1989 20 sport or fish

[The Job Site]

I need to find our if anyone can help me with max capacity weight & HP that I can put on this boat for a motor, I hav a black max 200 but I hear the old black max were a 2.5 L and that would be equivlent to a 175 today. I have a 225 ocean pro located

[Destroyer]

Just do a search for capacity plate. It will tell you everything you want/need to know.

[draglink]

I have heard the opposite to be true, that Merc kinda under rated the HP, or at least was close to the true HP they claimed, but the other makes tended to over estimate? Im no expert, this is what my engine builder told me...he builds and races Mercs. I know when he built mine he 'tweaked' it here and there....supposed to be around 210hp or so, but who knows. I would love to find a 3.0L 250 to rebuild.

I dont know when Wellcraft changed the HP capacity, I believe the earlier years were 235 max, mine ('78) is 200 max

Im sure someone will chime in with a bigger brain than me

[RidgeRunner]

The older Mercs were a 2.4L and were rated at the flywheel, so the 200 is approx equivalent to 175. I have one of those, it is light and worked well on my 20. Around 1987 the hp rating went from flywheel hp to propshaft hp so anything newer than 1987 should have the right hp as stated. They now have a 10% hp rule. The motors must make +/- 10% of the advertised hp. Ocean Pro is a good motor, just bear in mind the controls and harness will need to be changed over. $$
The capacity plate is missing on my V but I see in the catalog that mine was rated for 200. ( 250 pushing it nicely for now) Liability insurance was no problem to get, using the insurance after an accident might prove to be a different story. There has not been a single LEO or CG that questioned the lack of capacity plate or hp on my V.

[The Job Site]

Where do i search for a capacity plate, My starter engaged while running
and busted the cast on the block where the starter mounts. My 200 hp was running good and the block is ruined from what i am being told

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by The Job Site

Where do i search for a capacity plate, My starter engaged while running
and busted the cast on the block where the starter mounts. My 200 hp was running good and the block is ruined from what i am being told

I realize that I don't know what the damage looks like, but is there no hope of welding the break? Is the block itself damaged or just the tabs that the starter screws go into?

[Destroyer]

And, FYI, in 1990 Wellcraft ran an ad for the V-20 Sport. (I'm looking at it as I type this). It describes what equipment the boat comes with standard... and at the end of the ad it also has the following info:

Length 20'6"
Beam 8'0"
Weight(lbs.dry) 2,750
Fuel Capacity(gals) 60
Max horsepower 150
Suggested Retail Price $16,995

Now, we all know that the boat will safely handle much more HP, but that's what the factory said in 1990.

[phatdaddy]

you can look in the history section and view the ads for the various years w hp ratings

[nipper]

There are better minds than mine on here, and wtf, I run a sterndrive 4.3 litre mercruiser which produces 190 h.p. at the prop, but I would think either the Black Max or the Ocean Pro would be fine, IF your transom is in good shape. Go ahead, drill a couple small holes. Wet, mushy stuff = not good for any re-power, whatever the size. Dry shavings with a fresh lumberyard smell, you are good to go with the 2 stroke outboard of your choice up to 225 h.p., and 4 stroke up to 175.

[The Job Site]

Thanks for everybody's input, Later next week I will let you all know what i chose