Reunited with my Hydrostream

[nhsurfer]

Hey everyone,

Just signed up as a new member. I just recently acquired a boat I once owned many years ago. It is a 16.5' 1988 Hydrostream Verado. I am the original owner of the boat purchased brand new, a left over model purchased in 1990 when I was 20 years old. The motor that came with it was a 1987 110HP Johnson. She used to run 55mph on that motor way back when (once i got 60mph). Sadly I had to sell her in the spring of 1993.

Last year I found the boat for sale on Boattrader. THE SAME BOAT! It still had the dealership sticker from where I bought it from; Cold Spring RV & Boat Weare, NH. This was the only one they had sold. It is definetly my boat, scuffs from when I owned her before were there. The boat was in North Carolina. I live in New Hampshire. I'm so happy to have her back. She still has the 87 Johnson and now runs about 53mph. The motor is starting to show her age, physically and mechanically.

The floor and transom seem to be pretty solid, though I'm sure there must be some issues with her age. She still floats as I remember. The blue metal flake needed a good buffing and looks pretty good with some fade. I still would like to get her finish better, you can look at it from certain angles and shes perfect, but from other angles you see the oxidation. Any suggestions what to do with the finish? I'd like to restore her in as original condition as I can.

I had the interior recarpted and there are new seats and upholstry.

I am contemplating a new/newer motor to replace the Johnson 110HP. If budget allows, I'd like to get the new Evinrude E-TEC. Contemplating between the 115 and 150 OB. The boat is rated for a 140HP. Any suggestions how I should rig the boat?

Also on the wish list, replace gauges, rewire, and new steering wheel.

I'll post pics soon. they are in the member gallery now. I'll have to figure out how to get those here.

That's it for now,

-Craig

[Pysco's Path]

Graig, try a product call Vibra cut it,s a great product will bring your finsh back. I would always over power my hydrostreams it alot of fun it's like flying on the seat of your pants, good luck with the hydro. PP

[nhsurfer]

Thanks for the tip! I'll check into Vibra cut? Is it easy to apply? I'm not sure I need to go mad wild in speed but I would like to go faster than my friend on his Jet Ski.. it just ain't right! wonder what I would get for speed with a 115HP ?

[Pysco's Path]

You need a good buffing wheel aply slow speed it's a nice product to work with, great results. 115 speed wise , you need to have all the right acessories ??? some jet ski's go 70 plus mph.

[nhsurfer]

I believe it is a Sea-Doo GTX and runs in the 60's. thanks again.. keep the comments and suggestions coming everyone! :)

[Maureen M]

wow, very cool story, reunited with your 'stream :D

Welcome to the board :)

[150aintenuff]

135 or 150 merc... 375 lbs.... V6 power 80 mph may be possible...

[nhsurfer]

So my boat should be able to handle a 150? load on the transom should be ok? I guess I should get a jack plate as well? I've been out of the loop in the performance boat world.

[stylishskier]

So my boat should be able to handle a 150? load on the transom should be ok? I guess I should get a jack plate as well? I've been out of the loop in the performance boat world.

depends on the condition of the transom, stringers and core... Don't know if verados had rot issues like most streams, they probably do... something to look into...

[rossi]

WOW !! a Verado, how could you beat that. The beautiful top deck they had with the unbeatable Ventura II hull. What I would give to have that boat in the pic and bring it back to like new condition...what a resto that would be. You never see those around anywhere.

The great thing about those is you don't need big HP to get good numbers. Set up properly you could see 80 with just a 150 and they are very easy to drive. They are a fantasic boat with a great design and lots of interior space. The Verado would probably be my first pick for a boat.

Please keep us posted on your progress...major interest here !!;)

[jon verado]

Glad to see there is another verado out there,I have 135 with nose cone and Jack plate,Not realy sure how fast but it will get your att,ention!!,the only thing I dont like is no bilge and with gas tank hydrolics for jackplate and steering there is barely any room.Good luck and have some fun with it Isure do:D

[JUPITER PULSARE]

Welcome aboard NHSurfer. First of all, congrats on reuniting with your old boat. Second, it's nice to see a surfer aboard the site....don't know how you northern guys get in the water when it's soooo cold!!!! A great motor for you boat would be to find a Merc 2.0 liter 150Xr2. It's a small block Merc, very light, and factory rated to rev to 6000 rpm. It would make you boat scream for sure. I would also install a small setback hyd. jack plate..maybe 5" or so with a Sea Star Pro hyd steering system. It'll make the boat a pleasure to drive and give you lots of adjustablilty for varying conditions. Good Luck!

[msethsmile]

The xr2 idea is a good one. Mine is 20 yrs old. I bought it 2 years ago for $1800. It runs like a top. 64 on a hydrostream voyager (bigger and heavier)and only 4" setback. The boat came from NH. Hope to get high 60's-70 this year with additional setback. Yours would be way faster with the ventura II hull.

[russell]

a friend ran a verado with a new 1996 225 promax boat was also a 1990 it would pull me on a single ski with a 29 mazco then run 98 without a prop change great little boat easey to drive at high speed also

[nhsurfer]

WOW !! a Verado, how could you beat that. The beautiful top deck they had with the unbeatable Ventura II hull. What I would give to have that boat in the pic and bring it back to like new condition...what a resto that would be. You never see those around anywhere.

The great thing about those is you don't need big HP to get good numbers. Set up properly you could see 80 with just a 150 and they are very easy to drive. They are a fantasic boat with a great design and lots of interior space. The Verado would probably be my first pick for a boat.

Please keep us posted on your progress...major interest here !!;)

HEllO! Yes I do love the handling of this boat. It's very responsive and a blast to drive. Its shrunk wrap now. I sure wish I had a garage to work on on her. I think the transom and floor will hold up for a few more years, like I say it seems pretty solid. Hey your in NY!! know any good folks who work on these types of boats and finish restoration? I think I can actually tweak the finish without having to hire for it.. but maybe I might consider it. A clear coat finish would be good to do.

Keep in touch!

[nhsurfer]

Glad to see there is another verado out there,I have 135 with nose cone and Jack plate,Not realy sure how fast but it will get your att,ention!!,the only thing I dont like is no bilge and with gas tank hydrolics for jackplate and steering there is barely any room.Good luck and have some fun with it Isure do:D

I know! its cool to see another Verado, and not all that far away from me. I must admit, I thought I might be the only one in New England with a Verado. Actually I saw on www.hydrostream.org's (http://www.hydrostream.org's) member list a verado listed in CT. I would love to see your boat sometime. Any pictures posted?

[nhsurfer]

Welcome aboard NHSurfer. First of all, congrats on reuniting with your old boat. Second, it's nice to see a surfer aboard the site....don't know how you northern guys get in the water when it's soooo cold!!!! A great motor for you boat would be to find a Merc 2.0 liter 150Xr2. It's a small block Merc, very light, and factory rated to rev to 6000 rpm. It would make you boat scream for sure. I would also install a small setback hyd. jack plate..maybe 5" or so with a Sea Star Pro hyd steering system. It'll make the boat a pleasure to drive and give you lots of adjustablilty for varying conditions. Good Luck!

COLD?? heck its going to be 60 degrees here tomorrrow.. I suppose you might find that still cold for ya down there. I think the water temp is in the 40's though. I have some friends that surf into the winter, but not me.. I just go to Florida as I will be next week, probably surf at Ponce Inlet at New Smyrna. Thanks for the motor advice. Not sure what I'll choose when the time comes. Was thinking the new E-TECs, since A) it's new and should be problem free for many years, B) supposedly good gas mileage, who knows where gas will be headed in price in the future. I think I would need to but the 20" shaft version.. right?

[bw1969]

I was running a 1986 Verado with a Johnson 115 a few years ago. The motor had some porting work and a low water pickup. I mounted it on a 4 in. manual jackplate and it would turn a 24 small ear chopper 7200 rpms. I ran it with a couple of different motors including a 2.0l merc 150 an OMC 150 and175 v-6. The v-4 seemed to be the best for that boat. I'd probably still have it if it looked as good as yours. I just sold it last spring with the OMC 150 on it. Whatever you decide to power it with I strongly suggest a lwp The boat handled much better.

[JUPITER PULSARE]

20" shaft would be correct for that boat. 25" would be too tall and raise your center of gravity....15", if you found one may work with a jack plate.

[nhsurfer]

I was running a 1986 Verado with a Johnson 115 a few years ago. The motor had some porting work and a low water pickup. I mounted it on a 4 in. manual jackplate and it would turn a 24 small ear chopper 7200 rpms. I ran it with a couple of different motors including a 2.0l merc 150 an OMC 150 and175 v-6. The v-4 seemed to be the best for that boat. I'd probably still have it if it looked as good as yours. I just sold it last spring with the OMC 150 on it. Whatever you decide to power it with I strongly suggest a lwp The boat handled much better.

I saw your boat listed on the buy and sell forum. Yours was about the only other one I saw. You've got me leaning toward the V4 again. I'd like to at least get 60-65mph. Do you know what you were getting for speed with the 115? I wish Bombardier made a 130-140HP. What is an lwp? Do you feel the v4 is better in terms of handling?

Thanks!

[nhsurfer]

Thanks Jupiter!

[bw1969]

I'm not sure what speed I was getting, my speedo never worked but when I calculated it I figured around 70. A lwp is a low water pickup (nosecone). The Merc seemed like a nice motor but I'm an OMC guy. There are a lot af parts around for those v-4's and they can be made to run really well. The biggest problem I had with the v-4 was finding a big enough prop. This is the 6th year I've been running my motor since the rebuild and it is running strong, I have it on an Allison GS temporarily and it will push it to 62mph. It was a great motor on the Verado though and if you set the boat up right you should get low to mid 60's without any problem.