I agree l. I fished out of a 79 sea raider with a 85 HP with no seats and and would still win tourney. Just some people don't onow anything about boats

thats great and all but i would personally like to know that my boat is safe and not a death trap.  but thats a personal choice and i guess not everyone agrees.

yall can say what you want but i would be willing to bet good money that that boat with any 150hp engine would not even come close to 82.

I used to have an 18ft Xpress with a 150hp Yamaha that would do 77 on gps with 2 people and all of their gear. I imagine with a light load and 1 person it would get very close to 82, and that was with a stock motor. That being said I got rid of it because it scared me to death.

I agree l. I fished out of a 79 sea raider with a 85 HP with no seats and and would still win tourney. Just some people don't onow anything about boats

thats great and all but i would personally like to know that my boat is safe and not a death trap. but thats a personal choice and i guess not everyone agrees.

What does a 79 sea raider have to do with being a death trap?  There are boats build in the 70s that are techincally safer than most modern bass boats... higher freeboard and handle big water much better.  If your solely picking on saftey no body would pick a low profile bass boat any way. 

No ones telling him to buy a junky death trap boat.  All advice is assuming its nothing but very seaworthy.  Granted, I would no way recommend driving anywhere close to 80 with it, at those speeds any boat is a death trap.

I presume it's your first boat...I would tend toward something a little more stable in that case. Besides the fact that a first-time boat owner shouldn't be operating a vessel at 80+ MPH, there's the practical aspect...There's a price to pay in making a 65mph boat go 80mph, that price is stability and reliabilty. Who cares if the boat goes 80, if you can't go 45 in a  foot-and-a-half chop. Personally (and especially) for a first-time boat owner, I would favor something more practical.

This boat seems like the 450HP Dodge Dart that has no steering, handling or brakes and is going to be in the shop every two weeks. Not a good choice as a first time owner, IMO....

If the motor runs, and you don't fall through it while fishing, then it does what you need it to do.  Whats more important? Going 70mph for 5 mins to get to your spot, or being able to stand up and fish out of the boat for 5 hours while its going > 2mph? 

If I was buying it, i would make sure there are no cracks on the transom.  I'd make sure the engine, started and ran,  and i'd get the books and make sure what it should have weighed.  Looks like its been sitting outside, possible with no cover?  You can take it somewhere and get the weight of boat, motor, and trailer. That boat could have soaked up hundreds of pounds of water (especially if its made of wood?)  Just something to be weary of and think about.

If that Mercury 150 is a 1982 model, it was rated at the power head. Starting in 1983, they rated them at the prop. It is probably pushing around 135 HP if it is stock. That being said, the 1982 2.0 block will not make enough HP to push that Laser to 82 MPH. Maybe 62 MPH. I am skeptical to say the least.

If you are seriously considering buying it, you better have the compression checked by a professional and try to find out who did the boring and rebuild. If the motor is solid, boat hull & transom is solid in need of cosmetics, and the trailer is solid, no rust, with decent tires it is a good buy at $1500

Sweet belt buckle.

yall can say what you want but i would be willing to bet good money that that boat with any 150hp engine would not even come close to 82.

I used to have an 18ft Xpress with a 150hp Yamaha that would do 77 on gps with 2 people and all of their gear. I imagine with a light load and 1 person it would get very close to 82, and that was with a stock motor. That being said I got rid of it because it scared me to death.

Here we go.......

Yes I am a first time buyer but I have always had a boat anytime I needed it it would run abt 70 it was a ranger tho and I he'd no problem controlling it. The other was an 02 blazer with a 250 and honestly I couldn't tell you how gadgets it was easily 75 plus and yet again no problem drivin it. I'm not worried about beingn able to drive one. My dad has worked at a ranger dealer since I was born and I bacteria always dryinve boats. But. Want one to say its. changed my minD I found a 89 ranger in my price range.

Yes I am a first time buyer but I have always had a boat anytime I needed it it would run abt 70 it was a ranger tho and I he'd no problem controlling it. The other was an 02 blazer with a 250 and honestly I couldn't tell you how gadgets it was easily 75 plus and yet again no problem drivin it. I'm not worried about beingn able to drive one. My dad has worked at a ranger dealer since I was born and I bacteria always dryinve boats. But. Want one to say its. changed my minD I found a 89 ranger in my price range.

Oh My God!!! I have know idea what your post is about. It made my head hurt after the second attempt at reading it.

So anyway, congratulations on getting a boat (i think ) . It looks like a nice one and i hope you enjoy it.

Yes I am a first time buyer but I have always had a boat anytime I needed it it would run abt 70 it was a ranger tho and I he'd no problem controlling it. The other was an 02 blazer with a 250 and honestly I couldn't tell you how gadgets it was easily 75 plus and yet again no problem drivin it. I'm not worried about beingn able to drive one. My dad has worked at a ranger dealer since I was born and I bacteria always dryinve boats. But. Want one to say its. changed my minD I found a 89 ranger in my price range.

Oh My God!!! I have know idea what your post is about. It made my head hurt after the second attempt at reading it.

So anyway, congratulations on getting a boat (i think ) . It looks like a nice one and i hope you enjoy it.

Bacteria ????????Disinfectant should do the job.

Congrats, but Young gun  we do have spell check on here for a reason.

Yes I am a first time buyer but I have always had a boat anytime I needed it it would run abt 70 it was a ranger tho and I he'd no problem controlling it. The other was an 02 blazer with a 250 and honestly I couldn't tell you how gadgets it was easily 75 plus and yet again no problem drivin it. I'm not worried about beingn able to drive one. My dad has worked at a ranger dealer since I was born and I bacteria always dryinve boats. But. Want one to say its. changed my minD I found a 89 ranger in my price range.

Oh My God!!! I have know idea what your post is about. It made my head hurt after the second attempt at reading it.

So anyway, congratulations on getting a boat (i think ) . It looks like a nice one and i hope you enjoy it.

Bacteria ????????Disinfectant should do the job.

You beat me to it! ;D

That's what you get using a not so smart phone.

Yes I am a first time buyer but I have always had a boat anytime I needed it it would run abt 70 it was a ranger tho and I he'd no problem controlling it. The other was an 02 blazer with a 250 and honestly I couldn't tell you how gadgets it was easily 75 plus and yet again no problem drivin it. I'm not worried about beingn able to drive one. My dad has worked at a ranger dealer since I was born and I bacteria always dryinve boats. But. Want one to say its. changed my minD I found a 89 ranger in my price range. quote]

I'm a little confused by this Younggun. Can you translate this for me please.  I'll bet you're a blast to go fishing with!

Careful, those early Rangers with tandem trailers were infamous for the rear left tire loosing air. I'd shy away from this one.

Both of these boats seem to be money pits.  A boat that age WILL have stringer and transom problems if it was stored outside, even if it was under a cover.  I would bet that both of these boats will require a full rebuild or parting out within one year.  Even if the fiberglass on the transom has not cracked, water has definitely gotten back to the transom (in both boats) and it's only a matter of time before that motor collapses the transom.  If you are looking to buy a boat for under $2k I recommend saving for another year and buying something for $4-5k that will last you a lot longer.

On 1/26/2011 at 8:57 PM, Carrington said:

please tell me your joking, no way in hell that that boat going 82mph with a 150 engine

I had a 1984 tunnel hull laser bass boat , rated for 150 , I had 175 mercury 

top speed 78 mph 

knew a guy that had a 200 mercury and it did 85 on same boat

The Laser is a very fast hull and the old Merc V6 can be easily modified to produce over 200 hp. If the boat has hot foot and jack plate it’s a hot rod boat.

Concerns would be the condition of the hull and carpets left outdoors in the weather. I believe Lasers are all fiber glass hulls no glassed over wood transom or stringers. 
Test drive the boat and be prepared to put a few thousand $$ into the boat and trailer.

Tom

PS, my SF 175 Skeeter with mod 175 hp Merc would run around 80 mph but not safely.

Just realized this thread is 2011🤬

15 year old topic

I was hoping for an update on his 11 year ownership  😵😄

On 11/9/2025 at 8:16 PM, Spartacus said:

I had a 1984 tunnel hull laser bass boat , rated for 150 , I had 175 mercury 

top speed 78 mph 

knew a guy that had a 200 mercury and it did 85 on same boat

 

Hello @Spartacus and Welcome to Bass Resource ~

Interesting first post here.

A-Jay