I grew up and fished in a 1975 Savage bass boat with my Granddad. Had the same 115 Merc. Man, there's not a better sound in the world than that old "tower of power".
Yes they were. And I have no idea why I ever sold mine. Had it on the back of a 22 foot invader deep V hull. Seated six people comfortably and still did 45 to 50 mph.
I have a 1985 cruise craft rouge 14ft with a 90hp mercury inline 6 2-stroke. We take it out every opportunity we get, never had a single issue. With a bit of TLC these things will last a lifetime, plus you can't beat that sound on WOT 👌
I'll tell you one thing the new Mercury's are real nice I mean a beautiful motors but I was born back in the '70s and I love the older Mercury's that long gated style instead of the more compact cuz you got one beautiful motor there I mean that brings back memories right there I mean that is a gorgeous Mercury I mean my dad was a Johnson man you always believed in Johnson's and I ain't knocking Johnson but I love Mercury this is something about a Mercury those some badass motors again you got one beautiful motor there I mean that thing is running like a screaming demon beautiful video love it
I have a 1962 merc 85hp straight 6 I’m restoring, awesome engines. I think the years with a regular magneto/distributor are the best engines. Don’t have to worry about the common red stator failures or a power pack. I blew a couple up and rebuilt them really easy, used a butter knife as a ring compressor, tricky with 6 pistons 😂. I’d love to have a tunnel hull with 2 or one of those 2 stroke v8 Evinrudes…. ❤
I had a Vector with a 130 Yamaha. It ran best with a Mercury Inline prop. 26" chopper. Special props made just for that motor. I had similar performance to this boat. Mid 70s.
Those in-line tower powers are a good engine I still have a 150 hanging in my shop that I’ve always wanted to put on a speedboat 1978 looks identical to that
@@bige8496 I just brought one home to work over and get back out on the water. I think I’ll need to put cylinders 1 & 2 back to specs. Any helpful hints?
@@martyhasz8776 if I remember the 1974-1977 where great years for production. When the Black Max 175 Hp came out in 1976 or 1977 I think it started to put a damper on sales for the 150 inline 6. I was just Kid when all this went down....But my Father had 2 boats both with 150hp Inline 6 and like I said it was a awesome motor...I don't remember him ever having any problems with them....Hope you get the motor running good...I think you'll be impressed with it.....The Mercs inline 6 90hp and 115hp motors where great workhorses also....The Good old days....👍......
I remember (many moons ago) reading about Johnson outboard's prototype of a Wankel four rotor outboard. it put out something like 320+ HP and being a Wankel, it could rev to something in the neighborhood of 10,000 - 12,000 RPM. The trouble was it kept ripping the transoms right off the back of the test boats used back in the 1970's
I currently have a Stinger 75 short shaft that's needing overhauled. Found one of these for sale and not sure if I should repower with this or keep the Johnson. The electric tilt alone is tempting.
And they will still never match the simplistic design and reliable power of a 2 - stroke. Obviously if I were running an offshore charter I’d run 4-strokes to obtain the quiet and efficient operation they offer but for my personal use , after owning one 4-stroke, I’ll keep my 2-strokes.
I've watched your run a couple times to see what to expect from a 1980 Hydrostream Vector w/ a Mercury 140 inline 6. (2 more feet of hull, a bit more weight, offset by slightly more power at slightly higher RPM.) I've only been out once so far, for a measly hour before dusk, on a lake w/ a 40mph speed limit, but I'm already hooked on these beautiful and capable little monsters. Thanks for showing off your sweet black Viper & "tower of power". Dual steering cable retrofit straightforward / worthwhile?
Based on the transom bracket the engine is post 1983, the cowl wrap is from a 76 or 77, the Front and top cover are post 1980. It is either a 90 or 115
@@christopherhampson265 Externally the 90 and 115 looked Identical. It is on a Jack Plate, but when I said Transom Bracket, I was referring to the the Transom/Swivel Bracket of the Motor. The Camera also has a wide angle lens, which will distort the Perspective a bit
Ah, I can spot Watkins Landing a mile away!! River was low that day by the look of the ramp, ya lucky ya didn't hit something!! Sweet set o' cylinders ya got there. I have a 98 3cyl 90hp Elpto but would kill for a T of P!!
I used to race my Merc 115hp LE with a 24 inch SS chopper on a 16 foot boat and would get 6100rpm (off the speedo), but my boat was stripped out, only one seat & no windscreen.
I've got a 89' 115 Mercury on a 17'5 Venture Vendetta. I went over it and installed, new everything (cosmetically speaking). Never been in the water. That boat weighs less than a half ton. Think it'll push it alright ? How fast will it push your rig and how big is your set up ? Also, I've heard that these are actually pretty descent engines. What's your opinion, are they ? Where would you rank it on a scale of 1 to 10 (btw, I mix oil in gas, took oil injection off). If I encounter a problem w/ the lower unit, I'll replace it. I like the sound of a 2-Stroke and their lighter so more power and less wait.
1982 Tower of Power were awesome engines, I have one on my Procraft never had any problems with it in 20 years. Only cons is gasoline mileage. Buy Super Engines.
I’d like to put these old school decals on my bad ass 08 225XS with sportsmaster lower unit! I’ve seen them on a alien cowl! They look cool! Blue or red!
That motor is threading the limit of how high that height adjustment is placed. The motor needs to probably come down at least 1 inch with that adjustable transom plate. If you see when poor water conditions hit the boat, the anti-cavitation plate is out of the water and the prop is losing grip.
The setup is near perfect,there is plenty of load on the motor,he’s running a surface piercing prop,more lower unit in the water equals more drag. Jacking the motor and using more pitch is the recipe for speed.
@@D7mSupra needs more grip? HahahH. Dude you have that thin diialed! What is the pitch on the prop? So its a 4 blade? I have a fresh 1500 powered head we rebuilt a while back, im gonna start putting the whole thing together this week. I have the 650 on my boat now. Its a 73 Bayliner Mutiny 16'
@@kalaharimine since i posted that comment over a year ago i have found out alot more thani knew before those inline 6 tower of power motor are awesome motors and alot better on gas than the newer v6s
Long as there's good water pump pressure, it's fine. Looks like it's pumping just fine. Doesn't sound like it's turning up the r's, though? Was that at WOT? Sounded like it was straining.
Love the video , that engine is awesome, love the tower of power mercs and the prop looks vicious , just wondering though if you dropped the engine down six inches would that increase the torque ? It's been years ago but my old 90 hp six cylinder Mercury had a twin blade speed prop on it and it sat up high but when I dropped it down about five inches the torque difference was really noticable and it didn't seem to effect top speed any
@@markharris4260 good for you ........thats not how we go fast ....fastest boats in world have props running on surface .....less drag = more speed .....custom stainless steel props with correct shape and pitch allow this type of setup .....this is black magic arts only those in the know can produce .....this is very specific setup for speed not a weekend take the family out skiing setup.....do some research and be educated ...
@@D7mSupra I'm setting up a viper with a 115 mariner tower of power after recore and transom this winter, got prop and jack plate advice? also what speed did you get?
Not too high on a high performance padded hull with surface prop. You can get 1/2 the prop out of the water assuming you can keep water pressure. Look up an arneson surface drive at speed
Too much motor for your transom. Watch close when you hit the gas, the foot of the motor goes toward the transom, and the transom makes sounds like if you keep doing it , you’ll ruin the transom and possibly sink.
