Honda or Ficht?

[Briguy]

A guy on my canal just bought a c-hawk 23 with a 225 Honda. He loves it! You are taking a chance with the Ficht! Don't do it. As far as maintainance, I think that whole idea has been blown out of perportion. Check out this math. If you run your Ficht 500 hours and average fuel burn is 8gph that is 4000 gallons of gas. If the oil burn averages a 80 to 1 mix at $17.00 a gallon for the factory recommended stuff you would have oil costs of (4000/80)=50 gallons of oil x$17=$850.00. Of course you need to change the oll in your 4 stroke motor but my suzuki's use 4 qts at $1.50/qt and a $4.00 oil filter I can buy at the auto parts store. If I switch to synthetic like mobil one I could probably get 200-250 hours between oil change. On my first oil 100 hour oil change the motors hadn't burnt a drop and it was as clean as the day it was put in. My dealer charged me $80.00 total for my twins if I have him do it. As far as speed, don't expect any more than 42mph (38 kts) out of the opti, ficht or honda. Personally I would wait 2 months for the 250 Suzuki 4 stroker.

[Rich]

Just dug this up off Suzuki's website. This is the first time I've seen numbers on the big four strokes. Looks like they weigh in just under 600 lbs.

source = http://www.media.suzuki.com/marine/press04/pr_1.html pick on the technical specs link.

SUZUKI V6 4-STROKE OUTBOARDS TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Engine Type

55-degree V6 DOHC 24 valves


Maximum Output

200 HP (DF200); 225 HP (DF225); 250 HP (DF250)


Fuel Delivery

Multi-Point Sequential Electronic Fuel Injection


Displacement

3.6 liters (220.5 cubic inches)


Bore X Stroke

3.74 inches X 3.35 inches (95mm X 85mm)


Cam Drive

Two-stage, oil-bathed chain driven valve train with automatic hydraulic tensioners


Operating Range

5000-6000 rpm (DF200)




5000-6000 rpm (DF225)




5500-6100 rpm (DF250)


Idle Speed

650 rpm


Shaft Length

XL: 25" XXL: 30"


Counter Rotation

Available on all models, XL and XXL


Weight

XL: 580 lbs. XXL: 591 lbs


Oil Capacity

7.6 qts.


Ignition System

Fully transistorized direct ignition


Alternator

12V 54A


Gear Ratio

2.29:1


Propeller

Stainless steel, 16-inch diameter

[ June 04, 2003, 10:43 AM: Message edited by: Rich ]

[PipeDreamsMarine]

I'd go 2 stroke.. theres a reason that Honda is trading 500hour motors for new ones. I've heard that Bom is being bought buy the family that owns it now as a way to save the name and keep it in the family, It's all paper work... But the big thing I've heard about the 4 strokes is that, those times when you hit something or bump something can cause bigger problems other then a lower unit or prop hub. they have belts for timing chains(like cars) and that the belts will break when impact happens and you bend all of the valves [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

[John R]

Don't wait - buy the Ficht - sell me your 200 cheap [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] ...

You said the pricing was pretty close, right? Does your dealer friend have anything in the same size / weight range that you can demo with the motors already hung?

Weight is about 80 pounds difference - both heavy...

[Finster]

Real nice Otto, and thats the thanks I get for hipping you to the 4 boat theory. Thats the last time I'll try to talk you into buying another boat.... [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Ever consider putting a Seamark bracket and twins? Just a thought, hummm........

[John R]

Otto - don't listen to Finster, before you know it you'll be trading barbs on ClassicBayliner.com as he wields hit slipper schemes into high gear...

Seriously, if it comes to a decision point for you and I'm still looking, we can talk...

Oh yeh - MORE PICS!!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Thanks,

John

[Steve C.]

Otto I just bought a Yamaha 250HPDI for $12600. over the phone from Stuart Fla. Cost 250. to ship to ma.

[John R]

Steve - what's the impact on warranty? I assume you already had HPDI riggin on your boat?

[Steve C.]

John rigging was another $1100.00 Certified yamaha mech can install and sign off on warranty

[barnacle]

When making a large investment in a outboard its best to deal with your local dealer. You may spend alittle more money but he is the one thats going to work on it if there is a problem. True as a dealer he can not turn it away but you will be sure to go to the bottom of the list. With these new engines and everything that can go wrong with them you want a good relationship with your dealer. THe days of the consumer working on there outboards are over. Believe me you may feel your local dealer is a rip off but most of the times his prices are very fair. There is no markup on a outboard sale. How outboard sales work is the more a dealer buys the bigger check he gets back at the end of the model year. Your larger dealers can afford to sell the engines at or below there cost due to the size of there rebate check they get at the end of the year. Small dealers can not afford to sell there engines at cost and wait for the check to arrive to make there money back. Plus each month the engine sits in inventory at the dealer it cost him 1.2% per month in just floor planning. Its not uncommon for a dealer even a small one to be paying a interest bill of 5,000.00 per month just to inventory about 50 different engine sizes. It cost a dealer alot of money to be one. Dont get me wrong your dealer is making a living but thats about it for 95% of them out there. Support you local dealer and it woill be a win / win for everyone.