Re-Power w/ new Suzuki 90...

[Fr. Frank]

You'll notice a big gap where I just couldn't run at 2500 RPM. Just past 2K rpm it would bust up on plane and the motor would simultaneously rev up and haul out... I couldn't control its desire to get on plane.

Every motor does that. That because as soon as the boat gets on plane, it takes a lot less hp to maintain that planing action. It may take 60% power to get on plane, but then only 40% to stay on plane. So at 50% power it won't plane off, and at 60%, you've got half again as much power as you need to stay on plane.

The question is, can you extremely carefully throttle back to 2500 rpms without falling off plane?

[eggsuckindog]

Just some quick numbers
$8000

@ $3 per gal = 2600 gals

66 tanks of fuel

@ 2 mpg = 5200mi

thats alot of boat riding - just say'in

[Mark]

Just some quick numbers
$8000

@ $3 per gal = 2600 gals

66 tanks of fuel

@ 2 mpg = 5200mi

thats alot of boat riding - just say'in

When I still had my SC20 with a 140 Suzy on the tail, I fished alone 90% of the time. While I think your numbers offer a really great perspective on this, there is that intangible 'peace of mind' aspect that comes from being out of sight of land and knowing that your engine is going to start back up and take you home at the end of the day.

I swapped out a perfectly functional Yamaha 130 when I went with the Suzy and have no regrets in spending the $8K to do it. That Suzuki performed better than my previous Evinrude and Yamaha engines and if I ever buy another outboard engine, Suzuki would be at the top of the list.

66 tanks of fuel is indeed a lot of boat riding though!

[eggsuckindog]

I'm aware of that aspect but I'm not sure what his budget is and that old Merc would not be my choice either. I had one one and it was a great motor though, if in good shape maybe use it for awhile?? The numbers just give a perspective on a new repower, I personally would switch it out but not at 8K and new. Personally I would go with a 115 Rude, can't kill them and everybody can work on them even you LOL - it would be a cheap swap. New a 115/130 4 cyl, Etec would be my choice but thats just me - and I'm kinda retarded.

[FishStretcher]

There is a 150 hp tower of power for sale locally, and the thought has me interested. But I don't think I need to replace a 86 Yamaha with a 74 Merc.

Providing you're running the ADI electronic ignition, you're going to get marginally better performance from the Merc, than you are from the Suzuki. The Merc also weighs 50 lbs less at 296 lbs. The downside is that the Merc can use 30-40% more fuel, and that mixed two-stroke fuel costs more than the straight gas for the Suzuki, too.

That being said, the inline 6 cylinder "Tower of Power" motor is far and away my favorite outboard motor. With the right Boysen reeds, ported pistons, right carbs and jetting and free exhaust, the 89ci/1450cc liter 115 Mercury can produce 200 hp, and do it reliably. You just can never run it between 6500 and 7000 rpms. 9000 is okay, but run it at 6800 and it will self-destruct from harmonics. (I used to run a 1500XS 150 hp at 80+ mph on my 14'10" Cacci Craft, which was a Checkmate V-mate copy. The boat was named "Kamikaze Express")

Tim "Bigshrimpin" posted some amazing test results from Land n Sea from these motors a few years ago, including taking the big displacement version (the 99ci/1600cc 140/150 hp) and making it produce 240 hp at 9200 rpms.