Almost a new 170CC owner

[elroy]

tommy, i have a 2006 170cc with a 75hp etech and it runs great. I think the differance between 60-75 is about 1000$. Just remember it's better to have to much hp than not enough. The fuel burn on the 75 is great. Good luck

[cagrove]

Originally Posted by CRIMAR30

I'm looking at purchasing a 170 shortly and have a few questions:
Has anyone installed bow rails, or anything screwed into the hull, and were there any problems?On my larger fiberglass boat, everything was bolted through, and backed up with a plate.
Has anyone had problems with getting waranty work done?
Is a Yamaha 4 stroke enough engine for this boat and two people?
Any odd problems with roplene in a boat?

Thanks

CRIMAR30,
I had the bow rail on my boat when I bought it. However, I wanted a trolling motor up front so I removed it and put on the smaller grab rails along the sides. There is no problem whatsoever putting screws into the hull. It makes for a rock solid mounting. Just remember to not overtighten the screws as they will strip out if you do. Also, putting elastomeric sealant into the hole will seal out any water that may want to migrate.

When talking about power for your boat, remember that Roplene is naturally buoyant and much lighter than fiberglass so you do not need as much power to push it for the same sized boat. I had the exact same concerns when I bought mine. Two minutes into the "sea trial" and I was convinced. I highly recommend you take your prospective boat for a test drive to see if your engine/boat combo will meet your needs. Only you will know for sure.

As for the Roplene, it had numerous advantages other than not needing the extra maintenance of waxing. You can drill holes and run your hands into tight areas without getting pieces of fiberglass into your skin. If you mess up and put a hole where you didn't want one, no problem, just use a soldering iron and melt a little Roplene back into the hole and you've sealed it against water intrusion. Beach the boat on that rocky shoreline without having to worry about damage to the gel coat. I could go on and on.

As I said before, take one for a test ride. I'm betting you'll come off the water with a big grin on your face. Good luck.

Sounds like good advice. I'll call marina Monday and see if it's too late to swich. Even though I signed a contract for an "in-stock" unit, probably shouldn't have a problem upgrading engines. Thanks for your experience

Good Afternoon Mr. Crab

I'm looking at the same boat with the same set up. I was torn between the 60 and 75hp E-tec. After talking to 2 dealer's I'm going with the 60hp. Why? three reasons, price and weight and hp. With the 75hp you will have another 100lbs hanging off the stern. Its also 1K more. I think the 75 will do very little for your top and speed, compared to the 60. You might be able to cruise at lower RPM's with the 75 but unless you can sea trail a 17CC with both engines it think its a crap shoot.

[elroy]

etech 2006 75hp 170cc full fuel, me a slim 280lbs, full fishing gear and cooler, top speed gps 41-42mph, but quick getting there.