225 hp Mercury outboard
 

PayPal ID 03P34825BX002330M

I'm going to break down and sell my Mercury. 2003 EFI 25" shaft with approx. 1100 hours (1066 verified May 2016) with control cables, SS prop, wiring harness, key switch, oil tanks (I have an extra) and binnacle. New plugs, gear lube, filters in September. Only Amsoil HP 100% synthetic oil used. Available for a water test until 11/3/17, then it's off the boat on a stand. It's on Tampa Craigslist for $4500, however I'm willing to reduce that price for a fellow CSCer. PM me if you are interested.

Are you making the Suzuki dream come true!!?

I think his wallet hit the floor. There are supersonic dust bunnies flying
over his house presently on google earth.

Well here's how I looked at it.

All quotes before tax. No trade value subtracted. Completely installed.

A. 300AP Zuzuki from International Marine Service........$18,000

B. 300AP Suzuki from Mastry engine........$21,300

C. 250 Tohatsu/Honda N.E. Marine........$15,500

D. 250 G-2 eTec from Suncoast Marine.....$24,300

Being a "cheap bastard" guess which one I chose? Hint.....full five years of full warranty and if all the research I've done is correct, the best in fuel economy. The difference equals a new Lewmar pro 1000 windlass and a new Raymarine MFD! No more hints.

HONDA??? Oh NO! Respectable dealer nearby? Aren't parts more expensive and educated techs far and few between? Love ya man, that's why I just gotta ask!?!

Michael.

Yeah Michael that was a BIG question for me also, the guy across the canal from me has a 12 year old Honda 150....never a minutes trouble or a visit to the repair guy, another neighbor four doors down put a 225 Tohatsu on his Mako 14 months ago, so far never an issue and over doubled his fuel mileage, my brother's 2006 225 Honda on a 25' Aquasport he sold four years ago still runs perfect with 1600 hours with never a trip to the dealer and the dependability stories go on and on. The closest "master" dealer for major warranty work is 75 miles away from me which is not perfect but doable. I was a week from pulling the trigger on the Zuke, however for the wimpy boating old farts like Deb and I do, the Honda will do just fine. On eBay....a Lewmar pro fish 1000 for $821 soon to be on my bow to replace my V-3.

Way to go Don! That Mercury has been flawless. Somebody is going to get a well cared for used motor. Congrats on the new one.

Very happy for you Don! The Lewmar is an amazing add on. Can't say enough about mine

Thanks young man. There was no doubt in my mind a month ago I was doing the Suzuki, then the "lure of easy money" got in the way and the TaHondasu started sounding good. I figure I might be able to enjoy the engine for at least as long as the five year warranty, then I might need to up-size to a slower boat like Denny.

My 1985 Merc 150 lasted 28 years with the first half in salt water followed by second half on SC lakes. The Seafari ran the fastest ever on the day the Merc died! Mechanic told me I got twice as much life out of it as I should have. Admittedly not as many hours on it as some of you.

Don - good to see you coming off your wallet. What prompted the purchase? What do you see the fuel burn will be compared to the Mercury?

Rest assured Casey when I got off my wallet it was a very small step down!!

It's been a really great engine, however after 15 years is time to move up. Don't want to wait until it's pretty much useless to sell or trade. I'm expecting fuel burn numbers twice as good as I'm getting now. Told the story before, when I was in the Keys a year ago it was 4-6 footers with a normal heavy load for fishing and it was one of those 3000 to 3300 rpm up and down the waves not to kill my passengers. We had been going for out for what seemed like quite a while, looked back and land was still visible, checked the GPS and we were at ten miles out and I switched the fuel flow meter to total and I was at ten gallons.....that's when I was sure I was going to be getting a new engine. Now for just running around the Bay looking for beer and a sandwich I would not be buying new.

First thing your gonna notice is that you can hear the water slapping the hull at idle speed and that your gonna keep turning around looking at the motor wondering if its really on!!!

Yes Sir that's a fact!! I'm putting the over/under at 5 times I'll grind the starter because the engine was already running before I looked at the pee hole or tach!! :)

This is exciting! Can't wait to hear more, like the new performance #'s.

Although, this is not all good here. You were providing good cover for me with your older two stroke. Now I'm out alone all by myself with no defense for being the last two stroke alive...lol!

Two.

How many threads do you see asking for help on Hondatos?
Zero.

Ever wonder why so many of the commercial guys use them?

A 23 won't notice that they are 600lbs.

Well Jim, if the eTec dealers would have got close on their pricing I would have a 250 G2 eTec on there and stayed a two stroke guy like TerryE, however they seem to be just below Yamaha on there pricing. OK, my quick Yamaha story at the boat show a couple of weeks ago. Went buy the Central Marine display and they had a 300 with the "boat show price" of $19,995 (I already had IMS's Suzuki pricing for a 300AP complete re-power tax and all), however after more review with the salesman that Yamaha price was with no prop, no rigging (off for the old or on for the new) no controls, no gauges, etc., etc. in that number. I said "well you do know the Suzuki dealer on the east coast can smoke your price for just your engine ya got setting there on display by about $1,000 completely installed with tax". The salesman looked at me like I just shot him, another guy looking at the same display engine next to me said "really?' At least I made one friend......

Good for you Don! Not a bad choice in the bunch. Considering you are putting the windless on, where are your batteries? With the added weight on the back it may not be a bad idea to move them forward if possible and save on the lead length of the wiring to boot.

I used to have Lewmar V3 on there and it's already wired from one of the two batteries under the console. I have two 27 series in the back, one for bait pump and emergency/backup bilge plus an Odyssey AGM as just a spare. Those two are leaving the rear bilge area to somewhere forward to help make up the extra 100 pounds of weight on the new engine. The V3 did not have "free spool" to drop the anchor the Pro Fish 1000 does and I already have the eight plat rope and 5/16" G-4 chain ready to go!!!! :)

the free fly clutch on the pro-fish make anchoring so easy. especially in 60-80 ft of water!

Hello, can I ask what the compression on the cylinders is on that merc?

I'm putting it on the trailer Monday morning to take the engine and rigging off the boat. I plan on checking it then. I'll let you know.

Don, Take a video of the motor starting and running on your cell phone before you yank it. Helps with the sale down the road.

Here ya go, first time I've ever checked the compression on this engine.

Port
112/3
110
107/8

Starboard
108/9
110
115

The compression gauge is in 5# increments, I estimated when between the lines. 112/3 is right between the 110 and 115. Yeah, I was surprised with the numbers. One of the wholesalers told me anything at or below 90 is a no-no.

Congrats Don,
The mercury 3.0s have lower compression than the 2.5s so your numbers look really good for an outboard with those hours. The old 3 liters last forever and are fairly bullet proof. Far as the Hondas, I know the coast guard around here uses them also the commercial fish guys. I have seen the coast guards take offs on auction with 2000-3000 hrs on them and those are probably hard hrs at that. You defiantly wont know how to act with out the smell of oil in the air and all the quiet you will have. Not to mention that first time filling back up and seeing how much less gas you burn.

Ahhhh.....the smell of two stroke oil first thing in the morning........ :)

Yeah the BoatUS tow guys use them around here on almost all of their boats.

Whoa, 77SceptreOB: You are not the last two stroke guy left - I still have my '02 Johnson 115hp. Hope I didn't just jinx myself, but I want to get a few more years from it....

Congrats, DonV!

Thank You!!!

If the Evinrude dealers would get more competitive on their pricing I would have a G2 250 HO being installed. Then I could still be one of the old two stroke guys!!!

I have 3 150 ocean pros and am always looking for more.

Price out a gen 1 250 HO?
10 year factory warranty now.

Seems the G1s are getting harder to find, looks like BRP is moving everything in the V-6 engines to the G2. I asked the BRP factory rep if they make a G2 250 HO with the standard mounting bracket versus the built in TnT and power steering (to me it was a weight thing) NOPE only as high as the 150 and those are going to come to an end also. Even their web site only has the G1 up to 150 now. I guess I fell asleep at the wheel, seems BRP is very quietly doing this. I had a nice quote in Miami on a G1 250, called back after I sold my other boat and they have no more. Rats.......