explorer 166 ecoboost
- Thread starter dixopr
- Start date
neilsleder
Active VIP Member
See a few go. Looked like they cruised pretty good. Explorer boats work really good but not the toughest boat. You ever sit in a 166. I wanted one till I went and sat in it. Crazy low sides and low windshield. You can’t stand up and drive.
ABMax24
Active VIP Member
Do you know what they go for? Coyote builds a 19' ecoboost powered boat that are going for around $85k.
neilsleder
Active VIP Member
Priced out a 166 three years ago pretty loaded up for explorer standards. It had a 4.3DI with AT-309 full uhmw and was $64000. Now I bet it would be 70-75 with an eco boost.
ABMax24
Active VIP Member
That would be about the cheapest boat on the market.
I think that hull would be perfect for the 250 rotax.
neilsleder
Active VIP Member
Not a fan of that rotax. Pump is weak.
ABMax24
Active VIP Member
Only issue I've ever had with mine was the intake grate bars bending to allow a 1.5" diameter rock to get stuck in the impeller. In 120hrs I've only ever put one impeller into the pump, and that's because I wanted a steeper pitch to pull the rpm's down. The first one is still on the shelf ready to go.
Parts are cheap for them anyway, I can do a wear ring and impeller for $500, just rebuilding a hammy 212 impeller usually costs double that.
The only thing I don't like about them is the carbon mechanical shaft seal. It's by far the most prone part to fail, particularly when in sandy water.
new indyguy
Active member
Buddy had one for about a month. Took it back because of ecoboost engine issues and the hulls and sides are pretty thin. There was some quality control issues with this boat also. I think the Explorer boat has its place - but on the boney, skinny long trips - its not in the same class as the Big 3 (Firefish, Outlaw and Bratt). The Coyote also has some issues - hull is not tough enough. It is a light boat - but it might cost you in other areas from what I have seen and heard so far - just my opinion.
He is now on a Firefish Piranna with the 2020 Ecoboost motor and a lot happier.
mur190
Active VIP Member
yea they have a old school 80's marathon vibe. pretty sure kehoe had a nip in hull design as well.
neilsleder
Active VIP Member
The 186 was designed by Roger. That’s what explorer told me. Then they built the 166 and 196 off that.
- Thread starter
- #12
We have some deeper silty rivers and pea gravel rivers up here in the NWT and do some long, long trips. A guy here has one of their open 16 foot boats and it does well but a closed bow, more power and speed would be helpful. I have a big 22 sidewinder (westcan) that I run and am very happy with it, but when the water gets low the idea of pushing it to deeper water is..... Yes I've beached it and know what its like.
Last edited:
neilsleder
Active VIP Member
You won’t like the 166 for long trips they only have 85litre tanks. And when I asked if I can get a bigger tank Dave told me just to use Jerry cans.
- Thread starter
- #14
Yeah, I don't want one. Sorry if I gave that impression. I was interesting in what the ecoboost runs like in a light hull. I'm very happy with my beast of a boat. I'd like to eventually sway the 350 out for something bigger but I'll kill this engine first. Frankly I'm hopeful that indmar make a marine version of the 7.3 Ford.
ABMax24
Active VIP Member
Honestly I think you are going the wrong way. Most everyone these days is headed to lighter engines in jet boats, less weight means less power and less fuel required to push it. Being the reason the aluminum block GM engines have caught on so well, a comparable Ford raptor motor makes equivalent and according to some more hp than the GM engines in marinized trim. But the weight of the cast iron block seems to sway builders and customers away. The cast iron block 7.3 would be the same.
pfi572
Active VIP Member
LS3 6.2 DI would be my choice hands down .
I wouldn’t consider the Indmar from my findings . Eco or any other from them .
Do your research .
I wouldn’t consider the Indmar from my findings . Eco or any other from them .
Do your research .
NoBrakes!
Active VIP Member
LS ain't DI... LT series....
pfi572
Active VIP Member
Similar threads
