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Lazer hull weight capacity

J

JoshPacheco

Member
Question for experienced builders:
I have a fiberglass 13' x 7' Lazer hull it's about 18" deep
Will it hold a 350sbc? I don't want to sink lol, I plan on going the direct drive route, no real need for speed just gonna be using it to hunt. Will it get me to and from my spots? And realistically what conditions can I operate in? I'm an experienced operator, I work on one everyday, but I don't know what to expect on a fiberglass hull and direct drive (everything I've operated is aluminum and belt driven) any input and shared experience is appreciated
 
Yep you can definitely set that boat up with direct drive SBC. RV cam and don’t put to big a carb on it. It will do exactly what you want it to. Will you be running shallow waters or on the coast ?
 
No costal waters, I'm gonna do my best to keep it on softer stuff and stay off the stumps and rocks best I can, no poly on it either. So I'm gonna keep it on the slower side, if I want to later on I'll get a box for it or repower, but for now it's just to serve a transportation purpose, thanks for the input slider
 
Coastslider said:
Yep you can definitely set that boat up with direct drive SBC. RV cam and don’t put to big a carb on it. It will do exactly what you want it to. Will you be running shallow waters or on the coast ?
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Realistically speaking how much weight will I be able to hold if I just put around?
 
1st if you run a reduction boat a direct drive will be interesting may may even frustrating for you.

A lot has to do with the set-up. DD with front driver not bad, DD with a double rear not so good. What I am getting at is the weight balance. with a DD all the weight is at the back with the motor so close to the transom. I ran a 4" prop spacer get pushing the motor weight a few inches farther forward. I ran a DD caddy but different hull. When I 1st put it together it sat way to low in the back. Had to slide rigging forward and added the prop spacer to get the prop back to were it should be (beer can off the transom lol).

You build it light and balance to weight correctly it will run fine.
 
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Used to be 4" and 6" spacers available

I would start with a few of the major builders. There are a few guys the make parts. Every once in a while you will see a used one for sale

Also do a search "John Fenner" has made some great recommendation for 350DD as far as cam and carb.

I personally am a sensenich fan. Great customer service, always answer the phone during business hours and right here in Florida. The have a number of new props out. I would call, tell them what you're working with and see what they recommend
 
Thanks one eye I appreciate the recommendations and advice, these answers will definitely help move me in the right direction
 
One eye spot on with rigging set up and being heavy in the back. My first dd350 boat had the gas tank under motor and rear operator double seats. I moved tank under my feet and mounted yeti cooler on bow to get balance right. When I had 2 people always had passenger in front seat. 3 or more someone could sit up top with me
 
Coastslider said:
One eye spot on with rigging set up and being heavy in the back. My first dd350 boat had the gas tank under motor and rear operator double seats. I moved tank under my feet and mounted yeti cooler on bow to get balance right. When I had 2 people always had passenger in front seat. 3 or more someone could sit up top with me in
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Coastslider said:
Sorry meant myself and one passenger. Then 2 or more passengers lol
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So realistically speaking how many passengers would I be able to hold? I would like 3 singles all in a row, but considering the weight, I think I'm gonna have to stick with a single for me and a double in front.
 
Heaviest passenger wise in old boat was 4 people total. Combined weight was probably right around 750-800 brother in law wife pretty big. Had to run about 200 rpm more to cruise but wasn’t an issue really. Prop was 72” water walker signature series. The company is called Carbon concepts now. Had her in front seat also lol.
 
JoshPacheco said:
So realistically speaking how many passengers would I be able to hold? I would like 3 singles all in a row, but considering the weight, I think I'm gonna have to stick with a single for me and a double in front.
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Josh,

I run a 13 x 7 foot aluminum boat with a 475 lb, 300 Hp Lycoming direct drive engine. The concept of "How Much Weight Can I Carry" is throwing me for a loop. The answer for me is none. The boat has a single rear rider and the man I got it from only ran skinny girlfriends.

At 3,000 RPM a run of the mill 350 is making 150 Hp, 200 Hp would be hopped up. With iron heads that's a 500 lb motor, plus cooling. A comparable aviation motor would be the O-320 at 150 Hp and 250 lbs.

You are starting with a fat friend on the A$$ end, don't add a 2nd seat.

Do like 1 eye and your gut says, 3 seats in a row. Rider up high in the rear, Front driver and when needed a front jump seat (make it a double if you want).

The point? Keep your weight low #1. Put your weight forward #2. Put your weight low #3.
 
I ran a 13’ lazer for a couple years with a built Buick 455 and it was a single front driver and double rear seat. With the capabilities of that boat I could run with 600lbs on the boat pretty good but with 300lbs in the back seat and idling in 2’ of water if I walked towards the back of the boat water would start to get real close to the transom so I never went to the back of the boat with a passenger in the boat.

I ran across the lake at 1000lbs passengers 550 back seat, 315 driver and 275 on the foot stand and you wouldn’t want to slow down or stop in water deeper than the sides of the hull.

Never had a 350 on the boat so I can’t specify on performance but with the Buick loaded down was real sluggish at best.

You said you currently run a geared boat everyday for work and I will tell you this stepping off a geared boat and on to a Direct drive small block boat you will never be satisfied.

My suggestion save up the money and build it right the first time with geared option.

Just finished my geared setup on a brand new build and really happy I finally got off a direct drive even as capable as my Buick was it is night and day difference.

What’s your budget for this build and what components have you already acquired?

You said you want to get to hunting spots and bring passengers. If your running the St. John’s river in brevard a 350DD won’t get you to many hunting camps but for about 3 months out of the year due to no water to run
 

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90chevy396 said:
I ran a 13’ lazer for a couple years with a built Buick 455 and it was a single front driver and double rear seat. With the capabilities of that boat I could run with 600lbs on the boat pretty good but with 300lbs in the back seat and idling in 2’ of water if I walked towards the back of the boat water would start to get real close to the transom so I never went to the back of the boat with a passenger in the boat.

I ran across the lake at 1000lbs passengers 550 back seat, 315 driver and 275 on the foot stand and you wouldn’t want to slow down or stop in water deeper than the sides of the hull.

Never had a 350 on the boat so I can’t specify on performance but with the Buick loaded down was real sluggish at best.

You said you currently run a geared boat everyday for work and I will tell you this stepping off a geared boat and on to a Direct drive small block boat you will never be satisfied.

My suggestion save up the money and build it right the first time with geared option.

Just finished my geared setup on a brand new build and really happy I finally got off a direct drive even as capable as my Buick was it is night and day difference.

What’s your budget for this build and what components have you already acquired?

You said you want to get to hunting spots and bring passengers. If your running the St. John’s river in brevard a 350DD won’t get you to many hunting camps but for about 3 months out of the year due to no water to run
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Thanks for the input, I already have rigging, cage, rudders hull and motor, everything is still taken apart but the reason for the DD is just for the sake of having a boat to get to the duck blind mainly and that's because what I have available in the garage. Most of my hunting would be in the glades and lake O but I wouldn't be opposed to traveling farther north.
 
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