Repowering a 1963 16' Fiber Craft

[TJmedic]

hey guys, i just acquired my first skiff..... i just need some suggestions about repowering, i wanna go 90hp etec, is that too much? should i go less hp? i live in s. fl and will be mainly used flamingo, keys and chokoloskee, im open for suggestions, thanks.

Mac

[McGillicuddy]

Welcome aboard TJmedic,
Personally I would freak out with an etec 90 on a 16' FiberCraft. Here's a link to fellow forum member Joey's sweet FiberCraft which was powered by a 30 hp Nissan... I don't know your boat but I doubt it was designed to hang 335 lbs off the transom, especially in the skinny waters you speak of.

http://www.classicseacraft.com/joeyf...aft/index.html

[NoBones]

How about a 1964 16 ft. Lone Star (Aluminum) with a
1990 90HP Johnson 4 blade..
Can you say "HANG-ON"
If you want to know what the numbers are, I couldn't
tell you.. [img]/forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] My eyes are watering so bad past
55 mph, I'm afraid to look!!

"NoBones I" will run on wet sponge...

Keys, Lagoon, Sanibel, she loves them all!


See ya, Ken

[Snookerd]

great boat! My friend's grandfather started fibercraft. He just passed away about 5 years ago.

[TJmedic]

thanks for the input guys, Joey's Fiber craft is awesome! ill see if i find something abit lighter than a 350lbs monster!!! its my first boat, she's solid as a rock, she came with a torn up 1980's (?) evinrude 60, i think i might stay around that hp, i really dont care for too much speed, 40-45 mph is fast enough, i think my biggest fear is being under powered....

[TJmedic]

btw ken i really like your skiff! very simple vessel!

[Fr. Frank]

If you can find an older 2-stroke 90 Yamaha 3-cyl., that'll curl your toes, and it comes in under 300 lbs.
I used to run one on the back of my 15' Boston Whaler, with an over-hub 13"x27" chopper. I had to add trim tabs to stabilize it at speeds over 50 mph. I don't know how fast it would really go, but I could just walk away from my 21' Checkmate Starflight when it had a 220 Yamaha "Special", and it would do an honest 62-63 mph, so I guess the Whaler was touching the mid-60's.

The pre-2007 Tohatsu 90 TLDI uses the Yamaha design.

[red20]

I grew up with a 16' fiber craft. Post some pictures. WE had a 70hp rude , one of the best motors I ever owned.

We ran that boat all over the Keys, Biscayne Bay, Flamingo etc.

I saw one one CL not too long ago and almost went to look but I'd be in the dog house if I had 'another' boat at the house.

[DonV]

WE had a 70hp rude , one of the best motors I ever owned.

Yes Sir, I had one on my first 16' Hewes....NEVER gave me a minutes problem, great, great engines!!! I've got a 1998 90hp Yamaha on my current 16' Bonefisher, another great motor. The only downside is it's carbed and gets bad gas mileage, however after 12+ years the compression is within two pounds on all three cylinders. I would buy another versus the 4 stroke in a minute!!!! Remember things have changed with ethanol.......my humble suggestion to keep the carbs from gumming up, ALWAYS run the carbs dry when flushing your engine!!

[FiberCraft]

Would like to talk with anyone who has an old (prior to 1966) Fiber Craft.