motor weights, too much?

[asdfhood]

Sorry, I ended the prev post too soon. I was going to bring up the 115 E=Tech, and also the 130, or 135 Etek. I seriously considered the 115 but boat was already regged for Yamaha and I found a good motor at considerably less $$. But there is always tomorrow and Evinrude seems to loom large on the horizion (sp?)

[McGillicuddy]

I totally concur w/ESD. I'd like to hear some Merc heads thoughts on the Optimax. From what I gather the bugs are long gone, and the 115 would be a nice match. That being said that 115 E-tec or the 115HO and 130 are just too cool.

I think the optis weigh in at about 375 lbs and the white (salt-water) E-tecs 390lbs (according to '09 brochure) will both get you high 30s to mid 40s and still avg. 5mpg. I would be sold on either If I had the lumber, er money...

[Fr. Frank]

The perfect motor for the 18 is the inline 6 Mercury 140/150 hp. (Same motor, the 140 is prop-rated, the 150 is powerhead rated.)

The Merc XS1500 150hp actually produced an amazing 215 hp at 9000 rpms, but the listed max rpm was 6000.

I ran my 1st Seafari weighing 1800 lbs with the inline-6 150 hp Merc, and top speed was 44 mph. You can still find them on Ebay, and there are several places around the country which specialize in remanufacturing the "Tower of Power"

[gordonhg]

I had a Yammy 175 carbed two stroke, it was about 420 lbs or so and I thought that was too much weight on my 20CC. I repowered with a Etec 115. Weight is good, no water comming in the scuppers.

I was able to do a fishing run yesterday two people and gear, 12 gallons of fuel, traveling about 15.5 miles on about 5 gallons, about 3 mpg. Light trade wind 10-15 knots, seas 4-6 feet 8 seconds, so only cruised at moderate speed, probably about 18 mph.

I tested it out today with a GPS in the bay, small chop and here are the results I got. Not all measurements were the same run and exact same conditions so there is some variablity but its a good ball park. 15 pitch SS viper prop.

RPM Speed
1000 4
1150 5
1200 4.7
1500 6.4
1700 6.1
2000 7.1
3000 18
3500 20
3600 22
4100 26
5200 36.5

[2182]

after much consideration, and tons of good info and help from all of you guys (who dwarf my knowledge of boats and motors), i think i am going to go w/ a new 150 johnson 2 stroke. i am after all, just a poor carpenter who doesnt like buying things on credit. i do love the etecs but my lord are they expensive. i will lose a solid 5 mph minimally but i will have a motor tipping the scales at 391#, and no payment to make. thanks again for all the info, and especially to dixon (eggsuckindog) for the intro to mike and mario at AMS, who got me a great deal (worth the 7 hr drive to tampa).

[Snookerd]

i think i am going to go w/ a new 150 johnson 2 stroke.

You will not be disappointed..............Congrats. That boat will fly!

[eggsuckindog]

Tell Mike he has to throw in a free bottle of that vodka

This is a motor Mike told me he found in his shed, a brand new 150 Johnson - the price is half of anything out there today and a heck of a find - Congrats it will work great and you can buy alot of gas for $7000

[gordonhg]

150 will be great on the boat, you'll love the power.

I realized an error in my numbers, that was about 18nm, not miles or about 20 statute miles, so about 4mpg...

Have fun with the new engine!