150 Mercury on a 19ft boat?

ChampionSteve · Post by **ChampionSteve** » Sun Nov 07, 2021 12:01 pm

Hey everyone!

I am new to the site. Always reading forums. I have recently purchased a 1998 19ft Champion bass boat. It’s currently got a 2004 150 Mercury XR6 that was converted to a 200 during a rebuild two years ago. I am honestly not the most mechanical motor guy and would like to put a new Mercury outboard on it. I’d really like to put a 150 4 stroke Mercury on it. I’ve read another thread here that it would probably be underpowered. But I would like some feedback on this. I have owned a bass boat before and really never found myself going over 35 mph. I definitely don’t need it to go nor will ever take it up to 60+mph so my question is, will a 150 do the job? Does anyone have this setup of a 19ft with a 150? What can I expect as far as mph? Aside from speed, will I be hurting the engine of a 150 to put it on a 19 footer? Boat has a jack plate and a hot foot. It’s got a powerful trolling motor with 3 batteries which I would consider downgrading to possibly limit battery weight. Trying to get the boat as light as possible.

Thanks in advance

Steve

Whoopbass · Post by **Whoopbass** » Sun Nov 07, 2021 12:35 pm

If you think you have an 04 xr6 then you probably have a 1994 150hp motor and not a 200. I think from 1999 and up are the Di Optimax and not the carbureted or Fuel injected xr6?
What you got? Opti or Xr6?
If its the Xr6 then I assume the Seller lied to you about the year and probably the engine HP. So if i'm right how is it running now? If you're satisfied with that then get a 150.
If I was going to buy a new motor for the boat it would never be a 150. That is too much money to drop for the wrong size motor. Keep the Xr6 if it's running good. I hear they were better motors then the Opti's.
If you do buy a new motor get the max the boat is rated for.

ChampionSteve · Post by **ChampionSteve** » Sun Nov 07, 2021 12:55 pm

Hmmmm, can someone second that response that newer than 99 wouldn’t be an xr6? I definitely have an XR6 and I also see 2004 xr6’s on the web. I spoke with the company that performed the rebuild on it as well.

Whoopbass · Post by **Whoopbass** » Sun Nov 07, 2021 1:09 pm

If you've seen other 04 Xr6's on the web then you probably have one and I assume it's a 200 since you spoke with the mechanic. I thought all outboard manufacturers went to Direct injection around 2000.
Sorry for the confusion.

BIG DADDY BLUE RANGER · Sun Nov 07, 2021 1:21 pm

I’m definitely a 4S fan but it’s expensive to repower. So if your motor is running fine I’d say you’re much better off continuing to run it until it dies

My 18’9” Ranger w a 150 4S usually runs about 60 w a light load, 62 is the fastest I’ve gotten it. Tournament loaded about 57-58 for info. So depending on if yours is right at 19’ or on the larger side you can expect to loose 3-5mph. A 150 will do it but its always best to max out the ho rating

ChampionSteve · Post by **ChampionSteve** » Sun Nov 07, 2021 3:10 pm

Blue Ranger,

Definitely appreciate the feedback and it’s great to hear how a 150 is performing on a like-kind boat. Mine is 19ft1in and to hear your up at 60, I’m sure mine weighs a bit more but these numbers are comfortable. I think my reasoning on buying new now was the price I’d get on the existing XR6 that I could roll into the new motor. But definitely a valid point in running it as it’s healthy. (Maybe I can put the money I had for a new engine and earn interest on it in a savings account since interest rates are so high these days)

Thanks very much.

WRB · Post by **WRB** » Sun Nov 07, 2021 4:55 pm

The 150 hp XR6 Merc is 2.5L / 153 cu in engine. Increasing hp to 200 is easy with bolt on accessories and Merc 200 hp ignition. The fact is 235 hp is possible from this engine.
The ‘98 19’ Champoin is a fast hull and in demand today. You may be better off selling and buying what you want with a 150hp 4 stroke engine.
Tom

ChampionSteve · Post by **ChampionSteve** » Sun Nov 07, 2021 5:34 pm

I can definitely respect that feedback. Gosh I love this boat. In such great condition, not sure I could part. Standing on it feel like the right amount of space to fish. Can definitely see why there would be demand for it. Selling would be my last option but noted. I know a 17-18 ft would be much better suited for the 150.

With that, do you feel a 150 would get pushed harder on a 19ft given that I would not be maxing it out and only keeping it in what I’d imagine to be 35-45mph range? As you can imagine, if I’m spending the money, I would want it to last me the foreseeable future.

monte300 · Post by **monte300** » Mon Nov 08, 2021 12:55 pm

I’m no expert but I wouldn’t think driving 35-45 would work a 150 too hard on a 19’ boat. I usually discourage using less than the maximum horsepower that a boat is rated for, but usually guys are looking for maximum performance

Turkeyman · Post by **Turkeyman** » Mon Nov 08, 2021 3:57 pm

I think you would be fine with the 150. However for resale it would be worth more and have more interest from a potential buyer if it had a 200hp. You stated you love the boat and you not interested in running fast at top end so do what you feel is right for YOU!!!
I had a 98 Champion 181FS with the 150hp XR6, top speed was 56-58; I now have a 2000 191 with the 200hp Optimax and top speed for me is 66 so you should be fine.

ash · Post by **ash** » Wed Nov 10, 2021 10:33 am

Turkeyman wrote:I think you would be fine with the 150. However for resale it would be worth more and have more interest from a potential buyer if it had a 200hp. You stated you love the boat and you not interested in running fast at top end so do what you feel is right for YOU!!!
I had a 98 Champion 181FS with the 150hp XR6, top speed was 56-58; I now have a 2000 191 with the 200hp Optimax and top speed for me is 66 so you should be fine.

It really all comes down for what works for you. I had a BassCat Classic with a 150, it was a bit of a dog out of the hole but the top end was 57-58 average. Just remember there is no substitute for horsepower, it's not just about speed, you can always back off the throttle but the response and hole shot not lugging down the 150 would be a consideration.

Also too ain't no way to make that 150 a 200 even if stroked out - I believe you can push it to a 175ish but not a 200 unless they stroked it out and honed it.

hydro · Post by **hydro** » Wed Nov 10, 2021 2:36 pm

If I am not mistaken the old XR 6 engines rated at 150 HP actually Dyno'd
at somewhere around 171-172 HP . The tolerance for manufacturer advertised outboard HP was +/- 10% of advertised rating . With a continual arms race going on between Mercury ,Johnson , and Evinrude for the fastest bass boat motors they well all striving to to have the fastest motor by making sure to be on the fat end of the tolerance allowed .

monte300 · Post by **monte300** » Wed Nov 10, 2021 3:11 pm

I’ve always heard that a 150,175 and 200 will be pretty close to advertised. However, I’ve heard a 225 can often be close to 250 horsepower. Not sure if all this is true?

WRB · Post by **WRB** » Wed Nov 10, 2021 7:16 pm

If you like the boat keep it.
2.3L Merc is a excellent engine. Suggest you use a 4 blade Fury 4, 23P prop to achieve a decent up on plane time and top speed around 55 mph.
Those who think the 2.3L 150 can’t achieve 200+ HP don’t know this engine. I owned a 175SF Skeeter powered with this bigness that produced 235hp without increasing displacement.
Lee Holden tuned my engine by adding exhaust horns, reeds and upgraded ignition. My boat was clock on a gun at 80 mph with 26P 3 blade cupped SST racing prop. Our SoCal lakes have 35 mph speed limit, very boats operate at that speed. 50 mph is very comfortable dry ride and your Champ will perform that speed 150 hp fully loaded with a passenger and tackle, batteries etc,
Tom

ChampionSteve · Post by **ChampionSteve** » Wed Nov 10, 2021 9:09 pm

Really appreciate everyone’s feedback. Will take all this into consideration. If you see a 98 Champion on the ca delta with either an XR6 or a new 150 Merc, that’s me!

cheers boys.