Repower time

[gss036]

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.

[peterb]

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

[gss036]

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.

[Old'sCool]

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.

[Bushwacker]

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.)

[htillman]

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.

[salvagefirst]

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

[1bayouboy]

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

[SECF3114M73J]

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.

[gss036]

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.