help with motor selection
 

I have been doing some book work on my 72 Grady project, trying to plan ahead for the motor install, but I'm stuck on the single or dual outboard delima. My plan is to try and get at least 250 h.p on this transom, its rated for 245 on the tag. I know once I install the 1 1/2 coosa bluewater in her she will hold alittle more. I have given a lot of thought about the weight of the bracket also, most i have seen range from 115-140 lbs. depending on the application. I will stay away from a heavy 4 stroke if i have to, but i don't want to sacrifice eff. and speed tooo much! Right now the boat weighs about 2400 lbs with the inline 6 and OMC outdrive, it is a walk around cuddy cabin, and is built really, really well to accept a bracket. Any Help?

Re: help with motor selection
 

A single DF-250 Suzzy. :D

Re: help with motor selection
 

I know you run dual suzzies on the X-SHARK wart, but makes you chose the single 250?

Re: help with motor selection
 

240lbs less weight. I belive the fuel milage may improve more also with the single.

Re: help with motor selection
 

That would also be my choice. The Suzi runs a larger gearcase, larger dia. prop, and oil bath chain drive camshaft. Both it and tha Yam. 250 4s run variable valve timing but the Yam. has a rubber belt. Just my $.02

Re: help with motor selection
 

All the high pressure injection outboards out there right now- Merc Optimax, Yami HPDI, E-TEC, are a lot lighter, cheaper, and get out of the hole faster than a 4 stroke- If you really check the gas milege numbers, the 4 strokes dont beat them by that much- in my mind not enough to spend the extra $$$$.

Re: help with motor selection
 

The Yamaha HDPI would not be on any list of mine.

You forgot to add $15 to $20 for oil for every 50gal of gas you burn. That add's a bunch to operation cost's.

You've never been in a Suzuki powered boat have you?

Most all people that make statement's about poor holeshot are talking about 4 stroke Yamaha's. You have to pry the imfo out of them usually as to what manafacture motor they have seen perform.

It's in the gear ratio and size prop they swing on a Suzzy that gives just one advantage over other 4 stroke's. There are more.

Re: help with motor selection
 

I paid $8400 (New, with rigging and all guages) for a 426# 4-stroke engine that gets an honest 5.2 mpg (as of an hour ago).
Somebody would have a tough time convincing me I should have a smoking 2-stroke on the transom becuase they are 20#s lighter and have mileage that is "almost" as good as a 4-stroke.

Re: help with motor selection
 

I have never seen a puff of smoke from my 225 Opti- looked at 225 4 stroke Yami- was $4,000 more and weighs almost 100 lbs more- also got 5yr warranty from Mercury. Yami gets 1-2 less GPH than my Opti. To me- not worth the extra $$$$

Re: help with motor selection
 

Timing and local certainly has a lot to do with price and selection, but this past spring, the local dealer gave me a price for a new 150 E-Tec (installed) that was 6K more than 2 local dealer's installed prices for a 2006, 140 4S Suzuki w/ a 6 year warranty.

Re: help with motor selection
 

I also got a monsterous quote on an ETEC 250 I had a Rude Ficht so all the wiring gauges would plug and play and Suzuki 250 4 stroke installed with gauges,new cables,controls, binnacle etc sales tax was almost 3gs cheaper :eek: with the gimme 6

Re: help with motor selection
 

Dearl - Why not keep it an I/O? It's a four stroke and provides the full transom you desire. If the engine and outdrive work . . . why not keep it?

Re: help with motor selection
 

To be honest, I have been over this alot with alot of people that have been around boats alot longer than me, and with all that help, i still can't make up my mind.I would consider going to something like the smaller 4.3 V6, but i would want a better drive than a omc. Still up in the air, but i've got plenty of time! ;)

Re: help with motor selection
 

For what it is worth, I have a good friend who has a 1966 20 ft Bertram which he has had since it was new. For the past 15 or so years, he's been running the 4.3 v6 with mercruiser sterndrive. She runs very sweet, quiet, and uses WAY less fuel than I did with a 130 Johnson pushing an 18 ft, much lighter boat. From what I have heard, the omc sterndrives are close to junk. I don't know what the conversion would cost or even it it is possible. Also, I think if you run in saltwater, a heat exchanger is a necessity.