90hp vs 115hp

[200120sc]

I am getting ready to order a new 20' pontoon boat with the 27'' toon upgrade and I am undecided on whether to have a yamaha 90hp(EFI) or a yamaha 115hp(EFI)put on it.The 115hp is an additional cost of $1850.00(including tax).I just sold a 2001 20' pontoon that had a honda 90hp(carb)on it with 23'' toons and it went approx 20 mph (gps) @ 5200 rpm with 2 people on it.The boat is used in bay waters that with heavy traffic and certain weather can be a little rough. I am wondering if the additional cost is worth the additional performance.Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[figgyb]

Re: 90hp vs 115hp

There are lots of good used motors out there. If you can find a like-new 115hp, I would get that over a new 90hp. Not sure that its worth almost $2k, maybe you can negotiate that down to $1k?

Is this a 2-toon? Is it rated for a 115hp? I have a 90hp on mine and am fairly pleased with it, though given the choice I would add a 3rd toon and a 150hp

 

[200120sc]

Re: 90hp vs 115hp

There are lots of good used motors out there. If you can find a like-new 115hp, I would get that over a new 90hp. Not sure that its worth almost $2k, maybe you can negotiate that down to $1k?

Is this a 2-toon? Is it rated for a 115hp? I have a 90hp on mine and am fairly pleased with it, though given the choice I would add a 3rd toon and a 150hp

It is a 2 toon and with the 27'' toons increases the rating to 115hp.

 

[Old Screwball]

Re: 90hp vs 115hp

Get the bigger motor, you will get your money back when you sell it. Nickle and dimeing youself when buying new will only come back to bite you. Three are 3 new (within 3 years) Sun Tracker Party Barges where I live. a 40hp, 60ph and my 75hp. I'm a shade faster than the 60, at 1/2 throttle I get batter gas milage than the 60. All have said they wished they had optioned the larger engine when they bought new. I would have optioned a 200 if my transom could handle it. If I had an extra 20 grand laying around my 18' would be a 25 foot Tri with that 200hp hanging on the back.

 

[The Lucky Dog]

Re: 90hp vs 115hp

The Old Screwball has it right

I have a 90 but want a 115 , if i had a 115 i would want a 200 .
1) Buy what you could afford
2) A big motor can go slower, but a small motor cant go faster
3) the bigger motor is a re selling point

 

[Bama Hound]

Re: 90hp vs 115hp

I never owned a 90 but I an using a 93 Johnson 115 on a 32 ft. Suntracker Party Cruiser. It is carbs and will push at 17 mph GPS. Which is a bunch considering the weight. 65 gal of gas @ IRC 6 1/2 lbs. a gal. 80 gal. water @ 8 lbs. a gal. and a genny then the boat. I am the guy you are laughing at on the way by. I put it in gear and let it putt most of the day. Been having some motor probs lately but some were caused by previous owner. You really can't use mine to compare as yours is EFI and mine carbs, There are a bunch of numbers for whatever they are worth. Sounds like you like to go at a pretty good clip most of the time. $1850 is a chunk for the difference. But then again do you want to buy a new boat and then go looking for a used motor which may spoil the taste in your mouth for your 'new" baby. Just like "hot rodding" speed cost money so "how fast do you want to go?" 27" toons will carry a good load it sounds sweet. Keep me posted.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: 90hp vs 115hp

The engines should be about $1,000 difference in price. $1,850 is too much $ difference for a 115 hp. IBoats is selling 115 hp's for $8800. While you're at it, step up to a 22' boat that's more seaworthy--with strakes and underskinning. Getting the nosecones out of the water results in a better ride, increased speeds and better fuel efficiency.

Boat manufacturers are better sources of engines for dealerships vs. ordering directly from the engine manufacturer. Engine makers get in cahoots with certain boat builders, and offer large price discounts when engines are delivered with the pontoon boat hull.

 

[Bama Hound]

Re: 90hp vs 115hp

The engines should be about $1,000 difference in price. $1,850 is too much $ difference for a 115 hp. IBoats is selling 115 hp's for $8800. While you're at it, step up to a 22' boat that's more seaworthy--with strakes and underskinning. Getting the nosecones out of the water results in a better ride, increased speeds and better fuel efficiency.

Boat manufacturers are better sources of engines for dealerships vs. ordering directly from the engine manufacturer. Engine makers get in cahoots with certain boat builders, and offer large price discounts when engines are delivered with the pontoon boat hull.

I think this is right IMO. I have been on a 20' and owned a 24' pontoon. I have been in high winds and white caps on a lake in both. The "pucker factor" is worst on the 20" by a significant margin. I read IRC in another thread, you are operating on a bay or some open water. If this is the case, IMO, I would let the "bang for the buck" be realized in the extra 4' of deck space rather than 20hp. If you sell later a 24 might be able to sell better. Sooo, many ways to go. Good luck.

 

[200120sc]

Re: 90hp vs 115hp

I think this is right IMO. I have been on a 20' and owned a 24' pontoon. I have been in high winds and white caps on a lake in both. The "pucker factor" is worst on the 20" by a significant margin. I read IRC in another thread, you are operating on a bay or some open water. If this is the case, IMO, I would let the "bang for the buck" be realized in the extra 4' of deck space rather than 20hp. If you sell later a 24 might be able to sell better. Sooo, many ways to go. Good luck.

Thanks to everyone for your feedback.I had looked at a 22' but am limited in size due to the canal I keep it in,that is why I was going 20'.I guess I was thinking that a little more power may help me out in rougher conditions when really that may not be the case.

 

[jetboater]

Re: 90hp vs 115hp

I'd go with the 115 but here's the MSRP price list from Yamaha for their 2012 outboards--- there is less than a $1400 MSRP difference between either the 20 or 25" shaft 90s and 115s--- at least negotiate them down from $1850 difference to that.....

http://www.yamahaoutboards.com/sites/default/files/images/2012 Current Model List Effect 2_12.pdf

 

[Jim_R]

Re: 90hp vs 115hp

Although I am one to subscribe to the go as big as you can logic, it's not all about horsepower anymore with pontoons. Are you going two toon, or tritoon? Are lifting strakes an option? Are you looking at 2 stroke or 4 stroke outboards, and what's the wieght difference. For the money, I would go 90 HP with lifting strakes on a twin tube pontoon over 115 HP without lifting strakes, but 115 with lifting strakes would be what I'd want.

 

[jjohnson120]

Re: 90hp vs 115hp

Although I am one to subscribe to the go as big as you can logic, it's not all about horsepower anymore with pontoons. Are you going two toon, or tritoon? Are lifting strakes an option? Are you looking at 2 stroke or 4 stroke outboards, and what's the wieght difference. For the money, I would go 90 HP with lifting strakes on a twin tube pontoon over 115 HP without lifting strakes, but 115 with lifting strakes would be what I'd want.

I agree, as big as you can go with lifting strakes. This will allow you to essentially do whatever you want, and when people are looking at used boats, these are the options they are wanting nowadays.

 

[200120sc]

Re: 90hp vs 115hp

I agree, as big as you can go with lifting strakes. This will allow you to essentially do whatever you want, and when people are looking at used boats, these are the options they are wanting nowadays.

I am planning on a twin toon.The motor would be four stroke.On a 20' pontoon do you think I would benefit by getting the lifting strakes or are they for longer boats.

 

[jjohnson120]

Re: 90hp vs 115hp

I am planning on a twin toon.The motor would be four stroke.On a 20' pontoon do you think I would benefit by getting the lifting strakes or are they for longer boats.

That's about the size of my boat and I've seen others that size with them. I think if you do any sort of tubing or kneeboarding it would make it a lot more enjoyable. We wakeboard behind mine and I know if I had the strakes would give us more versatility.

 

[WaterDR]

Re: 90hp vs 115hp

Going back to the initial question, is $1800 worth upgrading from a 90 to a 115? My feeling (and I have a 115 4 stroke), is that seems a little steep. I would try to get it down to under $1500, obviously the lower the better.

I think a few things that everyone is missing is that you can't always compare price differences on motors from some place like Iboats. First, you have to get the motor shipped. Second, you have to get the motor installed. Third, there are some motors that are simply in short supply. 115's have been one of those motors all summer around here. There are also batteries and props that come on new boats that you don't get with just a motor.

IF, the dealer already has the 90 installed, for example (don't know if they do or do not), it is a lot of added cost and time to swap a motor around especially if the shop is busy. There are some brands that are coming from the factories pre-rigged and ready to go with motors. What we don't know is if the 90hp is being discounted and the $1800 price difference simply reflects that, so the comparison may not be fair, especially if it was pre-rigged.

I just bought a brand new toon this Spring and ran into this kind of stuff a lot. Heck, in most cases, if you wanted the boat, you better want it with the motor already hung on it, otherwise, you paid dearly and/or had to wait a long time.

When it comes time to sell, and someday this will happen, the 115 will be a more desirable motor than the 90. $1800 more desirable? No, but it might sell faster. It is never really a bad idea to buy a boat that is powered as high as it can be, because there will never be another exact same model out there with a bigger motor.

That 115 should push any 20 footer from 30 to 33 mph, a 22 footer from 28 to 30 and a 24 footer from 26 to 28.