1992 Osprey 175

[LiquidTherapy]

A small update on my progress. Between all the rain and family comitments it has been somewhat slow.

1. New wires pulled for bildge, livewell, and stern light.
2. New swithes, bildge, live well, and fish box pump.
3. Lowrance elite7 with down scan
4. GX1600 vhf flush mounted in console.
5. All upolstery being recovered along with bimini.
6. Starting the task of buffing out the way overdue gelcoat. Supprised how well it is coming out.

Next on the list is;

1. repairing transom box inserts. Both are cracked but otherwise intact.
2. Start sanding bottom paint off sides and transom.
3. Buff the mess out of it.
4. New throttle and shift cables. By the way anyone know the length on a 175 osprey? Cant see any markings on the cables? Hate to pull one just to measure.
5. Looking for a replacement tackle locker that goes into the console. Opening is 18.5" by 6" any ideas.

Ill get a few updated pics. Any idea and suggestions are welcomed.

[gman 82 aquasport]

On you seat height, We played with mine before ordering a 32 in leaning post with flip foot rest. This height was fine with me (6-2)  not so fine with the Mrs. (5-0) , so she uses the foot rest when on the seat, mostly she would rather ride up front ,weather permitting. At 32 inches it let me have both feet on the floor in comfort or, sit back a little and throw the feet up on the console or t-top bars. You would be surprised what comfortable can be I usually don't sit while driving the boat, would rather lean against the seat, more comfortable that way and allows for easier movement and vision of electronics in the overhead box..my suggestion is stack some pieces of 2x8 boards on a bucket and find your comfortable ride height. Try it sitting , then see how it would line up for just leaning, then cut the legs to your needed height.

[gran398]

Really pleased with Frank's work on Miss D. He'll make any size you request. Thanks Seabob for the reference

viewtopic.php?f=12&t=10328

[LiquidTherapy]

A few updated photos. Insurance and tow coverage purchased. Sanding and buffing still in the works. Might take her for a run this weekend.

[RickK]

Looking really good LT  

[LiquidTherapy]

Time finally came, I couldnt stand it anymore. Took the boat out today for a little shake down run. Little mainly cause it was mid 50s here in central FL with 15 to 25 gusts... :(  I wanted to mainly let the motor run for a while and play with the sonar. Also I needed to make a trailer adjustment. Previous owner pulled boat with small suv so the boat was pushed way back. ok tounge wieght but not what I like. Learning alot about older mercury outboards....

Start engine at the house to make sure it runs. After all it was around 48 last night.
Havent quite figured out the starting procedure. Prime bulb, Push in key and crank. normally starts after third try. Then dies after about ten seconds. Then it is a bear to start. Keep choking til the point I think it must be flooded. Looked at a plug or two not bad. Open throttle....nothing. Close throttle and choke, it will start to hit. Open throttle a little and BAM shes alive blowing out smoke and sputtering til she cleans out. Major PIA!! That and great way to kill my starter and battery. Motor by the way it a 86 mercury 150 serial is 0A597126. Not sure if it is a black max motor or not. Hard to tell. Any way to really know? And what is the difference?

Anyways, boat in water and running. Letting it idle. Adjust trailer. Play around with sonar and boat. Time to give her a run. No wake zone for a mile or so, giving it the occasional blip on the throttle Get to the 25 mph zone and hammer down. 40mph in a few seconds!! Screeming with a strong headwing and a good chop. Eased back on throttle slowed down turned around and poured the coal to it again and 43 before slowing down because motor started to slowly loose RPM. Looked at inline filter and it was full. Idled back and it died. Checked bulb full, filter full. Turned key sputtered. Choke with thottle cranked up. Headed back to the ramp. Let it run for maybe another 10 minutes. Then loaded up. Smoked pretty heavy when loading along with bogging down.

So carb cleaning and fuel pump kit was just ordered. Hopefully that will solve my issue. Also getting actual 50:1 fuel in the tank. Not nowing what the PO had in the tank a put a few gallons of maybe 40 to 1. Today it got 10 gallons on mid grade 50 to one. Time will tell.

[Aquasport Commodore]

I had an old mechanic tell me a while back, you take 87 octane, put in oil, it dilutes it some as oil is a little hard to burn and you have lower octane. Run minimum 89 and there never will be an issue. Don't know if true, an old wise tale, or what but somewhat makes sense. Anyways I run middle to premium and never have issues. Older 2 strokes like to smoke and if they are smoking they are burning oil which is a good thing. Also sounds like a lot of junk in the tank. Check fuel lines to make sure the ethanol hasn't ate the inside of the hose. Can't tell from the outside but inside is like melted plastic.  That is a speed demon and looks like fun.

As for questions ask Fitz73222, he is the in-house Merc Wizzard and go to guy on those motors.

[LiquidTherapy]

Sweet, thanks for the info. I have never owned a Mercury. Always Johnson, Yamaha and Tohatsu. I pulled carbs yesterday. One aftermarket float was somewhat sticking. And one was half full of fuel. Carbs where otherwise clean. Parts on order. Tank Was replaced about a year ago by PO. I am curious about the fuel /vacuum lines that run to each cylinder. I guess it works on manifold pressure to dump more fuel at high RPM? Any ways parts on order so hopefully this weekend I'll give it another go.

[BMAC1988]

bringing an old thread back to life..... wondering if you got all the motor kinks worked out and tried it out? im really curious as to how the hull handles the 150hp and how fast it makes it go. ive read that the 115-120hp motors don't really add much to top end. I took mine out this past weekend and the more I run it the more I wish it had more power at takeoff and always some more top speed. ive found some deals on 150hp optimaxs and ETECS and think that would be killer on my boat. 

[RickK]

Ahhhh, the ever present "More speed" urge 
I have it too. 
Been trying to break the 40mph mark on my 170 ever since I lost my 115/150 Straight6 merc (decals said 150 but everything else seemed to be 115) which made that boat a screamer - (mid 40s to 50) - would give you a facelift when you stepped from behind the windshield.  Now with the 115 Johnson it's a 39mph boat (had it to 40 once) prior to the rebuild - had paint on the bottom.  We'll see what happens with a fresh rebuild of the motor head and a total rebuild of the boat.  I'll be pissed if I only get 39 again 

[BMAC1988]

I'd be happy with mid 40s or 50mph. Last weekend my 88spl pushed my gf and I with not alot of stuff 36.2mph according to GPS. This was in fresh water, if memory serves I think I can get 37 in salt and if course this is with no top on the boat. What really sux is getting up on plane, I pretty much am forced to go wide open to get going with any sort of quickness unless I trim all the way down and/or add considerable trim tab. I can remember a fishing trip with myself and 2 other guys, cooler full of stuff and the front fishbox full of ice and wondering if it's get up on plane as i took off. It plowed for a few seconds before it got on top. I think a 130 or 150 would be awesome but I worry about the transom holding it and how far it'll sink the stern down. My scuppers are already under water a bit if I stand in the back.

[Capt. Bob]

The original (Hialeah hull) 170 Osprey was replaced by the 175. Made in Sarasota, it's a different hull (dimension wise but I'm betting design also) and gained an additional 400+ lbs so........

My 86 170 was powered by with a 115hp and never had any planing problems and was damn fast. I believe max HP for that model is 130 so I'm guessing yours is higher still. The old 170 came with a base power of 70hp but most users up it to 90hp. It ran well with the 90 and was balanced excellent. My 115 made it a little squatty in the rear but it was a terror in skinny water.

To get what you want, means an increase in ponies. You're running a heavier hull, with a different design and unless you have some water weight problems it should support the heavier motor just fine. I'm guessing your hull rides better than the older 170s in a chop. A 130ish should be just what you need weight to hp wise and if you go new, you'll probably fine something with even a better relationship.

Good luck.

[BMAC1988]

My coast guard sticker says a max HP of 120. I was researching weights and a 150hp etec or opti weighs 418lbs that's only 43lbs heavier than my 375lbs 88spl so I don't think that would hurt me too much. I just an leery about adding that much HP over what is recommended, that's 25% more motor than the hull is recommended for. I don't want to twist or rip the transom out. But then again, this boat seems to be built really solid.

[Capt. Bob]

What about an etec 115?

[BMAC1988]

I read about these boats with 115hp on them and they not really gaining very much over a 90. I've been reading top speeds of 40-41. So IMO for the cost is not really worth it. Like the saying goes, anything when doing is with over doing. Lol