jdaghir
Seaman Apprentice
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2010
- Messages
- 45
I just purchased a 1988 Lowe Regency Suncruiser, RG280. It's 30 feet with a semi-enclosed cabin and upper sundeck, has U-shaped pontoons, rated for 125 hp and I guesstimate it around 3500 pounds.
It came with a 1983 Mercury 150 hp Black Max. It runs, but it was hard starting and wanted to die at idle, although it was running on old gas from last season. Previous owner claims it runs great and was able to do 40 mph lightly loaded which I don't believe.
I was also recently given a 1986 Evinrude 100 hp commercial, which from my research has low compression heads, the larger v-6 gearcase and more stainless hardware. It has 110 psi compression and good spark on all cylinders, but won't start. I suspect a fuel issue, either with the VRO or the carbs, but I haven't had a chance to investigate it. Cosmetically it looks great and probably has doesn't have a lot of operating hours - it previously was owned by a racing organization that only used it one week a year on a rescue boat.
I'm pretty familiar with Evinrudes, know nothing about Mercurys. I boat on the Ohio River, so reliability is most important to me, followed closely by fuel economy. Top speed is a very distant third. I rarely drove my previous pontoon more than 20 mph. Too many things start flying out of the boat above that.
I know this is like asking Ford vs Chevy, but does anyone have some advise concerning which one would be more reliable and economical? My heart says go with the 150 hp, it's a big fat boat. But my head says the 1983 Mercury is rated at the crank while the 1986 Evinrude is probably rated at the prop so it's not as big a difference as it sounds. And the Evinrude is likely to be a little more fuel efficient and possibly more reliable. Anyone agree or disagree, and why?
Thanks!
It came with a 1983 Mercury 150 hp Black Max. It runs, but it was hard starting and wanted to die at idle, although it was running on old gas from last season. Previous owner claims it runs great and was able to do 40 mph lightly loaded which I don't believe.
I was also recently given a 1986 Evinrude 100 hp commercial, which from my research has low compression heads, the larger v-6 gearcase and more stainless hardware. It has 110 psi compression and good spark on all cylinders, but won't start. I suspect a fuel issue, either with the VRO or the carbs, but I haven't had a chance to investigate it. Cosmetically it looks great and probably has doesn't have a lot of operating hours - it previously was owned by a racing organization that only used it one week a year on a rescue boat.
I'm pretty familiar with Evinrudes, know nothing about Mercurys. I boat on the Ohio River, so reliability is most important to me, followed closely by fuel economy. Top speed is a very distant third. I rarely drove my previous pontoon more than 20 mph. Too many things start flying out of the boat above that.
I know this is like asking Ford vs Chevy, but does anyone have some advise concerning which one would be more reliable and economical? My heart says go with the 150 hp, it's a big fat boat. But my head says the 1983 Mercury is rated at the crank while the 1986 Evinrude is probably rated at the prop so it's not as big a difference as it sounds. And the Evinrude is likely to be a little more fuel efficient and possibly more reliable. Anyone agree or disagree, and why?
Thanks!
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