115 four stoke pulling a skier

[BRULEDRIFTER]

Anyone pull a water skier with a 115 four stroke(Yamaha)? We're looking at getting a boat this month and I'm wondering if a 115 has the hole shot to pull them up easily. This will most likely be on an Alumicraft Trophy 175. The main skiers are my wife and her two sisters so no one over 150 lbs. All slalom and 2 of them are pretty good. The are used to my father in laws old 150 ficht so they are spoiled with being popped out of the water real easy! Would I be better off with a 115 Optimax for about the same price or 2k more for a 150 four stroke?

[VMS]

If you like the 115, all you would need to do is have a lesser pitched prop handy to put on, which would allow the motor to more easilly pop the boat up on plane.

Not sure what the max hp rating is on the trophy 175, but a good rule of thumb is to go no less than 80% of the maximum HP for the boat. When you go with less hp, the boat tends to plow a bit more, and the smaller the motor, the harder it has to work.

Steve

[Northlander]

You will have no problem at all. My 115 Yamaha 4 stroke gets my 17' Lund Explorer out of the hole very nicely. If you have problems its not the motor thats for sure.

[bassNspear]

The way that i read your post, is that if you dont have the power like the old one did, your not going to be happy. The 115 should work just fine. Just not going to have the tork like the 150 did. But if you dont need it anymore, then why spend the money for it.

Send me a email if you can side

[marine_man]

If you're hoping for the same pulling out of the hole power as the ficht had (since it was 150) a 115 isn't going to be the same. You can change the prop to a flatter pitch to get your better hole shot for skiing, but then when you're not skiing you're going to loose speed and have to keep an eye on your max RPM and possibally won't be able to run the motor at full throttle, or change props when you go skiing and change back when you're done.

I think a 115 will do just fine pulling a skier out of the water, but I wouldn't expect the same performance out of it.

marine_man

[Bigeye30"]

I ski behind a 100 horse yamaha 4 stroke on a 17 foot boat, we used to have a 90 horse 2 stroke and it seems that I had a much easier time getting up behind the 90. I ski on an O'brien double boot G3 and I will add that I have to run wide open to really enjoy a decent run, the drag is a little longer with the four stroke but the fuel consumption and noise level is definately worth it in the end,

[Ralph Wiggum]

You're getting up on a double boot behind a 100hp 4-stroke? WOW! How much do you weigh, if you don't mind me asking?

[PierBridge]

Get the 150 HP it will be much better for all of your boating and the resale value of having the 150 HP will just about cover the 2 grand.

Double boot starts are all about skier technique and athletic abilty.

[Ralph Wiggum]

 Originally Posted By: PierBridge

Double boot starts are all about skier technique and athletic abilty.

Are you saying I have neither?

My 240lb arse pretty much overpowers our 115 2 stroke dragging my back foot.

[Bigeye30"]

Well I will say that I am lighter, 150 so that certainly helps matters, but I will also say that I have skied on a double boot for the past ten years and have a huge problem trying to get up using someone else's ski without the double boot.

[BRULEDRIFTER]

OK Guys I'm back with another question. I pulled the trigger on a 175 Dominator Sport at the show and ordered it with the 150 yamaha four stroke. Not being able to drive the boat I'm still concerned on hole shot and the 4 stroke. I can change to a 115 e-tec for 1k less within the next week or so. I can't imagine that the 150 won't be fine as the boat is only 1500 lbs..2000 with motor. BUT after dropping that much money we all know if the wife isn't happy no one is happy! As you can tell I'm horrible at making decisions!

[Shorelunch]

Stay with the 150 4S. It will everything you need for HP and then some. The 150 E-Tec is a great motor, but will probably cost +/- $1500 more.

[marine_man]

I wouuld also stay with the 150 four stroke... you'll be happy with it and will have the power (or more than the 115 anyway) to do what you want.

marine_man

[Ralph Wiggum]

Stick with what you bought. I've seen a Ranger Reatta 1850 with the same motor pulling some pretty decent male skiers with no problems, and I'd bet that boat's a bit heavier.

[Bigeye30"]

I'd stick with the four stroke, I think you'll like the fuel consumption as well, that 150 shouldn't give you any problems on that boat, our 100 is on a 1775 Lund Pro-V and as noted before minimal drag, one thing I have noticed on our 100 four stroke is that sometimes it seems like it's a little doggy, so on those days I have the driver throw it in gear and drag me a little then punch it, might have something to do with the motor itself though. Were taking it in for some carb cleaning this spring, Enjoy the new ride.