Pulse 186 175hp or 150hp ???

[jonnyspeed]

My Pulse 186 has a 1989 GT175 on it. I just purchased it so I can only go by the compression check and what the dealer says. It's got good compression but needs repainted. It has never been rebuilt so it is going on 18 yrs old. I've been considering all my options...rebuild, repower, new, used, etc... One option I have is a brand new leftover 2003 Johnson 150hp at a good price. It comes with a 2 year factory warranty.

So the question is how much of a difference in performance is there between a 1989 GT175 and a 2003 150? Both will be hung on a CMC 5.5" jackplate. I know some people have hit 70 with a 175 and a good setup. Is there any chance that the GT175 could get there? Would the 150 be able to get 65? If I went with the 150 could I send it to Monty Racing when the warranty expired to hop it up? I seem to remember reading that 185hp is possible for those guys.

If anybody runs a 150 on a Pulse 186/185 I'd like to know what kind of MPH you are getting.

 

[xsive]

If you are looking for 70MPH, you will not get it with a 175. Well maybe, as you tow it down the Interstate. Be aware that most of the stock speedo's are out to lunch as far as speed goes. High quality liquid filled or GPS speedo's are accurate, but not the stock crap.

A 185 or 186 with a 175 will run an honest 60-65 depending on setup. A 150 should be able to run 55 -60 MPH depending on setup.

As far as buying a motor and modifying it, just buy the bigger motor to start with. If you want grief and aggrivation, modify your motor.

 

[JW]

I have a 2003 BRP Johnson 150 2.6 carb on my wife's tubing boat. While it has a tremendous hole-shot and is very smooth and quiet, it's NOT a top end motor. I'll wager that GT175, if it's running good, would out-run the 2003 150 carb motor.

 

[illMATTic]

well, weighing in at 1400+ lbs, I would agree on the 60-65 mph range.

here is what I would do. run the boat as is for a season. play with the setup and learn how the boat will handle at speed. as long as the engine has been taken care of and you take care of it, it will last many more years.

scratch the idea of the 150. look for a nice used 200 or 225 merc to put on there. the black will look better with your color combo anyways. with a merc 225 I would think you could run 75-80 mph. there are a couple pulsars around here that run that with 225's. :cheers

 

[jonnyspeed]

well, weighing in at 1400+ lbs, I would agree on the 60-65 mph range.

here is what I would do. run the boat as is for a season. play with the setup and learn how the boat will handle at speed. as long as the engine has been taken care of and you take care of it, it will last many more years.

scratch the idea of the 150. look for a nice used 200 or 225 merc to put on there. the black will look better with your color combo anyways. with a merc 225 I would think you could run 75-80 mph. there are a couple pulsars around here that run that with 225's. :cheers

That is good advice illMATTic. That's pretty much what I'm thinking right now. I think I'll have the GT175 repainted (Anybody know a good painter in the Cleveland area?) and run it this season. Next year I may spring for a new Merc or Rude. I don't know if I trust used motors. We'll see how this one treats me. I have a hard time thinking of taking my family out on Lake Erie with an 18 year old motor though. We'll see.