Engine Capacity for Zodiac FC-470

F470 · 30 July 2013, 17:55

I am currently looking for an engine and I am trying to figure out the appropriate Engine Capacity for my Zodiac FC-470. According to the capacity plate on my FC-470 its good for a 40HP engine with roll up floor. According to the FC-470 Field Service Manual the HP Roll up floor is good for 55HP and the hard deck is good for 65HP. I have a transom for a Long Shaft engine and I am planning on building a hard deck out of 3/4" marine plywood. I have my eyes on a 60HP engine. Is this too much for my boat? I have heard there is a transom reinforcement kit available for the FC-470. Has anyone tried this? Is it necessary for a 60HP engine?

SIBRider · 30 July 2013, 20:55

I wouldn't exceed capacity for given configuration as per transom plate regardless what manual says. Technically one can get fined if too big of engine installed. They are not going to study service manual. Mine has two plates one says 40 hp max. Second supplemental plate says 40 hp with roll-up and 65 with hard deck.
60 hp is a lot of power.

SIBRider · 30 July 2013, 21:02

I just got that 25 Zuk on mine. Haven't made it into water yet. Hopefully it will do for family boat.

martini · 30 July 2013, 21:16

50hp on mine, that's plenty. Good for 28knots

jyasaki · 31 July 2013, 15:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by SIBRider

I wouldn't exceed capacity for given configuration as per transom plate regardless what manual says. Technically one can get fined if too big of engine installed.

By who?

As far as I am aware, the only people who care about engine size will be your insurance carrier, though your state may have laws limiting that. California doesn't, I'm pretty sure. Don't know about others.

jky

SIBRider · 31 July 2013, 16:08

For example:

Quote:

Capacity Plates
ORC 1547.39 & ORC 1547-40
No person shall operate or permit operation of a watercraft in excess of any of the stated limits on the capacity plate. When no capacity plate exists, no person shall operate or permit operation of a watercraft if a reasonably prudent person would believe the total load aboard or the total horsepower of any motor or engine presents a risk of physical harm to persons or property.

Oregon is more of recommendation though.

Quote:

On outboard boats, the capacity plate also will display the recommended maximum horsepower rating of the boat. Your boat's motor should never exceed this rating.

Who, whoever is in charge. It's pretty unlikely though. Especially on "black boat" probably. Looks mean enough for big motor. Although I've seen people swapping motor covers or stripping horse power ratings off to avoid being fined. Insurance notwithstanding of course.

SIBRider · 31 July 2013, 16:33

Looks like in Oregon is certainly less of an issue than Midwest. Looks like best they might ask you to stop operating I guess. Don't see any fine. Of course if accident happens then it would be different story.

Quote:

§ 830.380¹
Peace officer authority to require operator to remedy especially hazardous condition
(1) When a peace officer observes a boat being operated on the waters of this state in an especially hazardous condition and determines that continuance of the voyage of the boat could place the occupants in imminent danger, the peace officer may order the operator of the boat to take immediate and reasonable steps to remedy the especially hazardous condition, including but not limited to directing the operator to move to a moorage and remain there until the especially hazardous condition is remedied.
(2) For purposes of this section, an especially hazardous condition is limited to the following conditions:
(a) Improper or insufficient personal flotation devices in violation of ORS 830.215 (Personal flotation devices);
(b) Improper or insufficient fire extinguishers in violation of ORS 830.220 (Fire extinguishers);
(c) Improper or insufficient backfire arresting devices on carburetors in violation of ORS 830.235 (Carburetors);
(d) Improper or insufficient navigation lights in violation of ORS 830.225 (Lights) if found between sunset and sunrise;
(e) Overloading in violation of ORS 830.355 (Overloading);
(f) Overpowering; or
(g) Leakage of fuel from the boat engine, fuel system or bilge. [1997 c.568 §2]
Note: 830.380 (Peace officer authority to require operator to remedy especially hazardous condition) to 830.385 (Commercial fishing boats exempt from regulation of especially hazardous condition) were added to and made a part of ORS chapter 830 by legislative action but were not added to any smaller series therein. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.

captnjack · 31 July 2013, 16:47

A 60 is pretty big and heavy. As martini said, a 50 is quite a bit of power for a boat that light. And a 40 would be ok too, if you weren't carrying heavy loads like divers.

SIBRider · 31 July 2013, 16:53

Is n't it the case often motors 40-60 hp are essentially the same weight. Often same displacement. Yamaha f50 and F60 are same 250lb, suzuki DF40-50-60 - same 230 lbs, etc

SIBRider · 31 July 2013, 17:11

Slat floor max engine weight is 210 lb which is hard to satisfy if modern engine is used. Pretty much all of them are 230-250+

captnjack · 31 July 2013, 19:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by SIBRider

Slat floor max engine weight is 210 lb which is hard to satisfy if modern engine is used. Pretty much all of them are 230-250+

That's an on-going issue with the zodiacs in particular. I don't think there's any way around it, best to try a different engine manufacturer which e.g. uses the same block for 40s and 50s then get the 50. Vs having a 50/60 block on the back.

Are you sure the Suzuki's use the same block 40/50/60??

SIBRider · 31 July 2013, 19:15

Same displacement 941 ccs Suzuki Marine - Product Lines - Outboard Motors - Categories - Midsize

captnjack · 31 July 2013, 19:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by SIBRider

Same displacement 941 ccs Suzuki Marine - Product Lines - Outboard Motors - Categories - Midsize

Wacky. Doesn't help your weight issue though. The ETECs and Yams aren't really any lighter in that size range.

I don't think 20-30lbs is going to be critical, but its not my boat...

Manual start, carburated Mercury 40 gets you down to 204 lbs if you are really really anxious about transom weight.

SIBRider · 31 July 2013, 20:14

I'm not, picked up 25 horses Suzuki for now

SIBRider · 01 August 2013, 08:04

Hooray got my feet wet today. Finally. And yes, Looks like raising. engine couple inches would be good idea. Seats pretty low now. Amazing how responsive boat is. Zuk is not super fast. Run it gently, I'm breaking it in, but it shoots on plane almost instantly. Plenty fast for my unaccustomed passengers even even at half throttle.

captnjack · 01 August 2013, 15:25

Looks good. Are those registration numbers 3" high as (technically) required? If they are, those toobs are giant!

SIBRider · 01 August 2013, 15:49

Looks like I messed up on groupings too. Size too for some reason I swear inspector (I had to have HIN number verified) told me 2 inch letters. Oh well not to hard to peel them off.

F470 · 01 August 2013, 17:44

Looks great!

Turbodiesel · 01 August 2013, 19:47

We had a 50 Twatsoo TLDI on our roll up deck F470. It was a little bit heavy but worked just fine!

F470 · 01 August 2013, 20:57

Thanks for all the input. I would like to get an E-Tec and they are quite heavy for being two strokes. The 30 HP weight in at around 177lbs, the 40HP around 240lbs and both 50 and 60 HP weigh 250lbs. I have found a decent deal on a 60HP E-Tec but I think its just to much HP and weight for what I need/want. Also, I just rebuilt the transom so I am not particularly motivated to buy a very expensive transom stiffening kit just to be able to run this motor. The initial plan for me personally was to keep it light and fuel efficient.

Is there a big difference in fuel consumption between 30-40-50-60 HP engines? I hear the E-Tec's have a descent fuel consumption?