Is this a good deal? trading motors plus cash....

[saltfisher]

Ok, my dad got a 2007 1754 tracker grizzly and thought the 25hp 4 stroke that came with it would be ok. Well its not. He used the boat all last year, and started looking around for bigger motors. Here is what we found....

BRAND NEW 2003 mercury 40hp 2-stroke (extra left over i guess?) He is asking $3300 for this power trim/tilt with controls. At a marina. He said he would do a trade with my dads 2007 25HP 4-stroke which has a year of use, for the new 2003 40 2-stroke. My dad has to add $1k and they will swap motors out, and get everything completly installed on his boat. They said they would swap controls also, but already has a mercury so we should have a extra set of controls that come with it (not sure what they are worth). Plus they are giving a 1 year warranty.

Sound like a good deal? My dad wanted to get a bigger motor but didnt want to put out much money, and figured it sounds pretty good. What do you guys think?

Thanks

 

[steelespike]

Re: Is this a good deal? trading motors plus cash....

A 4 stroke 25 on a 1754 must be a slug its rated for 60 most reccomend 3/4 to 2/3 of max rating.You'll be at 2/3 with a 40 and the 2 stroke will have more low end grunt just because its a 2 stroke.Of course the 40 will naturally out perform the 25 in everything but (gallons per hour)GPH.Driven at a comfortable cruising speed will get as good as the 25 while it actually loafs.
Careful selection of a prop is a must.

 

[JB]

Re: Is this a good deal? trading motors plus cash....

That sounds like a fair deal to me, Saltfisher.

As Daddy points out, a rule of thumb is that you need 70% of rated power to really get satisfactory performance from a planing hull. That calculates to 43HP. I think the 40 2 stroke will do the job pretty well but use a lot more fuel.

One thing to think about. In future years carbureted 2 strokes will be banned from many waters. There is some long term risk in investing in a carbed 2 stroke. Y'all might investigate a used 40HP EFI 4 stroke or DFI 2 stroke.

 

[saltfisher]

Re: Is this a good deal? trading motors plus cash....

Thanks guys, and his boat is rated for a max of 75hp not 60. He just told me he is thinking of staying with a 4 stroke motor because of gas prices increasing like crazy. He doesnt want to be like me and put $40 gas into the boat every trip. I have a 150 merc black max on my 18' bass boat. It sucks gas, but I love it!! Only thing with him is the 50 4 strokes are not cheap. He would be trading his 2007 4 stroke 25hp so that would cut costs, but he doesnt have much or want to put out much for a new motor. he said he may look for like a 2002-2003 something used, and in good shape. That way he still can get what he wants at a good price.

What kind of gas usage are we talking bewteen what he has now (25 4-stroke) compared to a 40-50 2-stroke/4-stroke? He loves that he can go out on 5 gallons of gas and run the motor all day long and still have plenty of gas for next trip.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Is this a good deal? trading motors plus cash....

Rule of thumb for all motors approximately 10% of hp is GPH(gallons per hour at WOT(wide open throttle) 25hpX10% =2.5 GPH a 40 will use about 4GPH.
Keep in mind the 40 will use about the same gas as the 25 at the 25s max speed and loaf at the same time.
A carbed motor will use a little more gas than any efi or dfi motor.
As far as mpg it is pretty much a wash for efi,dfi 2 stroke or 4stroke.
Each having its strong points.Typically the 4 stroke will use less GPH at a given rpm but the 2 stroke may use slightly more but produce a little more speed making MPG a wash.While 4 strokes are generally quality motors they do have many many moving parts and tend to be heavier than a compareable 2s stroke.And definately have more frequent more complicated service intervals.If your thinking new motor you should give the Evinrude Etec
2 stroke a close look. they make a 40,50 and 60 in the same package.You could get a 60 in about the same weight as some 40 hp.
Etec has no scheduled maintenance for first 3 years or 300 hours.

 

[Rmart30]

Re: Is this a good deal? trading motors plus cash....

For him to be happy I think he will need at least a 60 hp.... Ive had that boat type with all sizes and combination of motors...

 

[saltfisher]

Re: Is this a good deal? trading motors plus cash....

The e-tecs are nice, but they also cost alot more then the NEW $3300 40 2-stroke that he is going to be getting.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Is this a good deal? trading motors plus cash....

I personally would want a 60 on it but the 40 sounds like a reasonable deal and I would also like the fact that it was a 2-stroke rather than the 4-stroke. I wonder why they put those little 25's on those big boats.....I've seen that myself at BassPro shops and other places and wonder who'd want it like that?
JMO,
JBJ

 

[saltfisher]

Re: Is this a good deal? trading motors plus cash....

We were trying to figure that out as well. Its moreless to keep prices low as possable as a package. The reason he doesnt go with a 60 is he got use to the gas consumtion of the 25 4-stroke. Plus he doesnt have $6k to spend on a motor.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Is this a good deal? trading motors plus cash....

For a grand, I don't think he can go wrong. Plus, at least he'd have a warranty for a year..

 

[saltfisher]

Re: Is this a good deal? trading motors plus cash....

Well now he told me he doesnt think he wants to get it because when we went to look at it we found some scratches on the motor cover. Plus it was very dirt from sitting the past few years. Not a big deal to me, but he said if he is buying a new/unused motor it needs to look it also. On the front where it has the 40 decal there was about a 3" scratch going over it into the paint. But the inside was clean clean, and brand new. So I give up. lol