Motor for 23 Sceptre

[JohnB]

I haven't been around much, this economy is killing me, and it looks like ethanol took out my 250 Merc efi.

Anyways, I am looking at a short list of a Suzuki 250 or a 250 optimax.
The suzuki pluses are quiet, 4 stroke, and fuel economy, minuses are weight, and we have don't have any dealers with a good rep in our area.
The opti, has a better horsepower/weight combo and will snap right into my current rigging, but the down side is 2 stroke oil.

The boat is in my signiture and now sports a full single armstrong bracket with an enclosed transom.

What I am looking for is if anyone has either of these 2 motors on a bracket, performance, and most important, fuel burn numbers.

Thanks,
John

[eggsuckindog]

You will be amazed by the comparasion, I ran a Cape Horn w/twin 225's for awhile and thought the smartcraft gauges were broken when it said fuel used. Fuel will be very very close to a 4S and you have to buy special 4 stroke oil - easier to just pour it in a tank too. Etec's are quieter and close to the 4s but the rigging won't fit either. No dealers and no new rigging would make my mind up.

[SC302FB]

Put a Yahama F250 on my 78 Sceptre last year. I have a top similar to yours an an armstrong bracket

Performance: 28 mph with 3.1 mpg with three people and 100 gal of fuel. Top end is 46 mph.

[JohnB]

Thanks for the feed back and numbers.
I have a great mercury dealer and the optimax/suzuki prices are signifigant less than honda or yamaha.

The evinrudes are off the list, not sure how long the Bombdier family is going to keep them alive with money, and if they go under, the warrantee will probably be gone too.

[gss036]

I went through that same scenerio last year, was blown away w/Yamaha and E-Tec prices. I had 2 Merc dealers quote me 16k for 225 optis and ended up with a 225 Honda for the same price I was quoted for the Optis. I had what Honda called a non-current engine, big deal, still had a full 5 year nondeclinng warranty. I put the engine on my 1989 23WA and mounted up 2 holes and went with the Power Tech 4 blade prop for mid-range efficiency. I get almost 5 gallon per hour at 3600 rpm, others here say that is wrong, but that is what my Northstar fuel flows shows. Even if it off 10% or so, still great performances for a 225 hp engine.

[oz775]

john- I put a 225 opti on my 74 Tsunami with a bracket and enclosed transom- I shopped around for an E-tec- they wanted 20k. 4 strokes were super expensive also. I bought a brand new leftover Opti with DTS controls with a 5 year warranty and couldnt be happier- boat flies out of the water- have never seen a puff of smoke from my Opti- and 3 years trouble free.DTS controls are super sweet- keep in mind that mercury has had the "cableless-fly by wire" controls the longest- so they are proven. I burn 10 gals an hour at 4000 rpm with 2 people and 75 gals fuel. Would buy another Opti in a second!!

[joema]

have a250 suk on scepter transom weight not aisue raised transom to 30 inches very happy with motor 16 20 prop 5900 rpm 46 mph quite cruse about 2.8 ,3 gpm at3o mph is where i usualy run

[JohnB]

joema,
Could you give me gph/rpm/speed numbers if you have them? You said your turning a 16/20 prop? is it a suzuki prop?

I hate to diss a manufacture, but Evinrude and Yammi are pricing themselves out of the market, at least on repowers.
I am not sure what they are doing with the manufactures, but no one is building boats right now, so I can't see them selling a much there.

I haven't talked to anyone that hasn't been happy with an recent optimax, or a suzuki 4 stroke. I am leaning toward the 4 stroke, but price/financing is going to seal it.

[joema]

don,t have floscan its asuk 3blade a18.5 might get a few more rpm but lower cruse speed . its still cold here on cape cod but if i remember right cruse 4200 rpm 28 knots 2.8 30 mph at idle taking a piss is louder than motor plenty of power for me running cavation plate 1 inch above keel seems ok prop blows out if too high love my combo its not a show boat but its my baby

[SC302FB]

250 Suzuki or 250 Yahama both 4 strokes sounds like almost idenical performance. It is amazing how much prices differ between reigons of the country. I quess it all depends on your local people. Switched to Yahamas in the mid 1980's and have never looked back.