I've got the 3 liter engine in my 19' bowrider and it's adequate. It has
more than enough power for wakeboarding and tubing with 4-5 adults and
several children aboard. It does take a while to get my 200# body up on
skis, but I'm the only fatso in the family, and I'm usually the driver,
anyway. I've never felt that I needed anymore power.


"Woods" wrote in message
news:GoyZg.157261$5R2.49041@pd7urf3no...
Hi, I'm looking at purchasing an 18 ft ski boat along the lines of a
Sea-Ray, Four Winns, Maxum I'm not sure on which make yet but I can't
decide on which engine size.

The boat is for recreational use such as light duty water skiing and
wakeboarding of mostly kids with a few adults onboard.
I'm hearing various stories that the 3.0 inboard is underpowered and that
I should stay away from it. Some people I talk to say that that engine on
an 18ft boat won't be able to even pull a 100 lb kid out of the water. Of
course these are people with the 4.3 liter engines. Is there anyone out
there that can tell me what kind of performance I could expect with a 3.0
liter inboard, can I pull a water skier out of the water?

Thanks in Advance for any input.