Repower

oldbluesplayer · #1 02-06-2007, 11:38 PM

I've got a 20' Seafari, with an old 83 V4 Johnson 115, 2S carbed - WFO I get about 31 mph / GPS, trimmed, in calm water. The hole shot is good, comes right up on plane, cruises nicely about 24 mph/ gps.

On a 20" transom cutout, the old V4 JohnyRude is a good weight match for the boat.

Would love to try a 140 hp V4, or a Merc 150 like the padre's. New engines, I'd look at a 130 Yam, or a 135 Optimax.

Bill

eggsuckindog · #2 02-07-2007, 06:12 PM

I think you would be happier with 150 HP, it would enhance resale as well. We hada white 20 for sale on here and the reason it didn't go quick was it was under powered, in my opinion.

Fr. Frank · #3 02-07-2007, 06:43 PM

I agree with ESD, you'd be happier with a 150. Ed's Marine Superstore has a new VMax 150 20" for $7500. Best price I've seen. See it Here

drcoastline · #4 02-08-2007, 11:43 AM

Thanks for the opinions. I guess I'll forget the 115's and keep looking at the 135, 140, 150's. My motor is an 89 and pushes the boat along at about 30MPH and 33MPH with a tail wind which is just fine. I am not looking to captain a rocketship I just don't want to be at the helm of a barge. I am mostly thinking about dependability and fuel economy. Assuming I stay with a 2S any opinions on fuel consumption between the 135, 140, 150's? Is it enough to consider or is the decreased horsepower going to cost more to push the boat? Lastly, the 89 generaly runs well. Last year I repalced the powerpacks and shortly thereafter one of the headgaskets went. That's when I got disguted and put the boat away for the rest of the summer. Is it worth rebuilding a motor this old?

eggsuckindog · #5 02-08-2007, 07:08 PM

Fuel will be no issue, the new motors are so much better than yours- like 3 times better, you actually won't believe how little your using.

VirginIslander · #6 02-08-2007, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Thanks for the opinions. I guess I'll forget the 115's and keep looking at the 135, 140, 150's. My motor is an 89 and pushes the boat along at about 30MPH and 33MPH with a tail wind which is just fine. I am not looking to captain a rocketship I just don't want to be at the helm of a barge. I am mostly thinking about dependability and fuel economy. Assuming I stay with a 2S any opinions on fuel consumption between the 135, 140, 150's? Is it enough to consider or is the decreased horsepower going to cost more to push the boat? Lastly, the 89 generaly runs well. Last year I repalced the powerpacks and shortly thereafter one of the headgaskets went. That's when I got disguted and put the boat away for the rest of the summer. Is it worth rebuilding a motor this old?

Since it generally runs well, I'd be reluctant to write it off too quickly.

Whether it's worth rebuilding depends a lot on how much of the work you can do yourself, as opposed to having a mechanic do it all, and how much (if any) additional damage was done from the blown head gasket leaking water into the cylinder.

A running V6 is always of some value to some one who's isn't. .... Head gaskets are not a big job. As long as there's no water damage, that may be all you need to do. I'd do a compression check first to get a baseline, and then pull the heads. Look for corrosion and water intrusion, especially on the blown side. Maybe all you'll need is a gasket. If compression is down (below 90#) on the rest of the cylinders besides the bad one, but even, then a rebuild to freshen it up is the way to go, but I'd start seriously thinking "new motor" before that much of a rebuild. Since you're asking about rebuilding, I have to assume that you're not likely to be able to be rebuilding it yourself and will be having to pay "full price", so to speak for the rebuild.

There's a lot of 20 year old motors being run every day.

Darlene

drcoastline · #7 02-09-2007, 01:24 PM

Thanks again.

I would be paying full price for a rebuild, I don't have any idea what to do to rebuild a motor. Judging from the sales price of older 150's I think I may be better off just getting a new motor. Thanks again.

eggsuckindog · #8 02-09-2007, 03:15 PM

I think your right, the age doesn't justify the cost of a rebuild, plus you could run into bolts breaking off and stuff which would just add time to the job.

Blue197320 · #9 02-10-2007, 10:19 AM

i just got rid of a 1985 evinrude 150 with 85 pounds in each cylinder. it never let me down mechanically. the key switch shorted out and wouldnt run but thats all. i replaced it with a 1984 mercury 200. i only got such an old motor because i know that it wasnt run very much over the last 10-15 years.