Motor conversion

Aaron · 19 August 2008, 21:58

Hello,

I keep my boat at Jackson Lake Colorado.

It needs more power to pull water skiers.

I purchased the boat used. I has a Brigg and Stratton motor.

Local boaters said I can get more horsepower by changing the carburetor but they want a lot of dollars.

One neighbor boater said I should buy his Tohatsu 4 hp. Another friend said 4hp is to little but, he could hop it up in horsepower with a kit.

Is it safe to buy the motor and have him work on it.

Thank you,

Aaron

Nos4r2 · 19 August 2008, 22:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron

Hello,

I keep my boat at Jackson Lake Colorado.

It needs more power to pull water skiers.

I purchased the boat used. I has a Brigg and Stratton motor.

Local boaters said I can get more horsepower by changing the carburetor but they want a lot of dollars.

One neighbor boater said I should buy his Tohatsu 4 hp. Another friend said 4hp is to little but, he could hop it up in horsepower with a kit.

Is it safe to buy the motor and have him work on it.

Thank you,

Aaron

Welcome to RibNet.

What's the boat? It sounds like you need to think again about pulling skiers-a 4hp won't do it however much you play with it.

Locozodiac · 20 August 2008, 00:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron

Hello,

I keep my boat at Jackson Lake Colorado.

It needs more power to pull water skiers.

I purchased the boat used. I has a Brigg and Stratton motor.

Local boaters said I can get more horsepower by changing the carburetor but they want a lot of dollars.

One neighbor boater said I should buy his Tohatsu 4 hp. Another friend said 4hp is to little but, he could hop it up in horsepower with a kit.

Is it safe to buy the motor and have him work on it.

Thank you,

Aaron

Welcome too

Seems you missed completely the sky fun by 36 HP, buy yourself a nice 40 HP instead and use the Briggs & Stratton as an anchor. "Thumbs Up"

Happy Ribbing

Downhilldai · 20 August 2008, 01:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron

.... I has a Brigg and Stratton motor.....

I has one of them too - on my mower.

prairie tuber · 20 August 2008, 05:55

Your pushing a zodiac that is over 23 feet (+ 7 m) long with a 4 hp lawn mower motor???

jyasaki · 20 August 2008, 16:07

Troll post? Dunno. Not too many 7 meter RIBs in the US; certainly none that I know of equipped with a 4hp B&S outboard (yes, they do exist.)

I'm thinking the boat is more like 7 feet, rather than meters. 4hp would be just about right for that size. But not pulling a skier.

jky

SnappingTurtle · 20 August 2008, 16:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron

Hello,

I keep my boat at Jackson Lake Colorado.

It needs more power to pull water skiers.

I purchased the boat used. I has a Brigg and Stratton motor.

Local boaters said I can get more horsepower by changing the carburetor but they want a lot of dollars.

One neighbor boater said I should buy his Tohatsu 4 hp. Another friend said 4hp is to little but, he could hop it up in horsepower with a kit.

Is it safe to buy the motor and have him work on it.

Thank you,

Aaron

Pulling Skier with a B&S, or a 4HP motor, is kinda like wishing you could pull a loaded semi trailer with a old VW Beetle.

You have your boat listed as a 7meter, that is close to 23feet. The Brigg & Stratton motor is a cheap trolling motor at best, it will never be anything but that. The Tohatsu is a nice little motor but on a 23foot boat it is not much more than a lazy cruiser for calm water.

I have a 6hp on my 12foot SIB, which I would guess weighs but a fraction of your boat, and use it on a River. Upstream it gets the job done, but will never plane out even with nothing on board, much less pull a skier, unless you were thinking about something like this (see below).

Downstream it is faster, but I still think it is a dog.

Are you sure you meant what you wrote. If you are, I think you need some new boating friends to ask for advice.

If this is the case and you are serious, you came to the right place.

Welcome to RIBnet!

Aaron · 22 August 2008, 00:22

Thank you everyone for your help. Perhaps I should ask other boaters.

The person who sold me the boat mislead me. Does a Briggs and Stratton have any value. And where might I find a buyer and how much should I ask?

My wife wants me to buy a boat that has a 350 hp (I think the model of the engine is Mercury) would that be correct? I am a bit leery because I thought that engine was only for a car.

Thank you for any help.

Aaron

Nos4r2 · 22 August 2008, 02:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron

Thank you everyone for your help. Perhaps I should ask other boaters.

The person who sold me the boat mislead me. Does a Briggs and Stratton have any value. And where might I find a buyer and how much should I ask?

Very little value.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron

My wife wants me to buy a boat that has a 350 hp (I think the model of the engine is Mercury) would that be correct? I am a bit leery because I thought that engine was only for a car.

Thank you for any help.

Aaron

No insult intended here Aaron but you sound a bit green to all this. Go and get some training,have a chat with an instructor and then think about what you want to buy. It'll cost you a lot less in the long run.

keithb7 · 22 August 2008, 03:27

I sense a troll. A bored guy just toying with us here. To go from 4 HP to 350 HP! Come on...
A 350 HP engine could quite easily rim the water skier's arms right off, while leaving his swim shorts behind. Good luck!

Jono · 22 August 2008, 08:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnappingTurtle

... The Brigg & Stratton motor is a cheap trolling motor at best...

So, perfectly suited to this thread......

jyasaki · 22 August 2008, 16:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron

The person who sold me the boat mislead me. Does a Briggs and Stratton have any value. And where might I find a buyer and how much should I ask?

http://smalloutboards.com/bg5.htm

Starting place.

spartacus · 22 August 2008, 22:46

Quote:

My wife wants me to buy a boat that has a 350 hp (I think the model of the engine is Mercury) would that be correct? I am a bit leery because I thought that engine was only for a car.

Definately a hoax. A 350hp is going to set you back $29,000 US dollars. Double check your wife hasn't taken out life insurance policy for you. I've heard of being forced to take up golf - but never powerboating!!!