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Posts: 667
Location: Wisconsin | My 1987 Merc Classic 50, which is really a 45 HP, is running fine, but now that I am fishing more, I would like a bit more juice! She struggles getting my 680T on plane. I have added quite a bit of gear/batteries etc to the boat so she weighs more and the performance is lacking. 60 is the largest motor I can install.
So, I want to keep my eyes open for a good deal on a used motor, but I am looking for help as to which motor would be best?
Would appreciate help with questions like:
Will I really notice the 15% add't HP?
Is the EFI worth the extra $ over a carb model?
When did they switch over?(probably differs with each manufacturer?)
Four stroke vs 2 stroke?
Brand recommendation?
Anything else you think I should consider??
Thanks for your help. I want to search while I have a working motor, not while I have a dead one and am deperate to get her back and running in the middle of the season.
Edited by Clammer 3/4/2014 4:53 PM
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Posts: 455
| I have the same boat with a 50 two stroke Johnson and it moves pretty well. The weight of a fourstroke would eat up your extra horsepower anyway. I would buy an Etech if your going new. Any 60hp. two stroke should be fine. Mines only rated for 55hp. but seams good with 50. My GPS says 33 when I`m alone. Maybe your motor is tired. |
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Posts: 667
Location: Wisconsin | Rat,when it is calm and I am alone, she goes well. Add waves and a partner, not so much. Is you motor the original? Mine still has good compression readings.
Edited by Clammer 3/4/2014 5:28 PM
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Posts: 32885
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | The new 60 HP 4 strokes do a great job. I have run a 60 4 stroke Merc against a 50 HP 2 stroke, and the 60 eats it for breakfast. |
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Posts: 667
Location: Wisconsin | sworrall - 3/4/2014 5:30 PM
The new 60 HP 4 strokes do a great job. I have run a 60 4 stroke Merc against a 50 HP 2 stroke, and the 60 eats it for breakfast.
Well that is good to know. Gives me hope! |
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Posts: 32885
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | The Merc 4 Stroke weighs in at about the same weight as the Evinrude 2 stroke. |
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Posts: 455
| Yes original. I`m thinking of getting Etech to save gas. My transom looks fine but I have some rot here and there so I don`t want the extra weight of a 4stroke. I added a custom aluminum plate to protect transom so I should be fine. For trolling a fourstroke would be great but would not likely have any more snot than a 50hp two stroke. I would look for the lightest motor possible. I`m not a real outboard expert though. I`m sure someone more knowledgeable will chime in. |
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Posts: 667
Location: Wisconsin | Are the 4 strokes all good, or is there a year where something changed that I should look for?? When did they start making the 60 in a 4 stroke? |
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Posts: 32885
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | All of the Merc 60's are good. And they don't weigh in heavier than the only 2 stroke left out there. Plenty low end torque and plenty top end performance. |
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Posts: 455
| See someone chimed in. I have been in boats with Honda and they are super quiet. If Steve says Merc is the lightest that would be a good choice. I have not researched because the old one runs so well trolling and at speed. She is a smokey gas hog but fast and reliable. Rather the shell out a bunch of cash now I will just wait for it to crap out. The improved range would be nice though. |
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Posts: 480
| I have a 4 stroke 60hp Merc and I have had zero troubles with it. However, I wish it had a better tiller steer like a Suzuki or Honda. Merc makes a big tiller that is kick donkey but $1K is more than I can spend for a add on. When I shopped, I ended up looking mainly at price because they all seemed very reliable and had 5 year warrenties. Comfort and using the shift gear is pretty important on tillers. In hindsight, Id spend the extra $ for the most comfortable tiller handle 4 stroke out there. |
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Posts: 383
| I'm in the same boat as you...shopping for a 60 tiller for my 1675 Lund Pro-V. I love Etecs..have had two on past boats where they did great and currently have an Etec in my sled, where it is just awesome...all that said, my Lund has Yamaha gauges...is it worth going Yamaha to keep the gauges?
Edited by hooked 3/4/2014 6:23 PM
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Posts: 209
| I would look at YouTube or Google as there has to be thrust ratings and test for the 2 cycles vs 4 cycles.
Now I would only go 4 cycle but just me
My boat would be a Lund Alaskan 20 footer with a Honda 4 cycle
Bill |
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Posts: 3480
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
First, you would not be gaining 15% in horsepower... it would be 33% and a touch more. In terms of overall speed, you would probably see about 3 mph more give or take a little. In general 5 hp equates to about 1 mph of speed....the gains are in the low end due to extra torque created by the higher horsepower.
Weight of the motor is not what should be the main determining factor as extra weight in the rear actually makes the bow easier to trim due to the center of gravity of the entire rig moving to the rear. What SHOULD be considered is the engine displacement. The larger displacement, the more "umph" the motor is going to have, which becomes a huge benefit for hole shot, maintaining a rig on plane at lower rpm, and especially when working larger waters, most notably a following sea. In most cases, the larger displacement will weigh more, but the benefit of displacement will far outweigh the extra weight.
Displacement is a major indicator to follow as with so many motors that have been made over the years is the same powerhead is used for multiple horsepower. This usually equates to a lower rated motor having more HP than stated, and the top HP probably being a touch below the rating. Case in point: The OMC/Suzuki 90 hp and 115 2 stroke models. Both were built on the 60 degree V-4 block, with the 90 detuned a touch. In fact, in the OMC days the 90 to 130 hp carried the same displacement. The 90 is a beautiful engine that would definitely dnyno over 90 hp...probably closer to 100 if not a tad over. Manufacturers are given a 10% leeway in actual HP vs rated HP.
With the motors out there in existence for a 60hp power plant, I don't think you could go wrong with any motors build in that size...merc and evinrude being the only ones I know of in that HP. Both are strong motors and will do your rig well. If you decide to find a used model, the OMC 60 hp 3 cylinder would be a solid motor as well, with the only setback being a carbed 2 stroke. The nice thing about the older 2 stoke, it might have a little better hole shot, although trolling and fuel economy will be the sacrifice.
Steve
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Posts: 667
Location: Wisconsin | Steve, I knew it was 33%, not sure where I even got the 15?? Brain cramp, I guess. I noticed what you said about the same block supporting different HP on the limited research I have done. So are you of the belief that any 60 will be a marked improvement for getting on plane?? |
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Posts: 3480
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
I would say yes, given the motor is propped well. The 15 you mentioned is the extra HP you are seeing.. 
If the motor is propped with too big of fins, or with too much pitch, you could potentially get a motor that cannot get the boat on plane, so finding the right pitch will get it moving just fine. You will enjoy the extra HP.
Steve |
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Posts: 667
Location: Wisconsin | VMS - 3/4/2014 7:14 PM
Hiya,
I would say yes, given the motor is propped well. The 15 you mentioned is the extra HP you are seeing..
Wow, I did some number crunching before I posted so I wouldn't look like a Bozo! Well so much for that thought!
Clammer, AKA Bozo |
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Posts: 3480
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | I was never very good at numbers either. 
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Posts: 455
| Yea mine rips with the old Johnson 50hp. Must be a good year good displacement. Half throttle stays on plane. Same year as yours. Too bad yours didn`t come with the Johnson. |
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Posts: 667
Location: Wisconsin | muskyrat - 3/4/2014 7:38 PM
Too bad yours didn`t come with the Johnson.
HA!!! It did come with a Johnson as a Boat Show Special, I paid extra for the Merc!! |
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Posts: 3480
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | I owned a johnson 50 hp 2 stroke motor for a few years before upgrading boats. mine was a 1999 model, and the only 2 cylinder model by that time, but had more displacement than the 3 cylinder yamaha's. The gear ratio of the 50 was 2.42:1 which made it a bull...very strong motor!! Bulletproof if you ask me.. The same block for the 50 hp has been used since the middle 70's.
Lots of those out there to choose from. I wouldn't hesitate on one of those for a good deal.
Steve |
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Posts: 455
| Yea mines a 1988. I intended to replace it when I got the boat but I like it. I was told 2 cylinder was no good for trolling but I have trolled hundreds of miles without ever fouling a plug or stalling. I`m thinking you are rite in that it will not break easy and I will be suckin fumes for years to come. |
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Posts: 3480
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
For starters, you might find less smoke and fumes if you change oil. If you are not running amsoil in it already, that will cut down on the smoke and fumes. And...so long as you are opening up the motor once in a while, fouling a plug due to carbon is not going to be common, plus if you change out your plugs after you blow out any fogging (if you are in an area where extended storage time happens), it would be very doubtful you would foul a plug at all. I didn't troll much, but never fouled a plug. At about $6.00 a year, replacing plugs was a no brainer.
Steve |
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Posts: 455
| Is that synthetic? I keep extra plugs in the boat but have not needed them yet. Will do all that this spring. I have the boat in my garage and like to use it during mild winters but this year is ridiculous! I should have fogged the darn thing! Feels like Alaska this year! |
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Posts: 667
Location: Wisconsin | I switched to Amsoil a while back and it has less fumes for sure! and yes, it is synthetic.
Edited by Clammer 3/4/2014 9:19 PM
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Posts: 177
Location: ON | I would look for a used Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki. I have had all but a Suzuki, currently I run a Merc. The 40hp Honda I had was the best motor I ever turned a key on. Currently I run a Merc and its fine.
The motor you have now is a fuel pig. Going to a 4 stroke will please you emmensly. Not to mention the torque you will get going to a 60 4s. Keep your eyes peeled. Good deal will start to show soon.
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Posts: 152
| Clammer, I am in the same boat looking for a 50/60 to upgrade. Currently have a 87 Mariner 40hp ELO behind a 89 Tuffy Stinger. If you are looking at Mercurys, Mercury's website below has some helpful tests with certain engines behind different boats. You could also compare the new 40s to the newer 60s and maybe that would give you an idea of the increase in performance you can expect. I have not looked around on other honda/evinrude websites, but I am sure they probably have something similar as well.
http://www.mercurymarine.com/engines/outboards/fourstrokes/40-60/
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Posts: 667
Location: Wisconsin | Cal, thanks for your input. Yeah, my Merc is a gas pig!! She runs great, always starts right up in the Spring, but just need more power!
Bucky, thanks for the link, interesting stuff. Good luck on your search! |
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Posts: 667
Location: Wisconsin | Well, Thanks all for your input. I really wanted to get a newer injected $S, but I just can't afford that, BUT, I found a great deal on a super clean 60HP Johnson for $1500, so I figure for that price I can't go wrong.
So now the swap begins! Never repowered a boat before, plenty of Muscle cars, but no boats. |
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Posts: 455
| Good luck your boats gunna rock with that motor. Picked up some AMSoil interceptor. Will give that a shot as soon as this ridiculous cold weather clears up. Should be fishing by April if all goes well. |
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Posts: 667
Location: Wisconsin | muskyrat - 3/7/2014 7:45 AM
Good luck your boats gunna rock with that motor. Picked up some AMSoil interceptor. Will give that a shot as soon as this ridiculous cold weather clears up. Should be fishing by April if all goes well.
Thanks! I hope it works well. Kinda weird seeing a white motor after 50 years of black Mercs!
I think you will like the Amsoil, I know I do.
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60 HP tiller advise