1986 Stoker

[CSmith]

Got a new to me float. Super excited about this boat as it will be a total game changer compared to what my family and I are used to. Grew up coming to Havasu my whole life. Got rid of our Eliminator Fundeck and are now downsizing way down to this bad boy. Now that I live in Havasu full time we are week day boaters instead of the weekend warriors.

I am by no means a baller so this boat will get very suttle changes over a long period of time but I do enjoy personalizing everything I own. This is already a very very clean stoker, however I can't leave anything alone. I enjoy these restoration threads so I hope you guys will enjoy the content. If you see us on the water, feel free to say hello! Here is when my wife and I picked it up.


1986 Stoker with a Merc 280.

 

[CSmith]

First night we got it home and into the garage. The kids stayed back home with Grandma while we made the road trip to pick it up, but at first look I think my daughter approves.

 

[CSmith]

More boat pics! Stay tuned..

 

[Riverbound]

Nice find. That’s a clean stoker. Im Very familiar with them so if you have any questions. Let me know.

 

[CSmith]

Nice find. That’s a clean stoker. Im Very familiar with them so if you have any questions. Let me know.

I really appreciate it. This is also my first outboard. I will be taking it easy for a while, while I am learning the boat.

 

[mash on it]

Left hand drive,
Foot throttle,
Blue,

Very nice.
Perfect for the kiddos.

Dan'l

 

[jeepdog]

Very nice

 

[MARCYTECH]

I’m friends with the previous owner, You got a good one forsure! Congrats

 

[Backlash]

Man what a beautiful boat! It looks pristine!!

I'm not sure about that trailer though.......

@cj222

I tell people who are looking to purchase a used boat, to pay special attention to the trailer. It's a good way to tell whether or not the boat owner "Takes care of things." In your case, I'd say "You're Golden!"

Congrats that's a helluva nice ride! All kidding aside, Nick killed it with that new trailer too. Classy!

 

[NeedlesRat]

Boat looks great. I owned it before Brooks. I did the interior and gauges, and then he took it to another level with the trailer and other details. That boat is a blast, you're going to get stopped every where you go about it. The owner before me had Alan Stoker do the entire engine rigging so you know it was done right.

 

[CSmith]

Boat looks great. I owned it before Brooks. I did the interior and gauges, and then he took it to another level with the trailer and other details. That boat is a blast, you're going to get stopped every where you go about it. The owner before me had Alan Stoker do the entire engine rigging so you know it was done right.

I am beyond happy so far with everything. It honestly could be left alone but I'm just going to do very suttle changes. It's in great shape.

 

[RitcheyRch]

Nice find and enjoy it.

 

[NeedlesRat]

I am beyond happy so far with everything. It honestly could be left alone but I'm just going to do very suttle changes. It's in great shape.

Happy for you man. That boat gave my wife and I great memories. It was originally my uncles boat probably 20+ years ago. It had a black max 200 on it, then he sold it to a guy in Sacramento who then re-powered it with the 280. I always wanted to redo the trailer, and see about putting a 15" mid section on it over the 20" but never got to it as it ran great as it was. Enjoy! Let me know if you have any questions about it

 

[CSmith]

Well, the weather was great today and the family and I were able to take the boat for the maiden voyage. Everything ran flawlessly. Compared to what we are used to, this boat is a total game changer.

 

[CSmith]

For most of the day I took it very easy. With my wife and kids on board we were definitely not doing any speed runs. Having the jack plate and trim to mess with is totally new to me.

To get on plane I usually put the motor down most of the way on trim and jack plate. It is so quick and pops right out of the water. As far as setting it once on plane where should the jack plate be as well as the trim? On my old boat you can obviously feel it when the trim was in its "happy spot" but beings this has both jack plate and trim is there one you should set first?

The x dimension is close to level if not higher than the bottom of the boat if jacked all the way up. Today I was running around with it way lower than that to get used to it. Should it be up near level or even higher on these hulls?
I didn't want to be shooting a rooster tail all the way to the sky either. I have so many questions I am over stimulated .

Final question for this post, the water pressure when running around is near 5 psi, is that normal? I will be doing the impellar and annual maintenance before the next trip out but I couldn't wait to run the boat any longer.

Cheers

 

[GregG]

Is that a stock 280 20" Offshore?

 

[CSmith]

Boating content.

 

[CSmith]

Is that a stock 280 20" Offshore?

Yes

 

[GregG]

I am not sure what the year/background is on that 280 but those are very desirable motors. Not really a good fit for a pleasure situation, you might want to consider selling it and putting a 225X SS on the back. Boat looks really clean.

 

[NeedlesRat]

That motor package is perfect for the boat. I would never consider downgrading to a lesser HP motor. If it wasn’t right for the boat, Alan stoker wouldn’t have put it on. Trust me, if you follow the stoker page on FB he is all over it slamming people for putting motors on his boats that weren’t designed/rated for what he built. That being said, typically the motor was jacked up almost all the way, and trim was almost level or just above level. In the pic above, the motor looks over trimmed and under jacked. That boats sweet spot was jacked up almost all the way, then backed down a little (you could feel it in the steering like it’d get stiff then jack down just a scoche and it’d loosen back up) then the trim was almost neutral plus a little. Remember that is a 20” mid, so to get the prop shaft even or just above center, you have to jack it up quite a bit and that’s where Alan liked them, and the boat likes it. I can’t remember for the life of me how many, but I always jacked it up to a number of holes as soon as it planed. It was either 3 or 4 but I can’t remember it’s been too long. On the water pressure that was normal psi and there was always a constant stream out both tell tales on the motor

 

[CSmith]

That motor package is perfect for the boat. I would never consider downgrading to a lesser HP motor. If it wasn’t right for the boat, Alan stoker wouldn’t have put it on. Trust me, if you follow the stoker page on FB he is all over it slamming people for putting motors on his boats that weren’t designed/rated for what he built. That being said, typically the motor was jacked up almost all the way, and trim was almost level or just above level. In the pic above, the motor looks over trimmed and under jacked. That boats sweet spot was jacked up almost all the way, then backed down a little (you could feel it in the steering like it’d get stiff then jack down just a scoche and it’d loosen back up) then the trim was almost neutral plus a little. Remember that is a 20” mid, so to get the prop shaft even or just above center, you have to jack it up quite a bit and that’s where Alan liked them, and the boat likes it. I can’t remember for the life of me how many, but I always jacked it up to a number of holes as soon as it planed. It was either 3 or 4 but I can’t remember it’s been too long. On the water pressure that was normal psi and there was always a constant stream out both tell tales on the motor

That's good info! I don't have a guage to determine trim or jack plate so it's all off feel for now. I totally forgot to look at the x dimension prior to going on the water and then when I got back home with the boat in the garage I leveled out the motor and saw just how much I needed to keep jacking it up. What you're describing is exactly how it was and I can see that now after looking when I got home. Next time out I will continue to mess with it.

Thank you.

 

[Todd Mohr]

Sweet ride, congrats