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After lake testing the boat yesterday with the 115 hp Yamaha 4 stroke, 2002 model, the verdict is in- 115 is not enough. I could only get 35 mph @ 5800 rpm (WOT) with 3/4 fuel load, 2 adults, one child (and we are only 413 lbs combined), the boat felt sluggish. I could get it out of the hole fine but I never got that feeling of "poppimg free" when you are trimmed out just right, the prop would lose purchase, (trimmed too high) before I ever felt like we were free.
I am not saying I couldn't get it on plane, the boat just felt bow heavy. I will now have to hear what the 2007 Yamaha 150 is going to cost....ouch.

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tcrenshaw,

I drove this boat:
http://www.whalercentral.com/infusion...user_id=14

I didn't think it to be too sluggish out of the hole although it was slower to plane than my 150hp...

The above boat did about 40 mph top end and the engine was mounted one hole too low at that time... Maybe the prop on your test motor is not correct. Just an idea....

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joe,
can you expand that thought regarding the correct prop? I would certainly rather change the prop than the engine!
thanks

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That 18 was Tony's boat and I remember he stated that the F115 worked well for him and his fishing needs. However, he also stated that once he got 4 adults onboard it did not plane off nearly as well. How do you plan on using the boat? Lots of running with 1 or 2 aboard? Or will it be a family cruiser and tow boat. If you are planning to use the boat to pull a wakeboarder / skier / tuber with people aboard I bet the 115 will not be enough.

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tcrenshaw,

We had 2 adults onboard. Not sure if another child passenger would have made that much difference.

I also do not know what prop Tony had on his Outrage.
I also do not know the height your engine is mounted. Too high? Too low?

Props can make a big difference in top speed or hole shot....
You don't sound too bad as you were getting 5800 RPM's.... Is the max 6000 RPM?
I know there are bow lifting props....
Tom W Clark is our resident prop expert. Maybe he, or someone else here, will give you some more information.

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Jeff,
This boat will be used for everything, fishing, tubing, skiing, multiple families (4 adults and a few kiddies), sometimes just the 3 of us, in both fresh and salt.
I just sold my last boat which I owned (and bought new) for 19 years, which was a 1988 18' Sea Ray Seville, 175 hp, 4.3 L, V6. I am a "keeper" not a "trader", so I will have this outrage a LONG time and it already has been in my wife's family since almost new. I will re-test this motor when I get the old, chipped anti-fouling paint off and see if the performance improves but I have darn near resigned myself to the fact that if I don't get the 150 NOW I will always think I made a mistake.....
Joe, thanks for the help, I would love to know exactly the correct prop for this engine, or the Yamaha 150 I will most likely buy.