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Author Topic:   Repower of 1979 classic 13 sport

bmsesq posted 05-18-2014 10:32 PM ET (US)
I have looked at several old threads, but would like input on my specific situation.
Looking to replace the outboard on my 1979 13 sport with new motor. Primary use will be on an inland lake by my 13 year old son and my wife who doesn't like hassling with our larger ski boat. Boat has bottom paint and will stay in the water from about Memorial Day until Labor day.
Right now it has a 98 Honda 25 on it with a bad lower unit, poor compression and no power trim. If I replace it I am thinking going with power trim both for planing and to make it easier to pull the motor out of the water between uses. Would like thoughts on this.
The only outboard sales/service at the lake where we will use the boat is a Yamaha dealer. I like Yamaha, and can get a pretty good deal on an f40. My concern from other threads is that at 214lbs, that is too much weight for the boat both operationally, and to keep the lower unit out of the water. The f30 weighs the same. The f25 us about 180lbs, but if I am going to spend the money , I like the idea of more power though I;m not sure the motor I have is giving me near the 25hp it is supposed to. It runs about 22 mph WTO with a 12 pitch prop.
I like both the Honda and Etec 30hp motors that each weigh in the 160-170lb range, but there is no dealer for either within 50 miles of our lake house.
Is the Yamaha f40 really too much weight or are those concerns over blown? I would plan on one 6 gal tank and a battery behind the driver seat.
Thanks in advance for the input!
boatdryver posted 05-19-2014 07:19 AM ET (US)
Our sailing club just repowered two 13 foot Whalers used as instructor boats by teen aged staff. we chose 178 lb. Etec 25 Hp motors and the performance is very adequate.
As to your concern over stern weight, one of these had been powered by a 40 HP Johnson (Suzuki) 4 stroke motor, circa 90's. Static trim was way stern heavy which we think contributed to an accident in which a hot dogging instructor doing donuts was ejected at speed, resulting in the boat going ashore and trashing those lower unit.
The utter simplicity in operation and low maintenance of these Etecs may compensate Somewhat for the distance to your nearest Etec dealer. we are 40 miles from our dealer, yet we see only Etecs on repowered boats in our small marina.
JimL
Peter posted 05-19-2014 05:32 PM ET (US)
The old loop charged 2-stroke Johnson/Evinrude 40 weighed 180 lbs and that was too heavy for the Sport 13. An F40 at 35 lbs heavier than the Johnson 40 is way too heavy for a classic Sport 13. At the time the 13 foot hulls was designed in the 1950s, the heaviest outboard you could put on it was about 140 lbs.
Unless you are willing to travel, it seems that you might be stuck with a Yamaha F25. It will probably perform the same as the Honda 25 when it was in good condition.
If I were repowering a Sport 13 today, I'd look very hard at the E-TEC 30 which will pack the most punch per lb.
bmsesq posted 05-19-2014 10:35 PM ET (US)
Thank you both for your responses. What are y'all's thoughts on the pros and cons of power trim for running. Is it that helpful on a 13' hull? I know it would be helpful for getting the lower unit out of the water when not in use. Did or would you opt for that feature?
thanks,
Ben
macfam posted 05-20-2014 06:51 AM ET (US)
We have a 1987 13 Super Sport with a 30 E-TEC with power trim and tilt.
I wouldn't even consider re-powering without it.
Not only does it raise and lower when not in use, but it allows convenient raising for shallow water or for approaching a beach.
Another plus, is that it allows negative trim in choppy water which will allow planing at a lower speed and keeping the bow down for a better ride, and possibly drier.
When you do wants to get top end speed trimming out for max rpm/speed is super easy. Also important for resale.
Peter posted 05-20-2014 07:38 AM ET (US)
What about a 13 year old having a motor with power trim on a Sport 13? Any safety concerns versus having the motor essentially locked into a single running position?
Jefecinco posted 05-20-2014 09:41 AM ET (US)
If a 13 year old is mature enough to operate a boat surely power tilt & Trim will not pose much of an additional threat. I bought my first car at 13.
I have a 2008 30 HP Mercury four stroke on my 1981 Sport 13. It has tilt and trim and my 74 year old body would not be without it. I reckon I'm almost as strong as when I was 13. The engine weighs 180 pounds per the data plate. The skeg remains in the water when the engine is fully tilted up. I believe that's almost inevitable with the 13s.
I have a six gallon fuel tank between the thwarts and starting battery behind the rear thwart. I'm considering changing my tankage to two three gallon tanks under the forward thwart and relocating the battery farther forward. I may also move the furniture package forward a few inches to improve static trim. Ultimately I believe some weight will have to be placed forward to get the skeg out of the water. Some diving weights in the anchor locker would probably do but the weight would always be present. Buckets of water would also work but the present a set of their own problems. If my 13 was kept in fresh water I wouldn't worry about it.
Butch
rogerarnal posted 05-20-2014 08:36 PM ET (US)
When the boat is not in use, consider putting a five-gallon bucket of water on the bow.
dgoodhue posted 05-24-2014 01:09 PM ET (US)
FYI A 13' whaler with 25hp should do upper 20's with power trim and a light load.
bsensing posted 05-26-2014 06:32 AM ET (US)
Thanks everyone for the input. Found out there is a Honda dealer at our lake, they are just not a re-power dealer, but sell pontoon packages so they can service, do warranty work etc. I'm thinking therefore the Honda 30 is the best option.

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Author	Topic: Repower of 1979 classic 13 sport
bmsesq	posted 05-18-2014 10:32 PM ET (US) I have looked at several old threads, but would like input on my specific situation. Looking to replace the outboard on my 1979 13 sport with new motor. Primary use will be on an inland lake by my 13 year old son and my wife who doesn't like hassling with our larger ski boat. Boat has bottom paint and will stay in the water from about Memorial Day until Labor day. Right now it has a 98 Honda 25 on it with a bad lower unit, poor compression and no power trim. If I replace it I am thinking going with power trim both for planing and to make it easier to pull the motor out of the water between uses. Would like thoughts on this. The only outboard sales/service at the lake where we will use the boat is a Yamaha dealer. I like Yamaha, and can get a pretty good deal on an f40. My concern from other threads is that at 214lbs, that is too much weight for the boat both operationally, and to keep the lower unit out of the water. The f30 weighs the same. The f25 us about 180lbs, but if I am going to spend the money , I like the idea of more power though I;m not sure the motor I have is giving me near the 25hp it is supposed to. It runs about 22 mph WTO with a 12 pitch prop. I like both the Honda and Etec 30hp motors that each weigh in the 160-170lb range, but there is no dealer for either within 50 miles of our lake house. Is the Yamaha f40 really too much weight or are those concerns over blown? I would plan on one 6 gal tank and a battery behind the driver seat. Thanks in advance for the input!
boatdryver	posted 05-19-2014 07:19 AM ET (US) Our sailing club just repowered two 13 foot Whalers used as instructor boats by teen aged staff. we chose 178 lb. Etec 25 Hp motors and the performance is very adequate. As to your concern over stern weight, one of these had been powered by a 40 HP Johnson (Suzuki) 4 stroke motor, circa 90's. Static trim was way stern heavy which we think contributed to an accident in which a hot dogging instructor doing donuts was ejected at speed, resulting in the boat going ashore and trashing those lower unit. The utter simplicity in operation and low maintenance of these Etecs may compensate Somewhat for the distance to your nearest Etec dealer. we are 40 miles from our dealer, yet we see only Etecs on repowered boats in our small marina. JimL
Peter	posted 05-19-2014 05:32 PM ET (US) The old loop charged 2-stroke Johnson/Evinrude 40 weighed 180 lbs and that was too heavy for the Sport 13. An F40 at 35 lbs heavier than the Johnson 40 is way too heavy for a classic Sport 13. At the time the 13 foot hulls was designed in the 1950s, the heaviest outboard you could put on it was about 140 lbs. Unless you are willing to travel, it seems that you might be stuck with a Yamaha F25. It will probably perform the same as the Honda 25 when it was in good condition. If I were repowering a Sport 13 today, I'd look very hard at the E-TEC 30 which will pack the most punch per lb.
bmsesq	posted 05-19-2014 10:35 PM ET (US) Thank you both for your responses. What are y'all's thoughts on the pros and cons of power trim for running. Is it that helpful on a 13' hull? I know it would be helpful for getting the lower unit out of the water when not in use. Did or would you opt for that feature? thanks, Ben
macfam	posted 05-20-2014 06:51 AM ET (US) We have a 1987 13 Super Sport with a 30 E-TEC with power trim and tilt. I wouldn't even consider re-powering without it. Not only does it raise and lower when not in use, but it allows convenient raising for shallow water or for approaching a beach. Another plus, is that it allows negative trim in choppy water which will allow planing at a lower speed and keeping the bow down for a better ride, and possibly drier. When you do wants to get top end speed trimming out for max rpm/speed is super easy. Also important for resale.
Peter	posted 05-20-2014 07:38 AM ET (US) What about a 13 year old having a motor with power trim on a Sport 13? Any safety concerns versus having the motor essentially locked into a single running position?
Jefecinco	posted 05-20-2014 09:41 AM ET (US) If a 13 year old is mature enough to operate a boat surely power tilt & Trim will not pose much of an additional threat. I bought my first car at 13. I have a 2008 30 HP Mercury four stroke on my 1981 Sport 13. It has tilt and trim and my 74 year old body would not be without it. I reckon I'm almost as strong as when I was 13. The engine weighs 180 pounds per the data plate. The skeg remains in the water when the engine is fully tilted up. I believe that's almost inevitable with the 13s. I have a six gallon fuel tank between the thwarts and starting battery behind the rear thwart. I'm considering changing my tankage to two three gallon tanks under the forward thwart and relocating the battery farther forward. I may also move the furniture package forward a few inches to improve static trim. Ultimately I believe some weight will have to be placed forward to get the skeg out of the water. Some diving weights in the anchor locker would probably do but the weight would always be present. Buckets of water would also work but the present a set of their own problems. If my 13 was kept in fresh water I wouldn't worry about it. Butch
rogerarnal	posted 05-20-2014 08:36 PM ET (US) When the boat is not in use, consider putting a five-gallon bucket of water on the bow.
dgoodhue	posted 05-24-2014 01:09 PM ET (US) FYI A 13' whaler with 25hp should do upper 20's with power trim and a light load.
bsensing	posted 05-26-2014 06:32 AM ET (US) Thanks everyone for the input. Found out there is a Honda dealer at our lake, they are just not a re-power dealer, but sell pontoon packages so they can service, do warranty work etc. I'm thinking therefore the Honda 30 is the best option.