Blew Up the 225 Opti - New Power for 23 Sceptre

[CarlaDee]

My Opti finally let go... about 1500 hours.

Please give me thoughts... I am going to pull the trigger hopefully this week.

1. Suzuki 300
2. Opti 300
3. Suzuki 250
4. Opti 250
5. Honda 225 (I can get this for $14k)

Also considering a bracket, but I have been told by a few folks that this may worsen my ride. Boat rides great now, so I don't want to do that.

Please chime in!

Daniel

[FELLOW-SHIP]

I have a 225 2 stroke Yamaha on my 23’ CC and it runs just fine like your 225 Merc. must have done on yours as well. I still have a lot of time left on my Yamaha but if I was going to replace I would just go up to 250 not a 300. I really don’t see any advantages in going up to 300 hp. I would probably do the E Tech. because of it’s weight. I also have the motor on the transom and like it that way, but a lot of guys love it on a bracket and say they ride even better “like a 25 footer” with one. If I were to go with a 300 I would have the bracket because of the extra weight.


FellowShip
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Just for the Grins

[Old'sCool]

My '73 23' has alum. bracket and 250 Yam. OX66. I'm not sure it's dialed in "just" right but, I would like more HP.....If/When I re-power I will look at singles (to keep the same bracket)...300 Suzi. or e-tec maybe 250...or....go twin 150-200's and have to change bracket. Sure would be nice to drive some that are powered differently...sounds like a raft-up to me!!

[joema]

happy with df250 on scepter weight no problem but i put a30 inch transom on her boat seams well balanced and love the quite idle

[CarlaDee]

Thanks for the comments. Hopefully I will get a few more. I am really considering the Opti 225/250/300 and the Suzuki 250/300. All of the Opti's will weigh the same - just over 500lbs. The Suzukis will weigh right at 600lbs. I don't think that the extra 100lbs will be a big issue, but, if it was, I guess I could always add the bracket and rehang the motor? Not ideal, but I guess it would work.

For what it is worth, I have stood on the 225 Opti and it does not make a significant change in the water line.

Keep the comments coming! I hope to buy an engine in the next few days!

[CarlaDee]

joe - just sent you a pm. any additional details would be much appreciated. thanks for the help.

[Bushwacker]

The E-TEC is definitely worth a look; low weight & fuel consumption like the Opti, but MUCH quieter, about same as 4-stroke, but also much less maintenence than the 4S. Everyone I've met that has one has had only good things to say about them. BRP is also sandbagging on the HP rating, at least on some models. The 150 is really about 165, and the 225 is actually a 240!

[Fishjack]

If (knock on wood) something major was to happen to my Yamaha 250HP OX-66 I am 99% sure I would go with the E-tec.

"Rumor" has it that they are about to release a 275hp or bigger E-tec.. Same weight (block) as the 250 with a few tweaks.. time will tell.

Best of luck.

[strick]

Call Hermco and have him put a twin engine seamark fiberglass bracket on your boat. Buy a suzuki 300HP 30 inch shaft and then you will have the ultimate Seacraft.

Strick

[SECF3114M73J]

A friend of mine has a 225 Etec. The motor blew up last fall with 460 hrs., it blew up again 2 weeks ago with 60 hrs. on the new power head. Another 200 Etec at the marina blew up with 5 hours on it. To Bombies credit the 225 was back on the water with comletely new power heads- new electronics, injectors, etc. in a week both times it blew. The 200 was replaced with a complete motor, also within a week. The guy with the 225 has had a lot of problems , after numerous trip back to the dealer he was only getting 60 hours out of a set of spark plugs. Etec aren't as perfect as you would be led to believe.