18 seacraft power

[sponge]

Im finally getting ready to find a motor what does everybody think.
The transom is 20". Im thinking e-tec or Suzuki 115 or 140 I dont know.

[Rhody]

With a 20" transom you should aim for a motor on the lighter side prolly a 2cycle or an e-tek if you can afford the new technology.

[Ikan Besar]

If you have the original floor (height) in the 18', along with the 20" transom, I'd highly recommend against either of the Suzuki engines you listed. Buy the lightest weight engine you can find.

When I had my '77 18', I had two different engines on it over the years, both well under 400#s and can't imagine putting a Suzy 115/140 on there. I'm sure someone has done it but it's far from ideal.

[Snookerd]

sponge-Ikan and I are in agreement on the 18. The ideal motor weight is less than 400Lbs, especially with a cut-out transom for a 20". I would find a lightly used 130 Yamaha. If you had a 25" inch transom cut out then look at motors up to 430Lbs (raising the floor would be a worth while improvement). I had a 130 2 stroke Yami and it was 358Lbs on my 18SF with 25" cut-out. My dad's 18SF which is a 25" cut out went from a 150 Johnson to a 140 Suzuki. The 140 is around 420Lbs. Deck drainage is about the same as the 1995 150 (barely self-bailing). There is no remote 2 stroke oil tank in the stern on the 140 so the 150 vs. 140 is very close in weight. It is all a trade-off!

[Ikan Besar]

I would find a lightly used 130 Yamaha.

[img]/forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] that's a combo I'm a bit familiar with [img]/forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[sponge]

I see your from Stuart Im in Jensen Beach.
Do you know anybody local for used outboards.

Thanks J.R.

[Capt Chuck]

Do you know anybody local for used outboards.

I got a 1998 115hp Ficht if ya want to rebuild #1 piston

[sponge]

Capt Chuck,

Do you have any photos.
Do you have controls and harness.

Many Thanks
Capt J.R.

[Bushwacker]

ARG Marine in Riveria Beach sells lots of used motors, all brands and sizes, as well as new E-Tec's, Honda's and Yamahas. They seem to be a good outfit in my experience. If you're looking at new motors, the 115 E-Tec, which is really closer to 125, would also be a good match for that boat; similar weight to 130 Yamaha, but less thirsty and quiet as a 4-stroke.

[3rdday]

The e-tec is an awesome motor! I can speak from experience.
Was fishing the Walmart FLW Redfish tour this yr. During the tuorn. in JAX the water pressure line came off the nipple on the block, ( was the boat MFG who rigged not Evinrude)we ran for 1 hr 15 min to our spot we felt the boat surging and not producing full revs, same thing on way back to weigh in, we stopped to put a splas of gas in the tank on the way out of the creek we spotted a school and shut down to try to upgrage our fish. Motor wouldn't start. I jumped on the Watts Brothers boat with our fish made it to weigh in.Later Evinrude support looked at the motor, the hose sprayed everything with seawater, the starter was fried, plugs had 1/2 inch baked on salt on them, it was pulling seawater in through the carbs the whole time!!. They changed the starter, flushed the motor ran it through a few winterization cycles ( this puts more oil into the mixture).
I was skeptical at first, the engine runs awesome not a single hiccup. we have made many long runs since then. The electronics are all potted so they did not get damaged. No I am not employed by evinrude, sponsored, nor a dealer.