Brand new 15&20hp 4stroke suzuki (efi)

[boater1234]

Re: Brand new 15&20hp 4stroke suzuki (efi)

Yea i figured the hole shot would be different beause of the gear ratio of 2.08 compared to a 2.15 of the tohatsu/merc or is it both the powerhead size and the gear ratio combined that just makes it a more powerful motor?

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Brand new 15&20hp 4stroke suzuki (efi)

It's a combination, of CC, gear ratio, propeller and tuning. It's possible to have a lower CC engine with more holeshot at the expense of higher end performance.

Here's the thing: While one model may be outstanding at one thing it usually trades off somewhere else if compared to another brand at the same hp. IE Weight versus holeshot, gear ratio versus top speed, etc.

 

[boater1234]

Re: Brand new 15&20hp 4stroke suzuki (efi)

I got you on that.I know the weight difference is 97lbs compared to 115ish.I can see how that can make a hair to slight difference.I'm in need of hole shot more then anything because i fish around and over a ton of rocks and oaster bars.Of course i know every milk and cranny of the hudson/port richey area where i fish but i def need to get on plane very fast.The water i fish is from like 1 to 6ft and my boat can skip through a ft of water with no problem but that hole shot is the most important as you know.Don't get me wrong i like speed as we all do but how much could we be talking a mile to 2mph difference between the motors?

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Brand new 15&20hp 4stroke suzuki (efi)

At top end, with the same pitch propellers, there was a 2 mph difference with the Tohatsu as the winner. The Tohatsu was much faster out of the hole as well. I don't know by how much, but it was apparently enough to where the Suzuki was referred to as a "bow wow". Usually a dog is declared such when there is a night and day difference.

 

[boater1234]

Re: Brand new 15&20hp 4stroke suzuki (efi)

In your personal opinion do you think the difference between the carb and the efi makes the suzuki any better?I personally really like the ratchet tilt system on the merc,that is my fav feature of the merc.I know the tohatsu doesn't have that but the tohatsu is close to $400 cheaper also.I guess it all boils down to features.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Brand new 15&20hp 4stroke suzuki (efi)

Depends:

No carb is a real plus if you don't want to run the fuel out of the engine. However, since the Suzuki has less hole shot and less top end, as a performer...It's not. But, it's a little lighter and has a longer warranty too. So, you have to look at what is the most important thing and make a decsion based on that. Reliabilty is THE most important thing to me, followed by price and features, in that order. The least important things to me are fuel economy, warranty and sound level. But that's me.

 

[boater1234]

Re: Brand new 15&20hp 4stroke suzuki (efi)

Well i will see what happens.I do like the 2stroke mercs and tohatsus i have had in the past.I may go with the merc because of the ratchet system as said in my earlier post.I have had a few nice 9.9's i have sold and the ratchet system is so nice to have.Makes a huge difference to me.Never have to move the pin once it's set that is the beauty.I wish all motors were like that.Thanks for all the info TG now i just have to find the best deal on them.

 

[boater1234]

Re: Brand new 15&20hp 4stroke suzuki (efi)

Well did a ton of research today and found a brand new in the box 20hp 4stroke merc,full warranty,just the reg 20M 15'shaft no electric start for $2325 that seems to be rather cheap from all the pricing i have seen.It's a leftover 2011 but i belive it's the same as what they are now if i'm not mistaken.That seems like a killer deal,what do you think TG?I researched i mean all day for tohatsu,suzuki and merc 20hp this was the cheapest by far.

 

[boater1234]

Re: Brand new 15&20hp 4stroke suzuki (efi)

Hey TG i was just wondering since it's been a while,about 5mths if you heard anymore news on the 20hp suzuki at all,bad or good?I was going to ask if you have physically tried one out yourself yet either?I know you said there was a glitch in the efi system so i have just decided to lay back and let suzuki fix that problem first.I went back and forth for the last 5 mths and yes i love the tohatsu but i also like the idea of a 97lb outboard which is light on the back of my 1436 lowe jon boat,i can't see how thats not enough power.I'm starting to realize like you said,having a dependable motor is the most impt thing.

I fig on a 1436 185lb jon boat thats also rated for a 20hp the suzuki should do just fine with 2 people and gear.I'm guessing at least 23 to 25mph.I don't need to go any faster hole to hole.My 15hp 2stroke yamaha i had in the past did over 22mph so it's got to be darn colse to that.I'm sure there is a bit of dif in the whole shot but prob not enough to worry about what type of fishing i'm doing.I've watched a ton of videos on you tube and it's got some punch so i'm satisfied with what i see,now i will just wait for some feedback from you to see if you have found out anything new,thanks.

 

[boater1234]

Re: Brand new 15&20hp 4stroke suzuki (efi)

Well i decided i'm going to purchase an outboard by the end of this mth,i'm just waiting on anymore info on this motor if anyone has any that would be awesome.Iv'e done a ton of research the last few days and it seems that this little suzuki is the wave of the future for portables.Iv'e also found a few nice 25hp 2stroke yamahas online but i'm just not sure which way to go.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Brand new 15&20hp 4stroke suzuki (efi)

Well i decided i'm going to purchase an outboard by the end of this mth,i'm just waiting on anymore info on this motor if anyone has any that would be awesome.Iv'e done a ton of research the last few days and it seems that this little suzuki is the wave of the future for portables.Iv'e also found a few nice 25hp 2stroke yamahas online but i'm just not sure which way to go.

Sometimes the "wave of the future" ain't as good as the "good old days". For that little jon of yours a 25 Yami 2-stroke should be the cats *****. The oil burners provide all of the positives without any of the negatives of a 4-stroke.

Just like those GD front wheel drive cars that Madison Avenue convinced us we "need". Give me a RWD any day!

PS - isn't a 25 over specs? Seems like a 15 or 20 would be better...

 

[boater1234]

Re: Brand new 15&20hp 4stroke suzuki (efi)

It's rated for a 20hp 4stroke which weighs darn near 115-120lbs so the yami is only 105lbs and i wouldn't have to open it all the way up.The boat is built like a tank jim,it's a .064 guage thick riveted boat so it's pretty solid with an extremely strong transom.I'm so caught in the middle you know what i mean.I just want to make the right decision this time and be done with it.The thing that keeps crossing my mind is i can use that 25hp yamaha all the way up to a 1648 jon boat with awesome power,i plan on moving up in size as i can afford it.So the 25 would be good for the 1436,1542 and the 1648 best of all worlds,Then i also think to myself it may be yrs before i can move up to the 1648 so the 20hp 4stroke could serve me well.I just found a brand new 15hp 4stroke merc on clearance by accident at a site for get this $2100,that seems like a steal of a deal and would prob have as much power as the 20hp suzuki.I just happen to run across is by just looking.It's a non current model,i think it's a 2012 but it's in the box so i have so many crazy options.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Brand new 15&20hp 4stroke suzuki (efi)

,it's a .064 guage thick riveted boat so it's pretty solid with an extremely strong transom.........so i have so many crazy options.

That's not exactly a tank....my little Starcraft 14 has a 0.100 hull and its only rated for a 25.

You're over-thinking this. Why fret about decisions for a boat you don't really want? Moving up in stages ends up costing a lot more in the long run (ask me how I know.....LOL). Just bite the bullet and move up to the boat you really want. If you can't afford it, just buy the cheapest motor you can now, and then buy the rig you want for the long haul later on.

 

[boater1234]

Re: Brand new 15&20hp 4stroke suzuki (efi)

Believe me i'm on the prowl for a light 15hp 2stroke merc or yamaha on cl as of now.I had a beautiful 15hp 2stroke merc but had to sell it at the time for money reasons.I have been very ill for a while so i haven't even thought of boating.For the last few mths my health has improved so now i'm ready to get a motor again,plus i've been strapped for money till now,anyhow i did find what i think is a sick deal on a 2012 15hp 2stroke merc with a 60 day warranty at a marina here in st pete,fl.The catch is it's a long shaft that would be going on a short 15 inch transom.

I have 0 experience with jack plates and really don't know which one to get or to rely on for strength.Any suggestions on a good small jack plate i could purchace?I have seen the mini jacker that seems pretty simple to install,seems like 4 to 6 bolts that go through the transom but before i put them through i want to get an opinion on this.I trust what you have to say jim so what do you think if i went this route?

I've also had my eye on this motor for mths now,he has the print for the 15hp 2stroke so small i don't think most people catch it with their eye,i however have been following it for mths now and it hasn't sold yet so i called to see why,he said most people have a 15inch transom and don't want to deal with putting the jack plate on so they pass it up,by the way the motor has less then 10min run time as it's a demo and is flawless,price is only $1450,that seems like a steal to me.Well any help on this jim i will take it especially if i can save darn near $1200 right?The suzuki is $2600 and the merc is $1450 but comes with a bit of work to fit it right.I'm ready to listen if you can educate me on a good jack plate,thanks.

You know what i just realized as i went back to the site,he also is blowing out a brand new in the box 2012 15hp 4stroke merc for only $2300 out the door,tax and all,that is a great deal to,forgot to mention that.He only has one at that price to,it's a short shaft manual start that i think would do awesome on my 1436 boat for overall everything,so i have 3 options.As far as upgrading to a larger boat as i stated it's going to be yrs so i'm going with the what i have now thing and i will worry about the bigger boat down the road.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Brand new 15&20hp 4stroke suzuki (efi)

No personal experience with jack-plates. Seems to me its more for larger boats with larger engines. On little tinnies the "transom" is usually only a half transom. In other words, the bottom half is only 1 thin layer of metal. Is that strong enough to handle the dynamic stresses of a bracket cantilevered up and over? I dunno. Don't ask the manufacturer - they'll tell you what you want to hear. Personally, I wouldn't do it.

My dealer is an authorized Starcraft dealer. If they have a shortshaft boat on the floor and you want a long shaft they will send the boat back to the factory for a rebuild. Or, they will do it right there. I've seen the conversion. It looks like it was built that way in the first place.

Regardless, either route is going to cost $, so any savings you gain on the engine may be wiped out.

Its always best to DIRTFT and not try to make something into something that its not!

 

[boater1234]

Re: Brand new 15&20hp 4stroke suzuki (efi)

Yeah we know what boat stands for right?BREAK OUT ANOTHER THOUSAND,LOL!!!!!!!!!!!I def know it's never cheap especially when boating and if you want a good dependable motor and boat.I guess i will just do a ton of research on the mini jack plates and see what i come up with.That 15hp 2stroke merc just seems so hard to pass up for that price and how new it is.I know it's light as heck,like 73lbs but the power it will put out and the stress on the transom is what i'm concerned with as well.

The price i see some people on cl asking for like 90-like early 2000's for the 15hp 2stroke mercs and yamahas are nuts.I see people asking close to $1500 for like a 95 motor and they look like like they just sat in saltwater for the life of the motor.Alot of people just are so uneducated on what an outboard is worth today you know what i mean.I saw a guy with a nice i mean nice 2006 25hp 2stroke yamaha,he wanted almost 4k,i called him up and said is this a real ad,i said i could get a brand new 25hp etec for 3k to $3300.Needless to say it's still for sale for like over a yr now and people in my area just rip him a new one,He's a bit out there if he thinks he will ever sell it.But to each there own i guess.Well if i search long and hard i will find that right motor,if not i can always go new if needed.Thanks for the info jim.I will update when i figure out what i want to do,i'm going to make one right decision and not look back this time.Still kinda leaning towards the suzuki for new though.