90 to 135 trade good idea or not?

64osby

Admiral
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Jul 28, 2009
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I have a 1984 Starcraft Mariner with a 1985 90hp Johnson, has power tilt, no trim, runs great and at WOT runs 39mph.
Texas-20110907-00082.jpg

I have a 1974 135hp Evinrude in nice condition sitting on a stand. I have a PT&T unit for this.
Evinrude  11-25-10 008.jpg
Boat is rated for 140hp.

I've been reading many things on the forum about more power is better, bigger motors can actually reduce your fuel consumption, if you keep your hand from pushing to far forward.

I really don't need more speed, but it could be fun at times, typically cruise between 20 and 30mph, ski and tube in the 18 to 22mph range.

I've never run the 135 and hear they are true gas hogs. Would this trade net any fuel savings?

I would also then have the PT&T upgrade instead just having tilt.

I haven't checked to see if the controls and wiring would have to be switched, would anyone know off hand if just the outboards could be switched or if I would have to trade the wiring and controls?
 

Home Cookin'

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9,715
Re: 90 to 135 trade good idea or not?

unless the 90 isn't doing what you need it to, I wouldn't switch to a gas hog that's 10 years older.
Especially not if you have to invest in controls/wiring. You can probably get along with using the tilt to trim the motor.
 

64osby

Admiral
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Re: 90 to 135 trade good idea or not?

unless the 90 isn't doing what you need it to, I wouldn't switch to a gas hog that's 10 years older.
Especially not if you have to invest in controls/wiring. You can probably get along with using the tilt to trim the motor.

I don't really know if the 90 would be considered a gas hog also.

Still haven't looked at the wiring and controls to see if they would match.

The tilt will not work to trim the motor above idle, thats the way it's designed.
 

Bob_VT

Moderator & Unofficial iBoats Historian
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26,084
Re: 90 to 135 trade good idea or not?

You would probably see hardly any gain at all.

The older 135 was head rated and only maybe put out 115 at the prop and the newer 90 is prop rated.

Now get a newer etec 130 and HANG ON!! :D
 
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Re: 90 to 135 trade good idea or not?

the 135's were nick-named one thirsty five, stick with the 90.Good Luck!
 

64osby

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Re: 90 to 135 trade good idea or not?

You would probably see hardly any gain at all.

The older 135 was head rated and only maybe put out 115 at the prop and the newer 90 is prop rated.

Now get a newer etec 130 and HANG ON!! :D

15% drop to prop rate, I didn't think it would be that much.

Etec would only happen if the lottery paid off;)
 

Bob_VT

Moderator & Unofficial iBoats Historian
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26,084
Re: 90 to 135 trade good idea or not?

Yup 15% is correct! Consider yourself blessed with a 1984 and not a 1983 84 was the year it changed.

Lottery ;) A dollar and a dream!!
 

64osby

Admiral
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Re: 90 to 135 trade good idea or not?

the 135's were nick-named one thirsty five, stick with the 90.Good Luck!

So 15 gallons of gas and a six pack would get me one hours worth of fun.

Sounds like the 90 is staying on.

Thanks all for the input.
 

ezmobee

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 26, 2007
Messages
23,767
Re: 90 to 135 trade good idea or not?

You will REALLY REALLY miss the primer circuit your 90 has compared to the choke on that old 135. Seriously. The difference in cold starting my '73 85 and my '81 90 is NIGHT AND DAY!!!

Don't do it.
 

64osby

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Re: 90 to 135 trade good idea or not?

0 for / 4 against all with good reasons. Thanks guys. No trade.;)
 
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