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How powerful of an engine do I need to pull a tube with five people?

Question

Is there any ski/wakeboard boat capable of pulling a towable tube carrying five people? How powerful of an engine do I need to pull that kind of load at a speed of about 15 mph? Is 80 hp enough?

Revo

Tallinn, Estonia, Alabama

Randy Says

An 80-hp engine sounds like an old Force motor. The older the motor, the further it falls from its stated horsepower. Fifteen miles per hour is a hard speed to maintain with low horsepower. It usually doesn't have enough torque to keep you on plane.

Most wakeboarders ride at 20 mph. Training a water skier on two skis takes about 20 mph. Getting those speeds from 80 ponies depends on the weight of the boat and its load. We tested a Sea Ray 185 that ran nicely with a 125 Mercury outboard. Most 17-foot starter boats today are powered with a 130-hp stern-drive. Some work beautifully.

Randy Vance

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