Which engine for Ribcraft 4.8

[Tim M]

What do people think. Im currently pondering over either a Mariner 50 4-stroke or a 60 2-stroke.

The uni rib has a 60 4-stroke which is plenty of power. It's so quiet and smooth. However I dont think student funds will run to a 60 4-stroke. Im a tiny bit worried 50hp won't be enough power (and if I get the 50 I will always be thinking about the 10hp I don't have). However it will be a lot more economical than the 60.....

Im confused. Does anyone have any experiance of running a Mariner 50 4-stroke (or any other 50 for that matter) on the back of a Ribcraft 4.8 - if so what top speed do you get?

[Hightower]

Howard Zippy ran a Yam 50 4stroke....PM him.

[matt h]

i had a 70 suzuki four stroke on mine and did me no favours,i tried them all afterwards and a perfect ongine would be a e tec 75 in terms of weight or a 60 2 stroke, for weight and power, good boat tho !!

[Tim M]

I really don't want anything bigger than a 4-stroke. I've been looking on boats and outboards and theres a few Mariner/Merc 60 2-strokes. There is also a nearly new 50 4-stroke which I quite fancy. The smoothness and quietness of a 4-stroke makes it really appleaing. I would love to know though how much speed I will loose with that engine over a 60-2 stroke.

[BogMonster]

I was window-shopping on the Ribcraft website yesterday and the max for a 4.8 is 60hp so would a 75hp be pushing it a bit? I guess it would go well though

Unrelated to the question, but there are some nice video clips on there too, I like the 4.8 one in particular

[ribit]

XR2 that way you would be so quick you would be back before you left

[Tim M]

As I said the uni Ribcraft has a 60 on the back and that feels a tad flighty at WOT so I dread to think what a 75 would be like.

[matt h]

my suzuki 75 four stroke did 36 knots tops which was litterally too fast for it, it used to chine very quickly,and quickly flick out of control, BUT would struggle to get on the plane with 3 medium build persons on it, (as its ass was so heavy)
if i had too do that set up again, i would put a Yamaha 60 four stroke (110 kgs) Suzuki was 162 kgs, it was way too heavy or i would go for a e tec 60 (107 kgs or if your waterskiing a 75 e tec at 138kgs,those are the only decent sized units i would consider,

[ribit]

Originally Posted by matt h

my suzuki 75 four stroke did 36 knots tops which was 162 kgs,

Was it made from lead, xr2 200hp+ 159kg

[Golly]

I've got a 4.8 with a 60HP Suzuki 4 stroke. 2005 model bought earlier this year with only about 10 hours use on the boat/engine. Goes pretty well - I can just get 30 knots with 2 fairly substantial adults on boards, but feels very stable at that speed. Makes me think it could take either a bigger engine or a lighter one. Wouldn't want to go with any less HP.

Also agree that Ribcraft recommend 60HP max, but the Suzi DF60 does seem pretty big for the HP. Very smooth and quiet when pottering, though, and I don't need to put much fuel in her.

Gerry