18 seacraft with a df140

snook1221 · #1 10-26-2011, 03:32 AM

dose anybody have a 18 sf with a suzuki df140 ? if so can i please get some preformance numbers? i have a 130 yamaha on my boat now but might get a killer deal on a 2008 suzuki df140. my yamaha runs great but all i have heard abouth the df140 is that there great on fuel and dont break down alot. i was just curious if anyone has this set up thanks

uncleboo · #2 10-26-2011, 08:04 AM

I do, but, I haven't been diligent enough to get tight numbers. What I can tell you is mine, (swinging a 21 pitch prop, don't know the diameter), runs around 41 mph at 5900 rpm, trimmed out. I have a few more rpm, but, my mechanic told me not to exceed 6000 so I don't. I cruise around 3500 rpm and get my best mileage there. I went offshore out of Oregon Inlet, NC this summer looking for some dolphin and ran for 1-1/2 hours at 3500 rpm, trolled for about 4-1/2 hours, (caught 16 dolphin), then ran back for 1-1/2 hours at 3500 rpm and burned 28 gallons of fuel. I have a 35 gallon tank. Most of the time I'm just rambling around the Albemarle Sound fishing for small stripers, white perch or just goofing off with the family. I'm very pleased with the performance of the motor. The only problem I had last summer turned out to be a stuck ball in the primer bulb in the fuel line. I will tell you that it's alot of weight on the stern and mine has the 20" transom. The scuppers are halfway submerged at rest with a full tank of fuel. Mine came with a homemade bulkhead closing the splashwell that keeps the water out of the cockpit. I have to keep the plugs in the bulkhead. I added a battery and mounted them both under the console. I have adjusted to these factors and operate the boat accordingly. My plan, when the time comes, is to raise the transom to 25", raise the floor including the splashwell floor at least 2 inches and extend the shaft of the motor. As soon as I can get some time, I'll try to post a few pics. I haven't taken the time to learn how to post since the format changed here. Bottom line is, I would jump on it if it's a great deal. If it's not such a great deal, I would try to find something a little lighter. Anyway, hope this helps. Good luck!

eggsuckindog · #3 10-26-2011, 06:27 PM

should work very well

Snookerd · #4 10-26-2011, 07:15 PM

It will be stronger than your 130 and it will weigh 50+ lbs. more. If drainage going from decent to marginal is not a concern, it's all upside from there! A Tracker 18 and Potter 18 should handle the 140 better than a SIC 18SF. We currently have the SIC 18SF with the DF140 and a Tracker 18SF with a Yamaha 130 and I think a 130 ETEC or 125 Mercury would be a better weight balance. I have sworn by the Yam 130 on an 18 and have owned 3 different configs

GodsReel · #5 10-26-2011, 09:10 PM

does your yami 130 "break down a lot" ? that is one of the best 2 strokes ever built, don't fix what aint broke. imho. save for better weight to power ratio coming with tech advances.

snook1221 · #6 10-26-2011, 10:54 PM

thanks for all your opinions guys .no my yamaha never breaks down i love that motor and its way cheap too fix but the df 140 was such a good deal and i figured i would get alot better fuel milage and probably a lil more power.

pjzabo · #7 12-20-2011, 05:04 PM

I've got a '76 18SF with an '09 DF140 Frankenmotor ('04 115 mid and bottom and '09 140 top and PTT with a fresh power-head (new in 2010). Swinging a 3 blade 14/20 prop it takes a little while to get out of the hole and you get a little bit of a sky shot so I don't think it's the perfect prop, but on my last ride of the season 3 weeks ago I hit 39.5 knots in a slight chop (just me on the boat and light fuel). I have not tracked fuel consumption because most of my fishing is short hops in the Long Island Sound. It does cruise fast at 4000-4500 rpm and seems to sip fuel (I have a new 50 gallon tank and the needle just doesn't move).

I have a raised transom and 25" shaft motor. I agree with everyone that it is stern heavy - I moved the batteries (run duals) far forward in the console and also moved the console forward about 5". I also have ping pong scuppers. But I plug the scuppers when I'm anchored up or drifting and pull the plugs when underway. Without the plugs it gets wet with two big guys fishing in the back (I run two 500 gph bilge pumps and also put corner drains in the deck).

Overall I think it is a great combination of speed and efficiency. If you went through the trouble of raising the floor it would be about perfect (but then I also hate to give up the freeboard)

YeA 20sF · #8 12-20-2011, 05:21 PM

Very nice and clean boat ^^^

alexh · #9 12-21-2011, 11:24 AM

Does anyone have porpoising issues with a DF140 on an 18sf? I'm considering this motor and do not want to "have to have" trim tabs or the motor trimmed in to prevent porpoising. Ive ridden on boats with heavy 4 strokes and it was very frustrating not being able to trim up at WOT and get the most speed out of the hull due to porpoising. Based on top speeds Id say this isn't an issue, but just wanted some real feedback.

Bushwacker · #10 12-21-2011, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjzabo

. . . it takes a little while to get out of the hole and you get a little bit of a sky shot . . .

This comment indicates that a 4 blade stern lifting prop with a little less pitch, a doelfin or equivalent and probably trim tabs are needed improve hole shot and help compensate for all that weight on the transom, even with the console and batteries moved forward.

Remember that the 20' hull was designed in the mid-60's for the I-6 Merc which weighed less than 300 lbs. The 18 is just a shorter version of the same hull, so I'd expect it to be even more weight sensitive than the 20. You can't hang a much heavier motor on it and expect it to ride and handle as it was designed to! You already have one of the best power/wt. ratio motors on the boat now, so I would expect that OVERALL handling and performance (ride, low speed planning ability, hole shot) will get WORSE with a heavier 4S motor on the transom, although it may burn a little less gas. I think you will need trim tabs, a doelfin and a 4 blade prop on that 4S to match the overall handling you have now. I'm speaking as a guy who went from a 300 lb motor on the transom to a 430 lb motor on a 30" setback bracket on a 20' boat that is less stern heavy than the CC configuration. Although I can now cruise a lot faster with half the fuel consumption and have a lot more load carrying ability, it took a LOT of tweaking to get the overall handling and performance as good as it was with the old motor! I'd pay a lot of attention to Snookerd's comments, as he probably has more experience with the 18 than anyone else on this forum.