MM Brand: GatorTail
Horsepower: Stock 35
Boat Brand: Excel
Boat Size: 1860
Model: 1860SWV86OFP
Boat Layout: Shallow Water V front Open Floor Plan, Single Box. 4 seat bases, high deck.

Speeds | Shallow Water: (2.2 feet) 24.6 MPH @ ~3650 RPMs
Speeds | Deep Water: (4.5 feet) 24 Mph @ ~3650 RPMs (Max RPM at end of day flashing on tach was 3710)
Total Boat Load With Gear Etc: 3 ppl, Myself (170lbs), buddy ( 240lbs) buddy's gf maybe ( 130lbs). 5 gallons of gas. 1 anchor, 1 battery, 15 pounds of this and that.
Conditions Tested In: 7 mph tail wind, on a regular old lake.

Comments:
Boat was purchased 2 months ago new, but as a 2012 model year. The motor arrived saturday at Wisconsin's GT dealer. Was finally hoisted and affixed to the transom this morning. Motor is a new 2015 GTR 35 completely stock. To make a long problematic story short, I contacted the boat factory for something, provided the serial number on the hull. Well according to their computer records this boat is a F86 style but without the .125 5086 aluminum hull. Well researching the model number before purchase, then the assurance of the sales folk, and receiving paperwork and a title that states F86, I had no reason to believe it wasn't a F86 with .125 5086. Can't imagine how a boat can have 1860swv86 on a title and plated to the boat but not contain 5086 aluminum.. Can't imagine how .125 is an upgrade. So I'm anticipating a pissing match but have been told the dealer and manufacturer have a plan to work this out. Lots of those can't imagine's here but I knew who I was dealing with, so imagine that to me with a nice kick in the pants so far
Back to the numbers: For conservative purposes, let's say it is .100 5052 aluminum. Website states 825 pounds for the exact rig with OFP. (the .125 is 860 lbs btw) then add the 260+ lbs of GT on the back and it sits well over a half ton. For the maiden voyage I decided I would TRY to abide by the 5-10 hour Briggs break in rules. Well I only cracked her 3/4 open for maybe a total of a minute thirty for my tests. Couldn't help but Punch WOT then back off 5 seconds later. As a result I didn't get to play with the trim to find exact sweet spot. Probably could run her harder but would rather follow that 5 hour rule. Wound up putting 2 hrs on the motor via the tach. Seems like it counts time a little faster then those Swiss folks but I won't complain as I await 5 hours Boat handled well, drafted water very well and idled effortlessly through a stretch of 6 inch silt bottomed water. Overall two hours in, I am impressed with the setup, hull material fiasco asisde. This is my Second surface drive mud motor and proudly my first GT. Customer service at both GT and Johnson's boats and motors in Montello, WI were top notch. The Motor is a monster. Get's on plane with half throttle and very quick, deep and shallow. Love the 30 inch outdrive and 3 blade prob. She is smooth. Looking forward to updating the progress with it all as the weeks go by. I have a Mikuni setup all ready to go in the garage when the time is right. Likely to eventually mod it up a bit too. May wait for around 50 hours, especially once I really see how it handles the different loads.

Thats a nice set up. Hope those speeds come up when you get some hrs on it.

I just got a 1851vF86 TGB. I thought all 86's were .125 btm. Sounds to me like you got an F4 with a 86 sticker. Where did you get your boat weights from. Mine shows to be 740lbs without the motor. Have you spoke with Dave Reynolds? He has always been helpful to me for Excel & MB.

That's a F86 transom for sure.

BDUBYA- I found the boat weights from the excel boats PDF online after google searching for it. That PDF brochure listed all the different setups and models with their weights. http://www.excelboats.net/EXCELCATALOG2014%205.pdf
I spoke with Dave as he was the bearer of bad news for this all

nice rig!

I see you found the shipping crate makes a great engine stand too.

Is your boat stamped .100? I believe mine has a stamp .125 on it. How did you find out it wasnt .125?

good looking rig. That must be a small guy to be able to hide behind the motor/

how come you were not at Goose Island with this rig - would have been nice to have another GTR and Battleship there

I paid $9800 TTL. Dont know the price dif in aluminum. Never seen that option. How did you end up with a 2012 model to begin with? I had to wait 6 weeks for them to make mine. I'm very happy with it but if your running hard you won't like the bottom you got. My buddy's F4 dented up in 1 season. But he hit every stump that could be hit hauling 4-5 people and gear.

F86

I'm glad to hear they are gonna make it right. Really it's the salesman that I would have been pissed off at. I'm sure somewhere in the conversation about the boat you mentioned the bottom and he didn't inform you of the difference. I got the 51" because I already had a trailer which is 1' short now and I run a lot of stumps. Squeezed between a few last year running at night that I do t think a 54" would have passed. The new boat rides like a dream and looks dam good. I hope it all turns around for ya quickly so you can enjoy the product you thought you had.