noobie boat question regarding tahoe q4

johnnyphaze · Newbie Joined: 27 Apr 2009 Posts: 11 City: dallas

I am new to the sport and was wondering if a tahoe q4 fish and ski with the following specs will do the job for me.

The boat is almost 19' in length and has a 135 hp 3.0L engine. The prop has a 21 pitch. It has power steering and a power trim. With two adults and fishing gear, it will hit a top speed around 45 mph.

any input is greatly appreciated. Very Happy

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

It depends on how much you intend to wakeboard. Tahoe makes a good boat and there are several on here that have them. If you have major reasons to get an I/O and you won't do a ton of wakeboarding, it may be a good boat. Coming from experience with a Bayliner with that same motor, I'll tell you it will be a bit of a dog trying to get you up and will get worse if you add weight. If you want to go the I/O route instead of an inboard, I'd suggest at least going up to the V6 motor and think about bringing the pitch down on that prop.

If you want wakeboarding to become the majority of what you do and have no specific reasons to NEED an I/O, looking into inboards might be worth your time so you understand the differences and make an informed decision.

johnnyphaze · Newbie Joined: 27 Apr 2009 Posts: 11 City: dallas

ahh ok...so inboard/outboard motors do make a difference.....i learn something new daily

johnnyphaze · Newbie Joined: 27 Apr 2009 Posts: 11 City: dallas

i just looked at the guys ad again and he states that the motor is an inboard 135hp 3.0L

so does that mean i'm good to go?

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

Spend some time searching through this forum about inboards versus I/O (Inboard/Outboard). You will find a ton of answers to your questions. Also, if it is a Tahoe, it is definitely an I/O even if he is calling it an inboard.

pet575 · Posted: Apr 27, 2009 1:24 pm Post subject:

It might say inboard, but it is an I/O. Tahoes come in either an outboard or an I/O. They don't make an inboard, to my knowledge.

There are 2 ways to approach getting a boat:

1. Get a wake specific inboard boat because you're going to be doing nothing but riding behind it or anchoring; or

2. Get an I/O or an outboard to have more flexibility to cruise in chop, etc. Know in advance that it is very rare (if even possible) to find an I/O that will even come close to approaching the kind of wake an inboard will produce.

Bottom line is to decide which is more important. Regardless of what you get, it will be better than no boat at all.

get_sum · Soul Rider Joined: 04 Aug 2008 Posts: 395 City: Edmond

i/o q4l here... but, with a 4.3L V6... it's gonna be tough with a 4 banger..

I'll sell ya my boat... already has a tower, ballast, high-5 stainless prop...

payoff.. $17200...

dalderman · Soul Rider Joined: 08 Aug 2008 Posts: 356 City: Carlsbad

You're going to put a lot of stress on that engine. I first started on a fish/ski boat with a 150hp outboard and within a few months the engine was showing signs of fatigue.
Make sure you have plenty of power if you intend to pull with it. Nothing worse than an under powered boat.

HHI Dave · Posted: Apr 28, 2009 1:28 pm Post subject:

Been using my Tahoe Q4 3.0 for nothing but wakeboarding for almost 3 years now. There has never been a fishing rod on my boat. Laughing

Yeah, the wake sure doesn't compare to a fully ballasted V-drive, but then again, neither does my skill level. Laughing

PM sent.

JeffreyCH · Posted: Apr 28, 2009 5:22 pm Post subject:

HHI Dave, HAHA I feel ya on the fishing pole thing, my brother got sick of it and went out and bought a bass boat Sat.

I ride behind a smaller v-6 (3.8l 185hp) and it was sluggish with the 21p prop, I dropped to a 17 and have no problems with boarding, or deep starting a slalom.

johnnyphaze · Newbie Joined: 27 Apr 2009 Posts: 11 City: dallas

nice pictures.....love the air time you getting there

capt.ron · Newbie Joined: 30 May 2009 Posts: 7 City: bullhead city

We have a 19' Q4 with a V6 4.3L and tower. It has a nice shaped wake with no extra ballast, though its not real big. When we put an extra 800lbs in it, we have to spread it out front to back to get it to plane. Putting as much as we can in the ski locker helps with the handling. With the extra weight, you have to make constant throttle adjustments. It also seems to make the wake more unpredictable if there is any chop at all.

get_sum · Soul Rider Joined: 04 Aug 2008 Posts: 395 City: Edmond

Josh 154 · Criminal Joined: 04 Jun 2009 Posts: 78 City: Wall Lake

That boat should be fine. I have a 130hp 3.0L with a 3 blade 15 pitch prop and it pulls me up fine. We also have about 600Lbs of ballast.

SilverMustang35 · Posted: Jun 08, 2009 12:18 pm Post subject:

We have a Q6 Sport so kinda the same realm...The Q4s hull isnt as deep I don't think and the weight capacity is a little less but that engine should be fine. I would advise dropping down pitches on the prop or going with a 4 or 5 blade...I got a 4 blade 18 pitch on IBoats for 130 and its one of the best investments. The wake on the Q6 is nice, rampy and tall but forgiving....We load ours down with 700 in the locker, 350 in the front, 350 in the middle and 2 85lb bags to counter white wash...we trim it to a little under half and perfect pass has made a world of difference...There is a Tahoe Boat Owners thread I started way back when and I think there are some pics of the wake from Q6s and Q4s...

get_sum · Soul Rider Joined: 04 Aug 2008 Posts: 395 City: Edmond

I'll try to get a pic of my wake next weekend.. homework (civil engineering major) along with wife and 3 year old have eaten up my time lately.

It's decent and good to learn on. I rode a new X1 recently and was dead beat after a session because of the size difference.

marejada · Newbie Joined: 17 Aug 2009 Posts: 2

newport77 · Newbie Joined: 13 Dec 2009 Posts: 1

marejada · Newbie Joined: 17 Aug 2009 Posts: 2

Just got back from boarding in Tahoe! The Lake Tahoe Hotels rock! It was EPIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let the games begin at Hotel Tahoe, South Lake Tahoe...

SilverMustang35 · Posted: Dec 14, 2009 6:35 am Post subject:

Congrats! you will be addicted just as we are Smile

....if you are in need of a prop, I've got mine for sale since I sold my Q6
Its a 4 blade Stainless Steel Michigan Wheel Apollo 18 pitch. It was used maybe 3 months. Im askin 200 plus shipping. It has awesome torque and will pull out of the hole great.

VicDelmonte · Newbie Joined: 08 Oct 2010 Posts: 1

Hey, so, did you end up getting it? How'd it work out?
South Lake Tahoe Hotel ~ Lake Tahoe Motel

trose · Newbie Joined: 14 Aug 2010 Posts: 2 City: San Diego

Boat looks good, if you want some extra weight, go get some big trash cans, and fill them up with lake water when you're on the boat, and place them towards the back. Then it will throw a bigger wake. Go get a pole too! That will definitely help you get more air.

Hope this helps!
-Tay

I love to wakeboard as well, and in my time I run North Lake Tahoe Hotels, and Hotels Lake Tahoe... hit me up if you need any help!
Links to my sites: Hotels Lake Tahoe, North Lake Tahoe Hotels