeds the rating for the hull.  It's worth checking into that before learning an expensive lesson later.

[Quarry Man]

also, id be looking at a used motor, not brand new. Budget between 4 and 8 thousand, will sell the other engine which will help offset costs.

[A-Jay]

Something to consider also, is that today's newest motors are considerably 

lighter than most of the older models at the same and sometimes even higher hp.

I agree with @KYRANGERMAN - Check before pumping up the hp over the hulls rating.

Most ANY vessel of this size, that is properly fitted with a HP that is at the top of the rating

can perform at it's best.

The caveat is of course, it can't be overloaded (weight wise - that's people & gear),

and that load needs to be distributed effectively throughout the length of the hull.

I re-powered summer 2018 with a new ProXS (same HP as I had, top of the rating)

My rig was running great, just wanted to get the newer motor. 

Good Luck

A-Jay

 

[KYRANGERMAN]

Looks like, in their current line ups that Mercury has a 115 and then goes straight to 150.  Evinrude does have a 135 in their line up.  I have a 2000 Evinrude Ficht 150 that I've never had a problem with.  Looks like Yamaha has a 130 HP motor too.  Good luck.

[A-Jay]

6 minutes ago, KYRANGERMAN said:

Looks like, in their current line ups that Mercury has a 115 and then goes straight to 150.  Evinrude does have a 135 in their line up.  I have a 2000 Evinrude Ficht 150 that I've never had a problem with.  Looks like Yamaha has a 130 HP motor too.  Good luck.

Honda offers a 4 stroke 135 HP as well

https://marine.honda.com/outboards/motor-detail/BF135-150#specs

 

A-Jay

 

 

[KYRANGERMAN]

I just talked to my wife who is an insurance claims adjuster.  She said as long as you had the engine listed on your insurance policy that you would probably be OK.  Normally engine problems aren't covered by the insurance anyway.  She said the bigger issue could be if you were involved in an accident, etc. that there could be some liability issues were it discovered that you had an engine HP that was over what the boat was rated for, then that could be used against you, e.g. if the boat had not been overpowered then you might not have lost control and had the resulting accident.  

 

Her final words to me were, "I would never overpower a boat."

 

Again, this was her response.  Talk to your insurer to be 100% sure.

[A-Jay]

42 minutes ago, Quarry Man said:

I have a 2007 Triton VT 19 that is rated for a 135 hp. It has a jackeplate on it and a 2007 90 hp optimax on it right now. Top speed by myself is decent at about 42 mph. With a full livewell or anyone else in the boat, it takes forever to get on plane. I am thinking of putting a newer 150 hp on the boat. My logic is that because it is an older boat, newer 150 hp will be similar weight to the weight of 135 hp engines back in 2007. I have no intentions of driving recklessly or out of control.

BTW - no amount of HP will fix nor over come this problem.

A-Jay

[Hower08]

The boat will likely hold the extra 15 hp over max no problem. The issue like already stated will be your insurance company covering you in the event your involved in an on the water accident. You MAY be able to get the coast guard to re-rate the boat. 

[Quarry Man]

4 hours ago, A-Jay said:

BTW - no amount of HP will fix nor over come this problem.

A-Jay

turns out is is a tiny hole in the weld, getting it repaired before I fire up the engine again.

[Logan S]

You can probably fix the holeshot problem with a lower pitch prop if that's the primary concern.  Might try this first before spending thousands on a repower.  

 

Most AL bass boats are not performance hulls so throwing more horsepower on it might not get the performance gains you expect.  It would obviously be better, but it's possible that the improvement might not seem worth the thousands spent once you've done it.  

 

Add in the insurance angle - both to insure it yourself AND what could happen if you were ever involved in an accident with an overpowered boat - and I'd be shopping for props right now not motors .  Just my 2c though.  

[Crappiebasser]

35 minutes ago, Logan S said:

You can probably fix the holeshot problem with a lower pitch prop if that's the primary concern.  Might try this first before spending thousands on a repower.  

 

I'd be shopping for props right now not motors.

This plus a hydrofoil or trim tabs. A VT19 is not going to be very stable much over 42 mph anyway. 

[WRB]

7 hours ago, Quarry Man said:

I have a 2007 Triton VT 19 that is rated for a 135 hp. It has a jackeplate on it and a 2007 90 hp optimax on it right now. Top speed by myself is decent at about 42 mph. With a full livewell or anyone else in the boat, it takes forever to get on plane. I am thinking of putting a newer 150 hp on the boat. My logic is that because it is an older boat, newer 150 hp will be similar weight to the weight of 135 hp engines back in 2007. I have no intentions of driving recklessly or out of control.

Is this the boat that has a leaking stress crack?

Insurance is the big issue.

Why a jack plate?

Tom

[Quarry Man]

45 minutes ago, WRB said:

Is this the boat that has a leaking stress crack?

Insurance is the big issue.

Why a jack plate?

Tom

same boat. I have insurance and will talk to them. Boat came with a backplate. Powerpoles are attached to it as well

1 hour ago, Logan S said:

You can probably fix the holeshot problem with a lower pitch prop if that's the primary concern.  Might try this first before spending thousands on a repower.  

 

Most AL bass boats are not performance hulls so throwing more horsepower on it might not get the performance gains you expect.  It would obviously be better, but it's possible that the improvement might not seem worth the thousands spent once you've done it.  

 

Add in the insurance angle - both to insure it yourself AND what could happen if you were ever involved in an accident with an overpowered boat - and I'd be shopping for props right now not motors .  Just my 2c though.  

has a 22p I believe

1 hour ago, Crappiebasser said:

This plus a hydrofoil or trim tabs. A VT19 is not going to be very stable much over 42 mph anyway. 

would you mind elaborating on those two things? never heard of either.

[Crappiebasser]

3 hours ago, Quarry Man said:

same boat. I have insurance and will talk to them. Boat came with a backplate. Powerpoles are attached to it as well

has a 22p I believe

would you mind elaborating on those two things? never heard of either.

Hydrofoils mount to your motor and just help lift the stern up easier. Trim tabs do the same but mount to the hull and are adjustable. Here’s a couple links. https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/se-sport-400-hydrofoil?hvarAID=shopping_googleproductextensions&affcode_c=&gclid=Cj0KCQjwgJv4BRCrARIsAB17JI43A4JqdxoalklAG3-9q-CDIbxuug4dYrgoVdoVaIqQfvX0mLMh7fAaAtJ0EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds 

 

https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwi_iN_kv8HqAhWEhsAKHfh-D3AYABAWGgJpbQ&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAESQOD2pFqZn0deh33rKiYv3eLT5lSXcJJYlsUoyBwczMJ9lI1xX-kk6O_OJ4clOdheOOX1-CzOxCYZU_1-nmujIUA&sig=AOD64_2s_IJkm2qzY0T1IyPXObi6S6loFQ&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwiH1Nbkv8HqAhUIac0KHcudBZEQwg96BAgLEDU&adurl=

 

 

 

[KYRANGERMAN]

I think you really have to look at the CBA (Cost Benefit Analysis) for each of the things you're thinking about doing or people are suggesting.  You said your main objective is to get on plane quicker.  The most expensive option is to purchase a larger motor.  The second most expensive would probably be adjustable trim tabs, followed by a new/different prop and finally the least expensive would be to add a hydrofoil. 

 

If a larger engine makes the boat more difficult to run at full throttle then part of the reason for going to a larger engine (increased speed) is going to be lost because the hull is not optimally designed for higher speeds.  Plus other factors will come into play as there are different gear case ratios so that's going to have an effect.  Think of it like torque in the vehicle you pull your boat with.  Horsepower is good but torque is also important in how effective your vehicle is in towing your boat.

 

The CBA may very well show that the least expensive option (hydrofoil) may be the best route to go to get the effect you desire.

 

Finally, you need to think about the cost to put additional $$$'s into a boat that is already 13 years old.  If you're planning on running it until it falls apart then that may not be a problem.  However, if you're planning on upgrading in a few years then the return on the investment in a newer, bigger engine is probably not going to be that good.

 

Not telling you NOT to repower the boat, just that you want to take a long look at all aspects before pulling out your credit card.

[Quarry Man]

3 hours ago, KYRANGERMAN said:

I think you really have to look at the CBA (Cost Benefit Analysis) for each of the things you're thinking about doing or people are suggesting.  You said your main objective is to get on plane quicker.  The most expensive option is to purchase a larger motor.  The second most expensive would probably be adjustable trim tabs, followed by a new/different prop and finally the least expensive would be to add a hydrofoil. 

 

If a larger engine makes the boat more difficult to run at full throttle then part of the reason for going to a larger engine (increased speed) is going to be lost because the hull is not optimally designed for higher speeds.  Plus other factors will come into play as there are different gear case ratios so that's going to have an effect.  Think of it like torque in the vehicle you pull your boat with.  Horsepower is good but torque is also important in how effective your vehicle is in towing your boat.

 

The CBA may very well show that the least expensive option (hydrofoil) may be the best route to go to get the effect you desire.

 

Finally, you need to think about the cost to put additional $$$'s into a boat that is already 13 years old.  If you're planning on running it until it falls apart then that may not be a problem.  However, if you're planning on upgrading in a few years then the return on the investment in a newer, bigger engine is probably not going to be that good.

 

Not telling you NOT to repower the boat, just that you want to take a long look at all aspects before pulling out your credit card.

what prop would you recommend? Boat needs a bit of work to be very very good, is still fishable, besides the crack. If we get a garage for it, I will hold onto it for a while.

[KYRANGERMAN]

7 minutes ago, Quarry Man said:

what prop would you recommend? Boat needs a bit of work to be very very good, is still fishable, besides the crack. If we get a garage for it, I will hold onto it for a while.

You may get better information from those running Mercury motors but, and I'm assuming that you are currently running a 3 blade prop, generally speaking a 4 blade prop should give you a slightly better hole shot as you have an extra blade in the water to push more water.  Evinrude had the Raker 3 blade prop and I had it on my Vision 180 and Javelin 379 DC, both with 150HP motors but the recommended prop when I bought my Ranger was the Renegade 4 blade.  It's been on my boat for 20 years now and to me, it's the best prop I've ever run.

[Alex from GA]

Put a hydrofoil on it and go fishing.  For $50 it's cheap @ twice the price.