motor weights, too much?

mnwnvc · #1 05-05-2009, 01:01 PM

I put a new Optimax 115 HP on my 20 SF last summer and so far I have been more that satisfied with performance and fuel economy. It will run 41 MPH GPS at WOT and I am still running a little low in RPM’s. I originally wanted an ETech but the price jumped more than a grand in three or four months. I was also able to get a five-year warranty for a few bucks more.

2182 · #2 05-05-2009, 03:55 PM

OMC Eagle project sounds cool, but i am sold on a new motor. i dont have the knowhow that a lot of you do when it comes to mechanical stuff and engines. e-tecs are either loved or hated. have heard great things from some owners, terrible from others. what about 150 opti? you guys probably want to strangle me as i keep suggesting different 150hp+ motors and you keep saying no, go smaller, but i do like to go fast when i want to. not that concerned w/ planing at low speeds, as i will ride a bigger boat offshore if it is anything other than ideal. i dont beat a motor but you can cover a lot of ground in charleston in a day fishing if you want to. i can go places in my 18 seacraft that my buddies cant touch in their 20-22 ft bay boats, and still get shallow too. that said im sold on going new as opposed to rebuilt or used. still leaning towards the zuke 140, those yammis are too heavy, and it seems like none of you run them.

2182 · #3 05-05-2009, 03:59 PM

also, do you guys think i can get anything for the motor i have now. she runs strong (90% of the time). i know there are a ton of floridians on this site and the go fast guys love the old 6 cyl mercs. its a bored out 92 merc offshore. pushes my lil sc in the low 50s in optimum conditions.

Snookerd · #4 05-05-2009, 05:26 PM

Quote:

still leaning towards the zuke 140, those yammis are too heavy, and it seems like none of you run them.

Just an FYI, the DF140 makes the waterline at about 35% of the gunnel height in the stern vs. my 130 V-4 that was at 10%. We still use it without hesitation offshore though.

Bushwacker · #5 05-06-2009, 12:31 AM

FYI - my E-Tec, which has a 7 year warranty, has had zero problems in 3 years and about 185 hrs; also very quiet, which is it's biggest advantage relative to the Opti. It's a very strong running 150; 2007 BRP brochure, which compares HP and torque curves for the 150 E-Tec and F-150, shows that it's actually 165 hp. At 3000 rpm it puts out 200 ft-lbs of torque vs about 150 for the Yahama, so it's a bear on hole shot and acceleration. Actual weight with full fluids and no prop is 504 lbs for the Yahama and 427 for the E-Tec. The 175 and 200 are based on same block, so weight is the same, although HP ratings are probably less conservative on the 175 & 200. My dealer also sells Honda's and Yahama's and service manager says he's had fewer problems with the E-Tecs than either of the other two.

2182 · #6 05-06-2009, 08:48 AM

bushwacker, how fast will your 20 go w/ the 150?

gofastsandman · #7 05-06-2009, 08:57 AM

50. His hole shot at 70% throttle is mindblowing too. Seemed like 2 seconds to plane. Very impresssive indeed.
GFS

eggsuckindog · #8 05-06-2009, 02:59 PM

The Opti's are just fine now as well, when you go to the V6 all the engines will be close in weight from 150 to 200, thats why I suggested the 115 HO - V4 and as much HP as the 130. The next big factor is the lower unit, the HO's are designed for smaller lighter hulls and it comes with the high performance Lightning gear case which has a smaller foot print and therefore faster too. I think it comes in about 370lbs so about 50 lighter than Bush's 150

I follow alot of boat forums on the net, Etec's and Opti's are seeing the least issues of all. The Etecs will also run @ 100/1 oil ratio and no dealer servive for 300 hrs, which is a fact not hype. Plus I can get you a good deal on Etec's if you can put it on the boat

Snookerd · #9 05-06-2009, 03:37 PM

Quote:

the HO's are designed for smaller lighter hulls and it comes with the high performance Lightning gear case which has a smaller foot print and therefore faster too

Dixon-Don't you want the larger gear case for our heavier boats for better wear and tear?

Bushwacker · #10 05-07-2009, 01:01 AM

Quote:

bushwacker, how fast will your 20 go w/ the 150?

I've seen 49.8 mph on the GPS with just me and a full tank of gas aboard with the top down, running a 4 blade 20" pitch prop. A 3 blade prop with a little less pitch would probably be a little faster. Also has bottom paint on it which may cost some speed, but the bracket is probably worth an extra 2-3 mph. However in normal cruising/camping trim I'm loaded very heavy, close to 4000 lbs total, so I run a 15x15 4 blade prop in that configuration, which will push it to about 40 with the big bimini top up. As Sandy said, hole shot is pretty decent. A couple of months ago I ran 235 miles on the St. Johns river in the 4000 lb configuration and burned almost 50 gallons of gas, which works out to 4.7 mpg, so I'm fairly pleased with it's performance, considering the load I was carrying. With the 20" prop and a light load I'll average over 5 mpg.