Question for the boaters at SpeedGuide

[Jon]

I am looking at a 1974 Larson 18 foot boat. The boat currently has a 1989 70hp Yamaha outboard.

What do you think, is this boat going to be under powered with that motor? I'd like to be able to tow my kids on a tube or knee board.

The boat is in good condition, does $1200 sound like a fair price?

[Joe]

As long as the hunnies will get in it.

[Noevo]

I think it would be under powered. Is it a deep V? that's a lot to plow with only 70 hp

Last boat's we had that size 16ft Rinker and 17ft Four Winns had 140hp and 160 hp inboard/outboards. both did in around 38-44mph depending on trim and load

but for tubing and knee board you're looking at 25-30mph speeds lower if younger kids. I think it'd be too underpowered to pull an adult skier though...33-40mph

hard to beat at that price though. the motor alone is probably worth that

[MadDoctor]

hard to beat at that price though. the motor alone is probably worth that

http://syracuse.craigslist.org/bar/398628666.html

Here are a few priced lower (for a reason) and higher. Let the buyer decide.

http://motors.search.ebay.com/larson-bo ... Z2QQfsopZ2

One more source to compare prices.

http://maine.craigslist.org/boa/

[Chris]

I would think it a little underpowered by todays standards, but for cruizin and skootin around should be great.
If your a speed freek, it won't cut it.
Should get up and plain though.
For $1200, I'd buy it if in decent shape

[FunK]

Yeah, to me 70 hp seems a little low for an 18 footer.
We have a 16 or 17 with an older 90p thats just been overhauled.. It's better than it was but to me, is still a little on the slow side.

[YeOldeStonecat]

Spent my entire life around runabout boats, doing various watersports such as skiing, tubing, kneeboarding, etc.

For tubing and kneeboarding, depending on the prop you're spinning (at 17" will give better pull, a 19" pitch will struggle more...but have a higher top speed.)....it should do fine. You don't need a lot of power for kneeboarding..nor a lot of speed, you're usually kneeboarding in the low to mid 20's.

For tubing...it also depends on the type of tubes you're pulling, how many tubes you wish to pull at the same time. Most of the tubes you purchase today have a poly skin around them...making them flat bottomed, so they pop up on plane very easily. If you're using a true truck inner tube..that's open..without a skin cover on it, you'll have that hole in the middle..and it'll take a bit to get up on plane. For tubing..unless you get crazy like we did...you're usually not going over 30-35mph.....especially with kids.

Growing up through junior high school, and high school, I had several boats in the 16-18 foot range...all of them with the standard old 70hp Johnson or Evinrude. We DID tow multiple tubes fine with it, even the old fashioned true inner tube, as well as it was more than able to pull 2x skiiers up out of the water at the same time if they were using 2x skis initially. Yeah pulling a 150lb person up with a single slalom ski took a little longer..but was still doable.

Larson makes a nice boat....they're generally mid-weight, not too heavy....a good brand. You should be able to nudge 35mph with a 17", maybe kiss 40 with a 19". The price sounds GREAT. Yamaha makes a great engine, they copied the OMC (Johnson/Evinrude) with that engine..it's a 3 cyl "looper".

Here's my current puppy....I was supposed to be out fishing at this time today with Dave's World..but we have a semi-hurricane that whipped up last night...the water is brutal out there right now. So this afternoon may take the kids out tubing, and shoot for tomorrow morning to get some fishing in.

[TonyT]

I recall those Larsons of that era that were tri-hulls. If so, the 70hp will push it at maybe 25-30 mph max. That's more than enough power for fishing, even in the ocean, but for skiing or tubing it is too little for multiple adults but fine for children, after all you don't want your pre-teens slapped around at 40 mph. You can also use different props for different applications (lower or higher pitches). Ski speed is relative, the 70hp will get skiers up w/ no problems.

If the motor is in good condition, e.g. new water pump and pistons unscarred or etched, then it alone is worth almost 1200 bucks. Pull the cover off the motor and look for salt corrosion and discolored wire insulation. Be sure to fire up the motor prior to purchasing. Also check if the prop is warped or chipped.

I've owned boats for the last 25 years. A boat is a hole in the water you throw money into. So before you buy, realize you will be shelling out additional money for:
1. trailor tags, title, taxes (& in some states vehicle safety inspection - in some states you can get one time fee permanent tags)
2. boat safety requirements: life jackets, flotation devices, signaling (horn, whistle, flares), oar(s), lighting (running and anchor), etc.
3. accessories: sonar, radio-music, coolers, seat cushions.
4. other gear: fishing, camping, tow-ski ropes, tubes, skis, ski-boards, etc.
5. gas-oil, sufficient fuel tanks - if tank is not in hull or is less than 25 gallons then will need spare fuel container(s).

Tip section:

how to get wife to tell you to get a bigger better boat
1. take the wife out for a cruise.
2. do NOT bring seat cushions and make her sit on a hard surface.
3. find biggest wakes available on an outgoing tide and slam 'em head on near end of cruise for at least 20 minutes.
4. she will on her own tell you that you should get a better bigger boat the next year.

In 1997, he above resulted in this:

19' length
8' beam
112 hp
self-bailing
56 gal in hull fuel tank
live well
anchor locker

[YeOldeStonecat]

I recall those Larsons of that era that were tri-hulls.

They made lots of semi-vees....going way way back. I'm struggling to remember any cathedral hull Larson.