Repower time
 

I had a ring let loose in my 1989 200 Merc and destroyed the center hole on the starboard side. Looks too bad to even consider fixing and it is 19 years old. Big question is which engine. I priced a 225 Yamaha,dealer thinks it is made out of gold, wants 23K out the door rigged. Checked w/2 merc dealers, they were withing $50 of each other at $16K on 2008 Merc 225 30" Opti-Max and then priced the Honda 225 HP w/30" leg, $20k out the door rigged.
I knew the days would come, but was hoping for more long gievity reports on the E-Tec's and they are just as pricey as the Honda.
I can get a 5 year warranty on the Merc if I order before the 15th of April and Honda offers 5 years on all thier motors.
Any thoughts would be welcome as I have less than 2 weeks to decide.
The boat is a 1989 SeaCraft 23WA w/twin cut out on soild transom.

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Check out these prices and let us know how they compare

web page

Also, I have seen some great deals on used engines. Do you ever think of going this route or not?

Peter

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Ed's prices are way better on the Yamaha, about $5000. Our local Dealer is way out of line. They happen to be the owner of SeaSport boats mfg, so I don't think they care if they do a repower.
The Mercury price is just $700 dollars lower at ED's. At least if I went w/the Merc opti-max, I can use my guages and props. I guess that is the bad part of being way up here in the Pacific Northwest. Not enough competition.
The local Suzuki dealer happens to be a one man operation and he is in the hospital in bad shape w/cancer at present.

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I believe my next will be Suzi 300. We probably have a better dealer network here though. Sounds like you'll end up with Merc.

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My local dealer matched Ed's price on the 150 E-Tec, and included a 7 year warranty. Absolutely zero problems in 2 years and about 120 hrs. Am still averaging over 5 mpg; used about 1 gal of XD100 synthetic oil in about last 60 hrs. Also consider that most of the E-Tec's are about 10% under-rated on HP, i.e., the 150 is really a 165, and the 225 is really a 240. (Data from the HP/Torque vs rpm in BRP brochures.)

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I would go with an ETEC if I could afford new, the 300hp is 2 star rated and the lower hp models are 3 star rated. The four strokes are going to have a hard time keeping up with these emissions. Plus the ETECS are lighter and seem to be getting very good reviews.

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priced eds at thier weekend spring sale, prices were average but installation labor was terrible, 12900 on a 250 suzi but 2700 to 3200 installation.Bayracer marine in NC was 13900 installed with 6 year warr for the same 250,Eds said they couldnt touch that. Les

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There a guy selling a pair of 300 zukes on THT......with low hours. He gets factory refreshed every year.

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Gary,

I am a Suzuki guy all the way but if you have little or no dealer support than go elsewhere. The Opti 225 seems like the best deal and they have alot of power. The only downside is rust and fadeing. My Suzu's are 2001 and the paint shines like it's 2 years old. No rust anywhere, just 1 or 2 small paint bubbles on the leg. Anyhow, my friend has an '02 opti and the cowling is faded worse than a 1977 fiat and it has rust everywhere. My motors are 3 star so I disagree with the above statements on meeting emmissions.

It seems like perhaps shopping around some other Yami dealers would be a good idea. In the long run resale will be much better IMO with a 4 stroke. Mine are nearly flawless after 7 years, Ask Snookered, he was blown away by the power, smoothness and lack of noise on my little 115's. I get 25kt cruise at 10gph and 4000 rpm and 38-40kt wide open depending on load at 5950 swinging 24 SS props. ;).

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Capt Brian.....I like the idea of using twin 115s.....
I have a Tsunami to power and I have a Seamark twin bracket.

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I located another Suzuki dealer in Blaine, WA. This is right at the Canadian border crossing. Called them and talked a little bit, they are new dealership, bought somebody out because of a line of Boats they carry. The guy said he would have sales people check out pricing and get back to me. He was not sure if the hydraulic cylinder steering arm on my Seacraft would work or not.

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Would you be able to get a motor mounted if one was shipped to you? I may be able to help but they are in Fl and it might be tricky to find someone to mount it. Best deals from them will be Etec's, they are dealer and found a line on great late model motors from BRP - the guy just stole a 250 for his 23. BRP has been very testy on shipping new motors as they were nabbed twice but still may be able to help.

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EggSuckinDog
I doubt if the local dealer would touch it because of warranty issues. I've been told they have to be set up by a dealer to validate the warranty. My old Mec wrench is under the radar right not. He got nabbed for selling METH. I would never have guessed it. He was a Merc Master Mech w/his own shop. Goes to show what that stuff can do to a person.

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I bought my 250 suzuki from Bayracer marine for $12900 rigging another $900 and mounted it to the boat my self.... ran the wires to the helm mounted the gauges etc... and then brought it to the local dealer who mainly deals with the smaller v6's and he connected everything for me. He was happy to to do it and I paid him a little over $300. You have to set everything up first with bayracer as he will not sell you an engine unless you have a dealer that will hook it up. N California dealers will not sell you an engine at a reasonable price.

strick

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Thats why I mentioned new motors are tough, although if it has just a few its no problem apparently- here is Mario's number 727 938 9796 he is very cleaver at finding stuff with VERY low hours from BRP that has no warrenty issues - worth a call trust me

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I have a 2005/225 Opti on my 23. The motor has 950 trouble free hours. My bud has a 2003 225 Opti thar's approaching 2000 hours. He had to replace the compresser with approx. 700 hours on his motor. It's been trouble free since then. I have only relaced my spark plugs twice, the first time was after break in with 50 hours, the second time with 500 hours. great running motors with decent fuel burn, I average a little better than 3 m.p.g. If you can get a good price locally I wouldn't hesitate to go Merc.

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I think I have found a new, non-current year/model in a Honda 225 hp. Waiting on confirmation, but sounds like a go as this point. 16k to remove my blown Merc and reinstall the new Honda. That was what I have been getting quotes for the 225 Opti-Max and I really wanted a 4 stroke (preferably a Yamaha, just could not justify the price they wanted) for a new motor anyway. I just got my Medi-Care card in the mail last week, so hopefully this will last me the rest of my boating years. I know my wife will be happy about not having to put up w/ the smoke at the dock.

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you will LOVE the Honda, I had a pair on an ex boat us tow boat and they had 5400. hours on them, and still ran like new. One of them started to leak out of the shift shaft seal due to a defect in the motor mount and being 4 years old with 5400 hours they still warranteed 1700. in parts and only charged me the labor before I sold her.

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Hope it's o.k. to send a post like this, just thought you might be interested. I have a honda 225 06 with 119 hrs. comes with warranty, rigging (digital controls) ss prop everthing $12,000 I can arrange shipping from my mechanic to yours. I'm getting more horse power. let me know if your interested.

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Coastal, thanks for the thoughts. I just bought a brand new 06/07 (non-current)225 Honda w/30"leg w/SS prop for $12,500+ rigging. Going to the shop in a few minutes to close the deal.

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Gary, been away for a few days, that's a smoking deal you got [ as I'm sure you know]. Congratulations, I'm sure you will enjoy the honda, they are smooth, quiet, dependable, fuel efficient, and actually are above the 225hp they are rated at.

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Back in town after attending a funeral for my borther's wife. you hate to these thing happen, but she had fought the battle for 6-7 years with COPD.
Talked with the dealer this week about rigging, but he is still waiting for the motor to arrive. Hopefully it will be here this next week. Thanks for all the replys and good advise. I haven't heard anything bad from anyone. I am getting antsy with the waiting. Can't believe it, we had snow on the ground when I got up this morning. This is supposed to be summer.