Posted by meansjt on 01/25/15 - 5:28 PM
#1
About to purchase a 2002 Ventura 180 with a 125 Mercury (same era)...Is that enough power for this boat? We will pulling a wide range of skiers - some very experienced...some newbies...some as fat as me at 195 lbs.
Former owner says it was fine for pulling skiers and said he would run the boat over 40 with he and his wife on board - no skiers.
Related question - are trim tabs something I should consider for this boat and our skiing needs?
Thanks in advance for helping out the neophyte and very excited Whaler owner.
Posted by Dukiball on 01/30/15 - 12:22 PM
#2
I'm not sure about the Ventura but I think my Dauntless 18 has almost the same hull mine is a 1998 model & has the pocket transom & yours may not being a 2002 but anyways I have a 150 Evinrude with a jack plate & it's almost over powered with a 17 pitch 3 blade SS prop so you might be ok with 125 if propped right & the right hight set up
Posted by BillDemers on 01/30/15 - 8:05 PM
#3
I also own a dauntless and it's powered with a 135 horsepower mercury optimax. My hull has the transom notch and it had tabs. I removed the tabs after raising the engine, top speed and performance increased dramatically and I found that I didn't need the tabs.
Posted by Buoy on 01/30/15 - 8:18 PM
#4
I have a Yamaha 130 on my 2002 18' Dauntless and it provides plenty of power, 44mph at wot. I had a 1999 18' Ventura with a Yamaha 150 and it did 48mph at wot.
I would definitely test-drive it and see/feel for yourself.