Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

We recently purchased a suntracker party hut with a 90hp Mercury. Does anyone know the difference in performance between the 90hp we have now and what a 150hp optimax would be? I realize these boats aren't made for speed but a 5-6 mph increase in cruise would be a welcome change. I haven't been able to find any performance info with the 150hp online and any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

The Party Hut is a pretty heavy rig, and they're pretty rare on the used boat market. I cannot recall ever seeing one with 150 hp, as most of these type hulls are commonly run pretty slow. Are you going to be putting many miles on the boat or will you be running out and anchoring it to operate out of?

I'm sure the 150 hp Optimax would give you better performance, but a 150 hp four stroke would really be preferred on that specific boat.

The plan as of now is a combination of both running around and anchoring for the day. The wife liked the idea of the additional comforts for our three young kids and I wanted something a little faster so it has been a compromise( more me than her,lol). It is a big pontoons to push around even with 150hp,so I wouldn't expect massive improvements. I would also much prefer a four stroke,but weight would be an issue. Max recommended engine weight is 445lb and the optimax comes in at 431, plus it would be a very simple swap staying within the optimax family. Thanks

I too have a big pig 30' party hut and feel the need for speed. At the end of all my research, it came down to cost for speed.

The boat loaded with gas and gear weighs over 6000 pounds. With a 75HP engine, I get between 11 - 13 mph. A bunch of online boat speed calculators have indicated that with a 350HP engine, I could achieve 22 mph. The cost of a new 350HP engine would be enough to purchase a used ski boat. The cost of a used 350HP engine would be more than what I paid for the entire party hut.

I have decided to stick with what I have until it dies. Then I will be forced to get something. When that time comes, I will probably get a 4 stroke in the 115 to 200hp range off of the used market. I'm looking for NMEA digital data as well.