I have a V-mate 1 that I totally rebuilt last year, new transom, floor, everything beefed up with west epoxy and several layers of biax, and transom heavily reinforced with additional knees for a bigger engine. The tank and the battery are relocated to the nose.
Right now it has a 100 hp Evinrude hanging back there (300 lbs) and it does allright on on plane, but it doesn't have much oomph to pull a skiier out of the water unless I prop it down to a 17, and then it's screaming around the lake.
I got a screaming deal on a 175 Merc (2.0L, 1980) that runs great. The motor is 20" mid, and, being a 2.0L it's pretty lightweight. With the tank moved to the front along with the battery, there isn't much more weight back there than there was when it was running the crossflow in stock form.
Has anyone had an early V6 Merc on a V-mate, and how bad was it? I am mostly looking for out-of-the hole snap for pulling skiiers, and I like the sound of the V6. I have seen a couple of V-mates running 2.0L loopers, they are almost the same weight and power and the boat seems to get along fine. I will probably never prop it to past 65 mph. I only use it on a smallish lake so it's not going to see heavy chop or open water very often, I just hate having to swap props 3 times a day between a couple of fast runs and skiing.
Opinions?
Right now it has a 100 hp Evinrude hanging back there (300 lbs) and it does allright on on plane, but it doesn't have much oomph to pull a skiier out of the water unless I prop it down to a 17, and then it's screaming around the lake.
I got a screaming deal on a 175 Merc (2.0L, 1980) that runs great. The motor is 20" mid, and, being a 2.0L it's pretty lightweight. With the tank moved to the front along with the battery, there isn't much more weight back there than there was when it was running the crossflow in stock form.
Has anyone had an early V6 Merc on a V-mate, and how bad was it? I am mostly looking for out-of-the hole snap for pulling skiiers, and I like the sound of the V6. I have seen a couple of V-mates running 2.0L loopers, they are almost the same weight and power and the boat seems to get along fine. I will probably never prop it to past 65 mph. I only use it on a smallish lake so it's not going to see heavy chop or open water very often, I just hate having to swap props 3 times a day between a couple of fast runs and skiing.
Opinions?