I bought a 1987 Hydrostream 17 or 18 feet long?

Question

Took it our for a ride, yeah it's cold, and the thing jumped up almost out of the water. It has a 175hp Mercury. Is this normal?

Answer 1

Yes it is if you push full throttle on take off. Need to ease into throttle after you start to feel the boat move forward. If not it will always jump up or plane out really fast. Also adjust your trim on the motor for proper planing of the boat ( where it runs smoothly on top of the water). Also don't push into the throttle to slow either or you'll hear some grinding of gears in the lower unit ( bottom end ) of the motor.

I hope you have plenty of years of service from your new ride.
P.S.
After you run it out on the lake, disconnect the fuel lines and let the engine idle until it dies out. Runs the fuel out of the carburetor's and they won't gum up. Also, put in some fuel stabilizer/ additive for fuels, keeps the fuel from turning bad.
And if you run it in salt water, be sure to flush the motor with the ear muffs connected to a water hose to clean the salt water out of the engine.
hope this helps.

Answer 2

Yes if you pushed full throttle!Just like a car slow throttle should be used......I highly Recommend someone with experience give you some lessons..and taking a boating course......Learning to boat is not the half of it.....Here locally a pro racer of 30 years lost his boat and crew and his life trying to move his boat to another harbor when the wind kicked up.......