Your Opinions Please...

[Abe's Rocket]

Am going to be repowering my 20ft cc in the next month or so, but have no idea what brand of outboard I should buy? Also what are people feelings on 2 vs 4 stroke motors on that size boat? I would like to buy a 150hp engine.

Thanks for your input...Abe's Rocket

[ocuyler]

This is the Pandora's Box thread.

Here's my $.02:

A great article in the current Powerboat Reports compared Yamaha 150 4 stroke to the new Honda 150 4 stroke. The edge went to Honda. Assumes the same price, better cruising MPG, slightly lower noise, but weighed 10 lb. more. A toss-up depending on your preference and dealer relationship. Can't lose either way.

Other choices include Suzuki 140 4 stroke, which can be purchased with Johnson armor, Yamaha HPDI or Evinrude Ficht 150 Direct injection 2 stoke. Naturally, Mercury has both a 2 stroke and 4 stroke (Yamaha) offering.

The choices are exciting. Personally? For me, in the Upstate/Western New York area, it's Honda or Evinrude. Unfortunately, Evinrude hasn't announced when they'll offer a 150 E-tec. Down south, probably Yamaha. I have a Merc 115 4 stroke that I love, but it's a Yamaha in black clothes.

Confused yet? [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Abe's Rocket]

very confussed...but appreciate the input. i like the yamaha hpdi but its $$$

[strick]

Judging by your handle you probably like to go fast [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] so you may want to go with a 150-175 2 stroke on that 20 footer. If thats the case get then an Evinrude e-tech when they come out this Summer. The 2 stroke will weigh less then a comparable 4 stroke. However if it were me I'd go with the Suzuki 140 4 stroke as I hear they are a very well thought out engine. But then again speed is not a major concern for me. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Strick

[Abe's Rocket]

haha...actually Abe is my dog. The "rocket" part is based on the fact that he likes to extend his love missle at the most inappropriate times.

but i still like to go fast. What type of performance do you get from the 140 suzuki 4-stroke? thanks.

[strick]

I'm sure Abe has quite the missle [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] You will have to ask someone else about the 140... I dont have one however there are several on this board and a few on THT. Here is a recent link. http://thehulltruth.net/forums/threa...=28225&posts=7

Strick

[Abe's Rocket]

i miss read that...my bad. i'll check out tht. cheers

[onthefly]

I dearly love my Honda 130 on my 1999 20 FT. CC Classic, however, the Honda's weigh a ton and you wouldn't want to put an ounce more on the transom for fear of unbalancing the boat and not having it able to drain properly. She rides great in the Long Island Sound chop with the Honda "anvil", as she is stern heavy.
The 130 powers onto plane nicely, gets excellent fuel mileage, runs cleaner than the 2-strokes, but doesn't have the top end. I currently cruise at 25-28 MPH trimmed out and can push it up to 33-35 mph if it is glassy, but don't like to run it flat out for prolonged engine life and fuel consumption. ($2.95/gal. makes 26 mph a very livable speed...)

[RS]

Rick,
I have the same motor, a 2002. Are you sure it's propped right? I get 42 MPH at 5800 RPM with a 15" pitch SS prop. Also, FWIW, you don't have to worry about pushing the motor since those 4 strokes actually only redline something like 12000 or 14000 RPMs (I forgot which, just knew that it was very high). The rev limiter is set at about 6500. Basically, you can't run it much past half of its capacity. That's the benefit of that heavy motor.

[elpez]

Most mechanics will tell you they are "unfamiliar" with the Yamaha engines, that tells me they don't need repairs as often, I have a 20cc with a 150 Mariner with over 1200 hours which will get replaced with a Yamaha 150 HDPI or a 4 stroke, if it ever goes south!