Mercury Outboard selection for 18.5' Southwind

[mcagnew]

I posted this in the Boatrestoration section, but was thinking maybe this is a better section. <br /><br />I have a 1973 GymCraft Southwind its 18.5' long This is a picture of it when my dad had it back in the 70s. I ended up buying the boat back from the guy he sold it to and gave it to me as a gift..I remember sitting in his lap driving it back in the 84 time frame. <br />

<br /> <br /><br />The boat currently has the original 1973 Chrysler 130HP Outboard on it (shown in the picture), but is missing the lower end..so we are deciding to replace it. I want to go with a mercury outboard. The boat plate says the boat is rated to 135HP. I talked to Mercury and they told me that the chrysler motor that is on the boat now is equivalent to about a 100HP today because of the difference in the way the HP was rated (flywheel vs prop now). So what HP level do you think is adequate. I was looking at the Mercury 125 Classic. Any thoughts??

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Mercury Outboard selection for 18.5' Southwind

If that transom will take it, get a V-6 135. Difference will be at least 10mph. Not that the 125 is a pooch. They twisted them to 135 during R&D but they kept snapping cranks. This is purely educated guessing, but the 125 will get you into the 50s. The V-6 will get you into the 60s.<br /><br />If your not deadset on Merc, a 115 Johnnyrude FastStrike would do wonders for that boat. The Merc V-6 will suck gas like it's free. The V-4 Johnnyrude is much lighter and the 60 degree block is very quick. I could just about guarantee you'd get close to the Merc 135 kind of speed. Definately more than the 125 Merc!<br /><br />Make sure your light aircraft pilot's license is up to date cuz that sucka's gonna flyyyyy!

 

[mcagnew]

Re: Mercury Outboard selection for 18.5' Southwind

How much do you think the old chrylser 130HP weighed in that thing. <br /><br />I noticed that the difference between the 125 and 135 is about 70lbs...but I don't know how the old chrysler compares to the 125...what do you think?

 

[mcagnew]

Re: Mercury Outboard selection for 18.5' Southwind

Also the cost of the 135 was the problem..<br /><br />A 125 brand new runs around 6600, the 135...10.5K...almost $4000 for 10 more horsepower and the V6

 

[Kiekhaeferscurse]

Re: Mercury Outboard selection for 18.5' Southwind

Didnt notice your in two places, see restoration if you want that gearcase

 

[novicetech]

Re: Mercury Outboard selection for 18.5' Southwind

The Chrysler weighed about 270 pounds, My source, the chrysler crew website.

 

[bossee]

Re: Mercury Outboard selection for 18.5' Southwind

Chrysler 130 hp<br />270 lb (123 kg)<br />---------------<br /><br />2-stroke, carburators: <br /><br />Mercury 125 Classic<br />Lightest Version model, excludes engine oil, rigging, hardware and propeller: 348 lb (158 kg)<br /><br />Yamaha 115<br />Weight refers to shortest shaft length available. Weight includes propeller where standard: 358 lb (163 kg) <br /><br />Johnson 115:<br />335 lb (152 kg)<br /><br />4-strokes:<br /> <br />Probably to heavy, but a Mercury 115 EFI weight: 386 lb (175 kg)<br /><br />Yamaha F115 is slightly more heavy: 402 lb (183 kg) <br /><br />Suzuki DF 115 /Johnson 115 4-stroke: 421 lb (191 kg)<br /><br />Honda BF 115 is just to forget in this case: 496 lb (225 kg)<br /><br />2-stroke Direct Injection: <br /><br />Mercury 115 Optimax: 375 lb (170 kg)<br /><br />Evinrude does not have any 115 hp E-tech Direct Injection outboard (yet). But they have a 90 hp 3-cyl E-tech that perhaps could be enough, 320 lb (145 kg)? Evinrude still have the old 115 hp Direct Injection (not E-tech) that weight 369 lb (167 kg).<br /><br />Tohatsu is supposed to have a 115 hp TLDI outboard coming out soon, maybe check out that. They have the 90 hp TLDI today, 315 lb (143 kg). They have also the older models 115/120 and 140 hp carburators, 361 lb (164 kg)<br /><br /><br />In my opinion the Mercury 125 Classic is probably the best You can get regarding a compromise of hp and weight for Your boat compared to what You had.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Mercury Outboard selection for 18.5' Southwind

The Tohatsu 115 TLDI will be out in August.

 

[mcagnew]

Re: Mercury Outboard selection for 18.5' Southwind

Well I was at the Los Angeles Boat show last Saturday and talked with both mercury and evinrude. <br /><br />Once there, I realized that the V6 motors are larger than they look online But I did like the Evinrude DI 115HP V4 <br /><br /> http://www.evinrude.com/en-US/Engines/2005/115/ <br />The guy there had a Brand New Evinrude 115 sitting on his boat as a display but said he would sell it to us for $6K. What is your opinion on the Evinrude DI 115 V4.? The mercurys are nice as well, however the told me that cant sell me the 125 Classic directly as it can be sold to california because of california stupid emissions laws. He said I would have to go out of state to buy one. <br /><br />Also I had emailed a shop in conneticut and they said that a motor that size has to be installed by a dealer, and I can't just buy the motor and install it myself. What if I wanted to buy an outboard motor for something other than a boat...I don't know.