Re: OMC BOATS - Sweet 16 load capacity & towing weight

I got the Evinrude 90 hp owner's manual with the boat when I bought it.
Unfortunately the motor lasted less than a season. Steadily lost power to
the point where it wouldn't get up on plane with three passengers. Took it
in over the winter and found out that it had thrown a wrist pin and scored a
cylinder. Also found out that OMC made this particular 90 hp 4 cyl for two
years only ('64 and '65) and that parts consequently are hard to come by.
Wound up swapping for a 1975 70 hp and have had no trouble since. When I
rediscovered the manual in the side storage bin last year, it had gotten
mildewed and I pitched it.

I have a copy of the sales brochure pictured on the site, and also a
photocopy of the "Test Report". If I remember correctly, the dry weight of
the Sweet 16 less motor is 900 lbs. The 90 hp goes about 250 lbs I believe.
The brochure mentions that the closed cell foam in the hull will keep the
boat afloat with "six people and all their gear", implying a max capacity of
around 1200 lbs. I've carried five adults including myself on a number of
occasions and would not want to carry more.

The original seats are low - no more than 7" - 8" from top surface of seat
cushion to floor. Almost feels like sitting on the floor.

The trailer is the one I got with the boat, and I still have it. It's
similar to but is not an original Evinrude. Normally I store the boat for
the winter in an old brick barn on the same island where our cabin is, I
launch and pull it out there and I don't trailer it anywhere else, so it
usually covers no more than 3 miles in a season. When I took it in for
engine work in '98 however, I towed it from our cabin in Wisconsin to the
Twin Cities (about 125 miles) and back, and the trailer worked fine. It
doesn't look stable but it is.

Mike
Received on Thursday, 13 June 2002