Power for 20 Master Angler

GradySailfish · #1 06-23-2006, 03:34 PM

Greetings Gents,

I have the opportunity to buy a 115 HP Suzuki 4 Four Stroke at a good price. Its a long shaft motor which will accomodate my plans to raise the stock transom to 25 inches.

I've read the 20's have decent performance with the 115's. I'm not looking for the boat to be a speed demo, I'm merely looking for a decent early 20 knots cruise speed. My main goal is fuel efficiency reliability.

I plan to put a T-Top on the boat and I understand the performance will suffer, but I'm wondering just how much. Bottom line question is will a 115 Zuki push a 20 Master Angler with T-Top.

Thanks
-Alex

Trayder · #2 06-23-2006, 05:03 PM

I run a 140 Suzuki on my 20 SF, and have run one with a 115, there is little difference. A 20MA with a t-top and Suzuki 115 4S will not be a speed demon but it will be enough and it will be very efficent to boot. There is a member who has a 20MA with a Suzuki 115, he lives in CT but I do not remember his name. I do know he loves the boat / power combo.

good luck

Ikan Besar · #3 06-23-2006, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Bottom line question is will a 115 Zuki push a 20 Master Angler with T-Top.

yes.

GradySailfish · #4 06-23-2006, 05:29 PM

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll be on the phone with this gentleman tonight. The motor is out of state, so that may present a little challenge...but if I can get a good deal....I'm going for the motor.

I was a little concerned, but as you guys suggest I don't think there will be any significant issues....it won't be a speed demon, but honestly speaking in most fishing conditions you rarely run at the speeds a boat is capable of...Id rather be efficient and reliable.

If I want a speed boat, I'll restore a little Formula/Donzi/Cigarette type deal and power it with a 496HO

lol

Thanks guys...off to continue work on my project.

eggsuckindog · #5 06-26-2006, 02:00 PM

If I was buying a motor that would not be even a choice unless its almost free, 1st 4S are not as peppy as 2S in the same HP. Second that boat really needs at least 150, when the came out the inline Merc was the choice, but a 175 would be better. Will not get any gas mileage with it all all, if thats why you are thinking 4S, it will have to be nearly WOT all the time and that will kill it. My guess on that you could use a carbed 150-175 and do as well due to reduced throttle. I also think the extra power will help the boat ride much better, just my opinion but want to see you happy. The MA I just bought has a 200 and is way more than needed, see Schnoors post on 4S compared to 225 2S

Trayder · #6 06-26-2006, 03:08 PM

at least a 150?

As mentioned before one member has one with a Suzuki 115 and is thrilled and another has a 130 Honda and I have not heard him complain.

oldbluesplayer · #7 06-26-2006, 04:38 PM

No way that boat needs "at least a 150". I'm running a 20' Seafari, which is a little heavier than the CC, and taller, with cabin and windshield, with an older 115 Johnson. If I read the original post correctly, he's not concerned about top speed, wants a low 20's cruise.

Mine with the 115 cruises easily at 24-25 mph on gps, tops out in low 30's. Generally, open sea conditions up here on the North Shore limit my cruise, anyways, I'm often happy to just plod along at 20 mph, and damned glad of the Sea Craft hull and it's sea-keeping capabilities. For my money, at most, I'd go to a 4 cylinder 135 / 140, but would not go up the 2 more cylinders, and added weight, to get to a 150 or above.

But that's just my .02 worth.

Bill

Bigshrimpin · #8 06-26-2006, 05:13 PM

Blues - Hows the fuel economy with that motor?

oldbluesplayer · #9 06-26-2006, 05:35 PM

Big - I can't give you exact numbers, just got the boat last year, by the time I fixed the transom, got it in the water in August, and ran it till the stripers and blues left in mid October, pretty much every weekend - but I have the 47 gal tank, filled it up once, ran it for 8 hours+, chasin fish all over north of Cape Anne, still showed better than 1/2 tank at the end of the day, went out the next weekend without adding any, ran out, trolled around for 4 hours or so, and back in, still showing 1/4 tank - never put in more than 18 gal. for a days trip after that.

They say the old carb motors are gas pigs, and maybe so, certainly my earlier experiences with 2 stroke outboards was that they were gas hogs, but this is a pretty economical, and capable, rig, in my view.

Bill

Ikan Besar · #10 06-26-2006, 06:45 PM

I've heard the numbers for the 115 Suzy are very close to those of the 140. While not the same engine, my fuel consumption with the Suzy 140 and a full 75 gallon tank:

30mph cruise, 4000rpm (WOT is 6K), 5.7 gph according to the Floscan.

I think the real numbers are actually just a little bit better than that as the Floscan said I'd burned 61 gallons of fuel but it only took 58 to fill it up the other day. At any rate, I'm covering more than five miles for every $3.50 gallon of gas.