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Posts: 2752
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | K- long story short - my marina mechanic thinks the motor is not ecomically rebuildable - 1989 150hp Johnson. The next question is what to do? I've already spoken with my insurance agent and am working on that aspect, e.g., how much they will chip in?
I'm torn between new versus used, 2 stroke versus 4 stroke, change brands, etc. Esox Maniac is a 1985 Skeeter SF150 17'6" bass boat she's rated up to 150hp. That old Johnson with a raker prop made her a screamer. Which was really nice running from storms or between spots. But it was also a gas hog, a $400-500 gas bill for 7 days in Canada was not unusual.
I'm not getting a new boat, she & I are going out together, we've got to many memories and battle scars chasing fish and I love how she handles.
So the issue comes down to the repowering choices. I'm open to all advice, except for buy new boat...
Thanks in advance.
Al |
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Posts: 483
Location: NE PA | I think it really comes down to personal preference. All of the major manufacturers are putting out great products and I don't think you can go wrong with any one of them. That being said, if i was going to go 2 stroke I would look at a new Etec (your contols should hook right up which will save you a chunk). If I was going 4 stroke, the new 150 merc 4 stoke has been getting some very good reviews and seems to be built like a brick s*** house. Either of these will be a huge fuel savings over the old motor.
Edited by lennyg3 2/27/2014 8:08 AM
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Posts: 32885
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Al, All the brands out there are well built should make you quite happy. I'd go with a DFI 2 stroke on a bass boat. My personal choice would be a Mercury 150 OptiMax. |
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Posts: 5874
| Ditto on the 150 Opti. Pick your dealer, and go. The dealer is probably more important than the actual brand on the motor. They all make good, reliable stuff these days. |
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Posts: 243
Location: South Central Wisconsin | X3 on the opti! |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | i went to the 175 pro-xs on a 1994 boat with the 5 and drive program and couldn't be happier! my biggest surprise was the fuel economy out of a performance 2-stroke. best decision i ever made on a boat. |
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Posts: 177
Location: ON | Buy a used 2 stroke, something late 90's early 2000's. They are pretty cheap and you can run another 150. While it would be great to get a new Opti, Etec or 4 stroke, you will never get your $ out of it being mounted to an '85 bass boat. May sound harsh but its reality.
Now if thats not a concern 115hp 4 stroke, or ETEC. |
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | Cal - 2/27/2014 11:43 AM
Buy a used 2 stroke, something late 90's early 2000's. They are pretty cheap and you can run another 150. While it would be great to get a new Opti, Etec or 4 stroke, you will never get your $ out of it being mounted to an '85 bass boat. May sound harsh but its reality.
Now if thats not a concern 115hp 4 stroke, or ETEC.
agree with this....with the age of your boat I don't think it would be a wise investment to repower brand new. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | I guess if you really love her and can't part w her.. plenty of good used motors out there
Edited by BNelson 2/27/2014 1:51 PM
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Posts: 5874
| Al is taking this boat with him to his grave. Nothing to get out of it then, so I say, go new!
A 115 would not be a good option on this boat. Max it out!
Edited by Shep 2/27/2014 3:19 PM
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Posts: 1169
Location: New Hope MN | Musky Brian - 2/27/2014 1:24 PM
Cal - 2/27/2014 11:43 AM
Buy a used 2 stroke, something late 90's early 2000's. They are pretty cheap and you can run another 150. While it would be great to get a new Opti, Etec or 4 stroke, you will never get your $ out of it being mounted to an '85 bass boat. May sound harsh but its reality.
Now if thats not a concern 115hp 4 stroke, or ETEC.
agree with this....with the age of your boat I don't think it would be a wise investment to repower brand new.
Ok guys I'm totally not getting your points. Why would it be a bad investment to put a new motor on an old boat? He's not planning on selling the boat so why is it a bad investment? |
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Posts: 244
Location: Madison | My 1st choice would be VMAX HPDI a close second would be the Opti. I just like the sound and smell of a two stroke. |
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Location: minocqua, wi. | if you are talking 150 it's impossible not to consider the Yamaha F150 … might be the most reliable power on the water and is no slouch for performance.
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | jonnysled - 2/27/2014 7:17 PM
if you are talking 150 it's impossible not to consider the Yamaha F150 … might be the most reliable power on the water and is no slouch for performance.
Very true when I heard a bought the skeeter MX I wanted one when I seen it had a Yamaha F150 on the back I had to buy one great motor no problems |
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Posts: 62
Location: Northwest WI | Hello Al,
X3 on the Yamaha F150. In 2007 I re-powered my 19' Sylvan Excursion with the four stroke Yamaha, trading out a Yamaha V Max OX66 150. The V Max was a rock solid engine but I wanted the fuel economy, reduced smoke and quieter running 4 stroke. I haven't regretted the switch as the F150 has performed flawlessly.
Keith |
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Posts: 3480
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
One thing to consider on the repower: The weight of a 4 stroke may start to be a bit high for the boat. When boats are made, they are made so they float level in the water in case of being swamped, with the motor on. This is so the boat can act as a life vessel in the case of being swamped or flooded.
Depending on how much extra weight we are looking at it may not be wise to go 4 stroke.
Going new...I'd say all out go for it. If the boat is exactly what you want, why disappoint yourself by changing boats? When you die I don't think you will mind if they are sold apart or together. God won't mind either... 
Steve |
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Posts: 62
Location: Northwest WI | VMS,
Good point, and is something to consider. In the case of Yamaha, the 2 stroke 150 V-Max and the Four Stroke F150 both weigh 480 lbs...so no weight penalty associated with the Four stroke.
Keith |
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Posts: 3480
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
The boats of the 80's were not designed at that point for the extra weight of a 4 stroke. The 1989 Johnson 150 hp weighs in at roughly 385 pounds as compared to the 480 of the motors of today. That is roughly an increase of 25% in weight alone. Quite an increase in weight for newer technology on a boat that is close to 30 years old....
I'm usually a proponent of a heavier motor due to how center of gravity moving back can enhance overall performance. In this case, though, the concern is can the transom handle the extra 95 pounds bouncing around back there.
In my humble opinion, I'd say it wouldn't hurt to call Skeeter or Tuffy and see what a design engineer would say. Better to play safe than to have a transom crack and in a worst case scenario, lose a motor because the transom fails.
Steve
Edited by VMS 3/4/2014 7:12 PM
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Not a problem on that boat. |
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Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | VMS - I hear you...The Merc 4-stroke is only ~70lbs heavier, the Yamaha 4-stroke ~100lbs. I'm going to move my TM batteries up to the front under a front casting deck extension to rebalance the boat. That will also give me bigger front casting platform. I might even switch those to new front terminal deep cycles too...
I trust Mr. Worrall, he knows my Skeeter's hull design intimately.... The Merc 4-stroke is a more logical choice from my perspective.
Thanks for all the feedback!
Have fun!
Al |
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Posts: 81
Location: Van Buren, Indiana | I've been looking at- http://outboardexchange.com/ These motors have a one year warranty and the oil pumps removed to prevent damage again. They are painted in Evinrude blue. They are available up to '05 in a 150HP in Johnson/Evinrude. Merc, Yamaha are available also. Their priced at about $8400.00. I ran my '05 til 2011 and the only part I ever put on it was a trim switch for the gage. I ran a 14 3/4 23" pitch Cabelas stainless prop, toally awesome setup! I bought some parts for a '90 70 HP Evinrude for the current boat I'm running and they were great to work with. Look at the parts they replace. Good Luck! |
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| ESOX Maniac - 3/5/2014 2:16 PM
I trust Mr. Worrall, he knows my Skeeter's hull design intimately....
Al
Hmmmm.........Care to elaborate, Riddler? |
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Its time to think about repowering Esox Maniac! Advice?