Question:
Lund Fishing Boat For Sale need help?
I would like to get a 16' to 17' alum. fishing boat. I looked at the
new tracker boats (Pro Deep V-17) and the engine that was on it was a
75 Hp by force. The boat looks good and has alot of storage for items,
the engine I'm not sure about. Is this type of engine a good engine or
not ibelieve that it may be made by Mercury. This boat will be used
90% af the time fishing. I looked at TraderOnline for used boats in my
area (ohio) of the type metioned above but found only a few scattered
in the US for sale. It appears that the boats when bought, people seem
to hang on to them.
I'am concerned about the options of power trim and tilt. This is
because the place that my family goes fishing is fletchers flood
waters in MI. This lake has alot of stumps in it and the possiblity of
hitting one is real. My fathers boat is an old alum. with a 33 johnson
engine on it. When he hits a stump his engine will kick-up out of the
water. I asked the salesman if the engine (75 Hp by Force) on the
boat would do the same, he replied that it would. I don't want to pay
alot of money and end up damaging the boat.
Anyone's help would be greatly appreciated, please reply to this
message. This will be my first any only purchase of a boat and I want
my entire family to be able to enjoy it.
Answer:
- Unfortunately, I had an 85 hp "Farce" o/b that became so frustrating to
start, that is was necessary to unload it. Several other owners have
told me of similar problems. It was worked on by two reputable
mechanics that were unable to solve the cold starting problem even after
reworking the carbs and the choke. However, this was an '89 engine and
perhaps they have the newer ones better engineered. One of the
mechanics informed me to avoid Force if at all possible and that Johnson
makes the best two stroke on the market today - simple design and very
dependable.
Yes, the engine is designed to swivel up if hitting a submerged hazard
like a stump. But do not assume that this feature will save your lower
drive unit. A 75 hp on a small aluminum boat will be able to achieve
some considerable speed. If you hit something at let's say about 30
mph, you are likely to break off the skeg and possibly the prop before
the engine has time to tilt.
- I can't help you on your questions but I have insurance on my boat that will
pay for a new prop or repairs or if hurt to badly, replace the whole engine.
The insurance cost me $180 a year on my deck boat and it sure is worth it.
That price also includes the boat. My agent said that most of the time it is
the engine that has the problems, not the boat.
