Gas Giant
Petty Officer 1st Class
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2010
- Messages
- 239
Boat is a 1978 22ft Starcraft Islander (aluminum cuddy).
The boat originally had twin 70hp Johnson engines on it. I liked the redundancy of twin engines. However, at WOT the boat would manage about 22 knots, and took awhile to get there.
Long story short, I need to repower. I have about 3k I can spend.
The boat is rated for 240hp per the metal Coast Guard tag on the dash.
In talking with some mechanics, I could get by with a single 150, or anything between 150 and 225. I've seen various early 2000's era Evinrudes and Mercurys in my price range. I believe these are fuel injected, more modern style engines. Having always had older engines, I don't know what is involved in maintaining one of these. I've heard horror stories about FICHT and early Optimax engines, but also good stories too?
I also see plenty of 1990's era engines (of all manufacturers) in this price range. These typically seem to be older style, carbureted 2-stroke engines. These opinions I've heard on these is that they seem to be pretty reliable (I guess the technology was pretty well proven by that point) but they do love gasoline. Cleaning carburetors is no problem for me - done it plenty of times on a variety of vehicles.
Finding lower HP twin engines in my price range is pretty hard to do (I find twin 225's and 250's all day long, but these combined are WAAAY too much for my boat), but I did find a pair of 110's in my price range - but they are older engines, late 80's. Not sure if its a good idea to buy 30 year old engines?
For the record, I am not partial to any brand of engine.
I mainly use this boat for cruising the intercoastal, but I would like to potentially take it offshore on calm days - once I work up the nerve. I've never done it.
So, my basic question is, if you were me, what would you do?
Would you go with a single engine, or hold out and try to find twins? Or a single and a kicker?
Would you go for one of the early 2000's engines hoping to benefit from better technology, or would you go with one of the 1990's or older carbureted engines? How old is too old, in your opinion?
I know opinions will probably be all over the board, but I'm hoping to benefit other's experience, to some extent. 3k is a lot of money to me, so I'd like to get this right the first time!
Thanks!
The boat originally had twin 70hp Johnson engines on it. I liked the redundancy of twin engines. However, at WOT the boat would manage about 22 knots, and took awhile to get there.
Long story short, I need to repower. I have about 3k I can spend.
The boat is rated for 240hp per the metal Coast Guard tag on the dash.
In talking with some mechanics, I could get by with a single 150, or anything between 150 and 225. I've seen various early 2000's era Evinrudes and Mercurys in my price range. I believe these are fuel injected, more modern style engines. Having always had older engines, I don't know what is involved in maintaining one of these. I've heard horror stories about FICHT and early Optimax engines, but also good stories too?
I also see plenty of 1990's era engines (of all manufacturers) in this price range. These typically seem to be older style, carbureted 2-stroke engines. These opinions I've heard on these is that they seem to be pretty reliable (I guess the technology was pretty well proven by that point) but they do love gasoline. Cleaning carburetors is no problem for me - done it plenty of times on a variety of vehicles.
Finding lower HP twin engines in my price range is pretty hard to do (I find twin 225's and 250's all day long, but these combined are WAAAY too much for my boat), but I did find a pair of 110's in my price range - but they are older engines, late 80's. Not sure if its a good idea to buy 30 year old engines?
For the record, I am not partial to any brand of engine.
I mainly use this boat for cruising the intercoastal, but I would like to potentially take it offshore on calm days - once I work up the nerve. I've never done it.
So, my basic question is, if you were me, what would you do?
Would you go with a single engine, or hold out and try to find twins? Or a single and a kicker?
Would you go for one of the early 2000's engines hoping to benefit from better technology, or would you go with one of the 1990's or older carbureted engines? How old is too old, in your opinion?
I know opinions will probably be all over the board, but I'm hoping to benefit other's experience, to some extent. 3k is a lot of money to me, so I'd like to get this right the first time!
Thanks!
