Probably a safer idea than what I used to have, a 14ft jon boat with a 50 hp merc. Man that thing was squrilly when you slid it around a corner at WOT

Because of 150 HP limits for many tournaments during the era there were some stout stock 150 engines available. An example is the Mercury 150 XR6 that sported a 200 block and larger carbs than a 175. These engines were marketed as 150 HP and there for legal. I too am one of those guys that runs a 150 on a 21' boat. My blue 21' STROKER with the inline 4 150hp Mercury Four Stroke is a familiar sight at Falcon and runs down the lake just fine. This boat use to have a modified 225 Venom on the jack plate but it drank gas and scared the wildlife!

like this?

Stroker is a 1999. Mercury 150 4 Stroke is 2013 with short shaft. RPM range is around 5800 for the inline 4. The NEW Mercury V6 and V8 Four Stroke engines have a higher rev limit from what I have been told. I built up my Stroker to fish and not burn much fuel. It has a large wide front deck and being 70 years old that comes into play. Yes, I do believe you could achieve 70 mph in my boat with proper prop set up and lake conditions.

Maybe he wanted to know what it was like to ride in a Ranger?