20' Eliminator ???

[ctdboy]

Does anyone have experience with this hull. 89 Eliminator (sport tunnel) I am looking at this boat but can not find any info on it. just over 20', tunnels shaped like an eliminator edge 23 with a 235 Johnson O/B 10in set back.

Any opinions would be appreciated. I may have a deal worked to pick it up. Big questions are

Will my wife kill me because the thing rides like hell ?

Is it going to play well enough for a small family on board all the time, doing tube pulling, kneeboarding and skiing duties.

Is it fast enough to be fun.

Our prevoius boats have been a 17' 140 I/O and a big block, Jet Day Cruiser.

Thanks for any input
ctdboy

[ctdboy]

Forgot to ask what it should be worth$$. The interior will need redone in the next year or two.

ctdboy

[300x Stoker]

I could look in my old Powerboats. I think they tested one but it sounds like you're asking what a nice, good running one would be like. Kind of hard to say what that particular boat would be like.

I'd say it would be fairly heavy and slow with that 235. Depending on how they made the setback it could be a great family ski boat or not so good at low speed at all without changing some things.

I would be surprised if it didn't mash through the chop pretty good. I would also be surprised if it packed any air and went fast. Eliminators last a long time if they get a little TLC and can be one of the better values in used boats.

:confused:

[Riverratt]

do you have any better pictures of the motor. On a quick glance it looks more like a looper than a crossflow.

[LakeRacer99]

Isn't that a Liberty? Search for Elinminator Liberty on here...

[Sam Baker]

Nope, it's a Sport Tunnel. They are fairly rough riding and have a fairly high floor (not much cockpit depth) due to the tunnels. The sponsons and middle pad are fairly wide and flat. Also, at high speeds, the thing crabs a lot and tends to slide a little sideways. I was never a big fan of them. I actually drove one with a V8 on it when my Dad worked for Eliminator...that was a crazy boat.

[ctdboy]

Called Eliminator they said it is called a Super Sport Tunnel(SST) They still make it for Stoker. ??? Is this the good or bad Johnson I am an outboard idiot. ??

[ctdboy]

here is the engine I hope this time, well I cant get the pics to go says 235 vro is that a looper ?? or crossflow??

[Riverratt]

235 is a crossflow but from a distance the motor in the pics looks like it could be a 200 or 225 looper.

[ctdboy]

here they are

[Riverratt]

That is a 225 looper.

[ctdboy]

The big question is ???

is that decent.. the guy wants $4500 for the whole thing would I be a sucker

[Riverratt]

The 225 looper is a good motor as is the crossflow. The looper has greater potential for more power and is a newer design. The 235 was powerhead horsepower where as the 225 is propshaft horsepower. The price sounds real good if it is in good condition

[Flatlander]

I have the vee version of that boat. its called a 20 sport. i have owned it since new, 1987. it has been a great family boat, lots of room and pulls skiers with no problem. mine had an omc 225 originally and it ran about 70mph. i now have a home built promax and it runs about 75mph and can still pull skiers.i'm guessing the tunnel should be faster. it rides nice, but it is a vee so i'm not sure about the tunnel version. sounds like a good price if the hull is in good shape. i don't think i will ever part with mine because it such a great boat! good luck

[ChrisXS2003]

I thought it looked a lot like a Stoker. I have a 22SST (as in Stoker Sport Tunnel) with twin 260's.

I wonder if the bottom is the same....?

Racer would certainly know

Chris

[300x Stoker]

The Stoker that you are thinking of used the Eliminator Sprint deck. One guy said it was a Liberty. It looks like it has the Liberty deck. I'd like to see a picture of the bottom at the transom. I'm guessing you can't just go for a boat ride in the thing and get all your questions answered???

Sounds like Sam is the only one with first hand experience with them. And he says wide on the pad and sponsons so it hasn't got the Stoker bottom either from that description.

[ChrisXS2003]

Yeah, I'd like to see a picture of the transom, too. Wonder if it has a step in the center pod and sponsons like the 22 Stoker. Also, 10 inches of setback on this boat....wonder if the transom is notched.

Chris

[Racemore]

Yes it is a good if the hull is sound,the floor is solid,the trailer is decent and the motor has good,even compression,decent interior and the most important,YOU like it.Nothing else matters. Don't know why your BIG question couldn't get answered.:cool:

[300x Stoker]

The only thing I found was a test on a IO version. AME 4000 resin with Balsa core. They thought it was pretty roomy since it doesn't have a flat floor and the center pod is quite wide. Makes a great family boat for skiing they said. It handled great and was 5 to 8 mph faster than the V bottom version would be. They got just over 70mph (71/74) with a 320hp small block mercruiser.

[racer]

TOTALLY different boat than any of our models, it does have a wide flat ctr pod.

[ctdboy]

Here are the pics a couple of you wanted to see. The trade I was working on with the guy fell apart. I still may give him the cash?? the deck needs a fresh Gel coat and the interior will probably survive one more year.

[300x Stoker]

I like the way the trailer has a sponson support. That poor thing sure hasn't had much love. If you can't do the work yourself and have a good time doing it, I'm not sure his asking price is such a good deal.