What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Mercury?
 

I'm looking to repower my 20 foot center console SeaCraft. I think 150 hp should do nice. What would be the lowest hp to go with? 175 should be the max. Should it have carborators or DI ? The fuel additives are a big proublem. I'm looking at a 2003 Mercury 150 xr6 2 stroke, any good?
Also does anyone know what the fuel tanks are made out of, I was told if it's fiberglass get rid of it. Any information would be great. Thanks

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Mercury?
 

i had a 150 evinrude and it was plenty of motor for the boat. but it was tired so i repowered with a 200 merc. havent gotten that one dialed in yet cuz it has an overheating problem. my fuel tank is aluminum and its 48 gallons..

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Mercury?
 

Thanks for the information. Is your boat still covered by insurance if something happens, because the boat is only suppose to have a max hp of 175? I see a lot of guys put these big engines on these small boats. I'll go with something between 115 to 150 hp. I see the newer engine are rated at the prop. Thanks again.

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Mercury?
 

I have a 150 as well and I plan on going with a 200 when I repower...

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Merc
 

Check with your insurance company regarding the hp limit for your boat. I have a 1972 20' Seafari OB model with an very odd original sticker that says Max HP: 240.
I have a 150 Merc that pushes it to 50 mph lightly loaded, and cruises at 34 heavily loaded. How much faster do you need?

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Merc
 

I am running a carbed 1999 Johnson 175, after a 1980 something 200 Black Max. Merc. was rigged to explode as I purchased her back in 1995. Pretty sure I'm breaking 50 with a light load. Sucks for trolling down wind but I would not try a 4 stroke on my '79 MA. Very happy with the 175. Part II.

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Merc
 

Maybe the older SeaCrafts can handle more hp. I don't have a sticker on my boat. 1975 I looked up the rating on the new boats. I guess 240 hp would bring it up to hull speed.
All information and opinions are appreciated. Thanks

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Merc
 

My 1970 SF was rated for 225HP. At todays standards that would be a rocket!! I currently run a carbed (tricked -out)
1998 200 HP Merc. I carry 80 gallons in a custom aluminum tank. Top speed with a light load is 62 mph. It gets a little spooky above 55 mph, it starts to chine walk on the trim tabs, by the way which are 12 x 24 Bennett's.
I have friends that have 175HP and they are more then satisified. A 150HP at todays standards would be more than sufficient.
Good Luck, Ken

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Merc
 

I have an Evinrude 85 HP on my 1970 20CC. WOT is 34 lightly loaded and 28 heavily loaded. Other than go really fast, it does everything you would ever want.

I am looking at an Evinrude 115 eTec for repower.

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Merc
 

From my experience, a lot of weight should be placed on dealer support availability in the area where you’ll be keeping/using the boat.

Where I live, Suzuki and Yamaha dealers are not nearly as plentiful as BRP and (especially) Merc dealers.

The internet makes things easier if you have an outboard you can work on and you can wait a couple of days on getting parts, but it’s still easier if you can make a 10min run to the dealership to get that part that broke on Saturday morning that’ll keep you from loosing the whole day, or weekend.

Trey

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Merc
 

I hear that Evinrude 115 eTec is a great engine. Especially with the alcohol added into the fuel today. How does everyone feel about carb. engines? Thanks ????

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Merc
 

Check out the E-Tec challenge videos here, pretty impressive!

http://www.evinrude.com/en-US/

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Merc
 

Yeah. I have looked at that a few times. Looks like Evinrude's E-tec is the best out there. I like that fuel injected 2 stroke 115 hp. NICE

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Merc
 

MY 83 MAX HP PLATE SAID 200 HP (I THINK), i HAD A '96 200 HP MARINER ON THAT ONE AND ON MY 1984 I HAD A '02 225 YAMMI

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Merc
 

[QUOTE]
I currently run a carbed (tricked -out)
1998 200 HP Merc. Top speed with a light load is 62 mph. [QUOTE]
. what prop you runnin there no bones

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Merc
 

I might be buying a Mirage plus 21 pitch, this week end I will be water testing the boat and borrowing that same prop to try out.

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Merc
 

I used to be partial to carbed engines - no chance of clogged injectors, etc. although you still need to use Stabil or equivalent to avoid fuel breakdown. Now that I have a DFI motor however, I realize that it's sealed fuel system (except for fuel tank) prevents a lot of fuel oxidation, etc. Also had a clogged jet on my old '75 115, which can be fatal on a premix 2S due to oil starvation. Fortunately I caught it during a WOT sea trial I did while preparing for a Bahamas trip, but it was subtle - just minor surging after about 20 sec @ WOT. I might not have caught it had I been running a bigger motor! :eek:

I also like the 115 E-TEC and might have bought one instead of the 150 if they had been in production at the time. Ethanol is a whole 'nother issue - BRP says the E-TEC's can run 10% ethanol, but I think the danger is that if you get much H2O in fuel tank, the ethanol will combine with the water and separate out of the gas, so you'll lose a bunch of octane and risk destruction from detonation. As for motor SIZE, if you consider that the 20' hull was designed in mid 60's for the "big" 275-300 lb outboards available at the time, then you realize that using of a much heavier motor will tend to screw up the balance and self-bailing ability of the boat.

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Merc
 

[QUOTE]
[QUOTE]
I currently run a carbed (tricked -out)
1998 200 HP Merc. Top speed with a light load is 62 mph. 21 inch LaserII with a heavy rake.
The engine was new and Second Effort, Bob's Machine, and
a Factory Mercury guru all had a hand in tweaking her up.
Ken

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Merc
 

Sounds like you know what you are talking about. Good advise. Thank you.

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Merc
 

Gotta stay at least 150 to be happy, I do think the Johnson carbed motors are still availible and a good deal cheaper. That being said depending on your travel distance the $$ saved may buy alot of gas.

Glassman please create a thread after you test that prop as I'm interested in one as well.

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Merc
 

I've compiled a couple of spreadsheets comparing specs on the new motors and some performance data from prop trials on my boat that I can send if you want to send me your e-mail address.

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Merc
 

[QUOTE]
[QUOTE]
Thanks I'm thinkin maybe trying a 23 pitch also but I want to be able to turn high rpm with full load so I may not even try it. Thanks

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Merc
 

Fiberglassman, I can tell you with what was done to my engine before it even saw water was extensive!!
The intake was drilled, dremeled & polished,
the carbs were re-jetted, reed valves were replaced with
Boyson reeds. The lower unit was re-geared, the heads were
shaved, etc, etc, etc. I still only turn 5800rpm WOT.
I did not do the low water pick-up from Bob's, We felt there would be to much blow out, out of the hole. The cavatation plate sits 1 3/4 inches above the bottom of the hull. After all these years I still only have 650 hours on the engine, knock on wood, No problems. Fuel economy is good if I can keep from standing on the throttle.
My problem is I love speed and there is always a boat
that tests me from time to time. I have the top end when I need it. It surprises some of the go fast boats when they try to blow by me...... See ya, Ken

PS: As Mr. Mosely stated at Anclote these hulls were designed to be run hard and fast, and they do live up to that statement!!!!!

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Merc
 

Ken,

Maybe I am not following you here, but how can you run the engine with the cavitation plate so high? Under usual circumstances isn't it usually close to level with the bottom of the keel?

Are you able to do this because of your prop from outer space?

Peter

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Merc
 

Peter, the norm is 1 inch above (prefered) to 1 inch below
the bottom of the hull. We squeezed it to prevent blow-out
Do not forget my tabs are 9 x 24 inch Bennett's.
The only thing in the water when I'm WOT is the tabs and the boat is chine walking, believe me it gets spooky.
The last thing I want to do is go end over end.
The "Bones" does best when there is a 2 ft chop on full plane. If you look at my T-Top my fabricator lowered the leading edge. Just to keep me from going airborne.
I was lucky enough to have been in a Marina situation in our old warehouse in Ormomd Beach for over 15 years.
I was surrounded by experts in Mercs and Aluminum fabriation. The old warehouse was 10,000 sq ft of nothing but rehabs on all types of boats. The old warehouse which was built in the late 40's had succumbed to dry wood termites and had to come down, hence the 5 acres I sit on now to house my collection of restored boats.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...4/100_0785.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...Picture925.jpg
Which includes a 1964 16ft LoneStar, 1974 14ft Lucraft, 1977 15 Whaler, 20ft SeaCraft SF, and a 1969 12 ft Starcraft.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...Picture618.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...Picture008.jpg
These 2 were the last redo's before demolition. Ken

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Merc
 

Ken,

Thanks. As you probably know I have twin 200 Yamaha 0X66's on a 23 footer & full flotaiton bracket. Also, I have 12" x 12" Bennett tabs, each with two actuators. The boat came with SWS SS 21" pitch x 14 and 7/8 diameter props. At the sea trial the surveyor told me to move up the engines 1 to 2 notches, plus consider going to 19" pitch props.

The ride was not too good in the beginning. I pulled the boat out of the water and verified that the tabs were not working. I fixed them (low voltage on the fuse block). Also, I went to a 19" pitch x 15.25 diameter prop.

These two things made a big difference. The ride got a lot better. The only negative is that while the RPM's went up (from 5200 to 5400) the WOT went down from about 52 MPH to 50 MPH. Also, gas consumption got a little worse.

next thing I got greedy and raised the engines two notches. Seems to be at least one notch two much as I am spinning up water when i am on plane. I am going to throw on the old props and do a couple of other things before I move the engines back down either one or two notches.

Right now my cavitaiton plates are about 1.5 inches above the bottom of the hull (as they line up to the hull & not to the bottom of the keel). I thought that this would be fine as they are two feet behind the hull.

Just looking for answers & help.

Thanks

Peter

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Merc
 

I'm currently painting a 20 SC in my shop so my boat is there and the customers is also, so when I inspect his boat the cavitation plate is 1.5 inches below the keel and only useing a 17 pitch prop, its a 2003 yamaha 200 I told him I think he is plowing, he said he only gets 41 mph at wide open, now he wants me to water test my boat also, so he can raise his engine if I get better numbers, by luck my cavitation plate is 1.75 inches above the keel so I may be on the money for the test.

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Merc
 

PeterB
Have you looked at your cavitation plates while running,
while running my plates are about 1 inch above the water
when i had the 200's on before the 250's i was seeing
56 mph and 5800rpm's you could still be to low.
but make shure you have someone trustworthy driving while you look

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Merc
 

Hope to hang my new 130 Yamaha 2S on my 1976 20SF sometime soon and was planning on going by the suggestion Father posted some weeks ago as a starting point: extend the outer edges of the cav plate perpendicular to the transom and set the height of the plate at the point where those lines intersect the bottom of the hull. Pro's and con's comments to that approach?

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Merc
 

I am watching this thread. Hopefully soon I will be able to add input with the 225's on hydr. jack plates on my 23 arm. bracket. I've got a mirage plus on the rghthand and a mirage on the lefthnd motor. This is a whole different animal than the 18. I did some bus. with a guy from Gen Prop. here in town, and will be working with him. Thanks for the info. everyone

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Merc
 

Evinrude Ficht Ram Injection 150hp two Stroke Any good? Someone told me to stay away from the ficht motors. ????
Thanks

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Merc
 

An engineer co-worker/friend of mine worked at the OMC test center in Stuart in the mid-late 90's. He said from about 2000 on, after BRP took over, they were good motors. BRP fixed the quality problems, scrapped a bunch of parts that were not up to spec, and also fixed some injector and computer problems. If you search the Hulltruth web site you'll find some threads on the Fichts.

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Merc
 

Outclaws, avoid the XR Mercs as they use the gearcase from the inline 6 motors and are designed to be used on very lightweight bass boats. They're not strong enough to push a heavy boat. FICHT motors are okay, but nuthin' to write home about. Avoid the early ones, though.
Go with fuel injection if you can. Despite all the eTec press, I still think the Merc Optimax system has a better reputation for reliability. All in all, both the Opti and the eTec are very good motors. It boils down to what you want to spend.

Here are what I find to be the best current prices.

New Merc Optimax 150 25" is $10K at Ed's Marine
New Merc 150 EFI 25" is $9.3K at Ed's Marine
New Merc Verado 150 25" is $12.8K at Marinemax
New Evinrude eTec 150 25" is $11K at Ed's.
New Johnson EFI 150 25" is $8K at Ed's Marine
New Suzuki 150 4stroke 25" is $9K at Ed's Marine
New Yamaha 150 25" $7.5K at Ed's Marine
New Yamaha V-MAX 150 20" HPDI is $9.3K at Ed's Marine
New Yamaha 150 HP 4-STROKE EFI 25" is $10K at Ed's Marine

Note: You can get a new 2005 250hp Verado leftover at Pro-Line boats for mfg. cost + 5%, or about $10.8K. Last I heard, they still had about 6 or 7 of them. I got my '06 90 Optimax from Pro Line for over $1k LESS than Ed's, and $3K below list, and they got rid of old excess inventory. It's a win-win deal.

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Merc
 

MERCURY BABY :D

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Merc
 

well that's good and scientific!.... Engines are looked at in different ways dependent upon where you are. Yami's are king in the Carolinas, OMC seems more popular up North than other places, Etc. Bottom line: most any engine will serve you well if you use it within the parameters it was designed for. I've had OMC, Yami, Tohatsu, Suzy, etc. Haven't had a single problem with any of them.

Re: What is the best outboard, Honda, Yamaha, Mercury?
 

Well thanks to everyone. I got a 2003, 115 Johnson, with less then 100 hrs on it. Runs like new.
WOT is 32 knots @54k, or around 37 mph. cruise in the mid to hi 20's 30 mph @43k Seems to fit the boat. Not a screamer but respectable. I think Potter would be happy. It's time to go fishing. Thanks again. Love this site, ClassicSeaCraft.com