[1bayouboy]

Still looking at the options for powering my '74 Tsunami....
I'm planning to build a bracket with minimum setback for the engine
choice. It'll be twins and this is the list so far. Weight
is from the manu websites. Prices approx from Ed's just for comparison.
I'm not sure what the difference is between the Yam HPDI and the VMAX HPDI.


Merc Optimax
135, 150, 175HP same block and weight
weight 431lbs
$7500, $10000, $11000
Smartcraft available on all

Zuke 4S 140HP
weight 415lbs
$8000

Evinrude ETEC
115, 150HP
weight 375lbs
$8000, $11000

Yamaha 150HP HPDI
weight 450lbs

VMAX 150HP HPDI
weight 450lbs
$10000

Yamaha 4S
115HP
weight 390lbs
150HP
weight 450lbs


An offshore trip here in Charleston is about 60 miles
one way plus trolling all day. So I'll get the largest
fuel tank I can reasonably fit. I plan to remove the
in-deck storage/fishbox and also move the tank back a little.
I really liked Strick's tank with the rigging channel down the
side. I'd like to be able to get to 140-150gals of fuel.
I'm going to put a hardtop on it and that will add more weight to
the front....but I'll keep it as light as possible. Moving
the tank back should offset that, along with mounting the
engines farther back. I'm a little worried about the floor
height....but I don't plan to raise it at this point since it's
solid all around.

On the Merc's, they all use the same blocks and have about the
same weight. I think I'll be fine with any of them with a
flotation bracket. Very powerful engines for their rating
from what I read.

My question now is what's reasonable performance WRT to fuel burn
and weight. Would twin 115s be a total dog...?? The twin 135 Optimaxs
are probaly closer to 150HP from what I read....but if I'm
going to have the weight why not get the higher rated and go with 150s.
I really like the Smartcraft technology, I have it on an I/O on another boat.

Everything I hear about the zukes is good....price is about the same
as the Merc 135s. Not sure about computerized guages for the zuke.


I think 115 in a 4S would be too little power but it is 120lbs less weight.
The HPDI 150HP are more weight than the Merc's, but the engines have a good
rep.

The ETECs are the lightest, but most expensive. I'm not sure about the
rated HP versus performance on them and whether twin 115s would be enough ponies
in the ETEC. And like the mercs, if the weight is the same why not go bigger...
except for the $6000. Again not sure about their guage/computer technology.


At this point my two choices are the zuke 140s or the merc 150HP or 135 optis.
But I'd really like to hear about anyones experiences, performance, etc.
If the performance of the 135s is actually pretty close to the 150s....may as well
save the $5000.......