Repower: Yammy or Zuke?

[Tripp Halbert]

Trying to decide what the best way to go is with repowering my 18' searay bowrider. its dry weight is1850lbs. max hp is 125 i think (no one frikin makes 125s anymore!). Currently i have a troublesome 1994 merc 115 2+2 engine which has a very good holeshot and top end of 42mph. My concern is will a new 4 stroke 115 be just as powerful as this motor. I think the merc 115 weighs 356lbs. yammy 115LB weighs 377 and the suzuki 115ATX weighs 407lbs. Im concerned with mercs rep for producing more than the rated hp plus it being lighter than these 4stroke motors. Evinrude only has a v-4 model which weighs more than the zuke i believe.

Anyone have any experience in a repower situation like this. A lot of money is on the table for me to end up with a sluggish boat!

 

[Tripp Halbert]

bump...anyone?

 

[82rude]

evinrude etec 115 390lbs.

 

[Tripp Halbert]

Correction: the suzuki weighs 396. I'm not convinced a heavier engine that's also 2 stroke Is My Best Option here. Thanks for the vote though

 

[Tripp Halbert]

i have seen your edit. thank you, i read somewhere about the other model which weighs over 400 or so. i will look into that lighter v4 model evinrude

 

[steelespike]

Evinrude has a 90 HO,115 HO, and a 135 HO The 115 can produce speeds over 50.

 

[Tripp Halbert]

135 is over my max hp rating and too heavy anyways as well as 3k more than the 115s. Evinrude I checked out and seems like a great choice! Unfortunatley there is some sort of exhaust valve that the dealer claimed will not operate correctly under the steady conditions I expect (3-5 people in my boat). This dealer is a sole distributor of evinrude only and has always steered me in the right direction with my johnsons in the past.

What are your thoughts on this?

Anyone know of the new yamaha 115 being gutless?I went to look at one and it was awfully small for a 115...

 

[Tripp Halbert]

not much traffic on this but just for the record: went with the suzuki 115 SS which is basically 139 horspower, and weighs 10 pounds less then the regular 115. i couldnt be happier with my choice. cant hear this thing running half the time and i have so much excess power for skiing. plus i believe my gas mileage to be about 2.5 gallons per mile (dont have an hour meter yet). Regardless i know its way better than any 2 stroke ive had. FYI the super-sport only costs about $500 more and has the better trim/tilt type with dual push rods.

my 1995 175 searay is pushing about 52 mph with 2 people on a choppy day/strong currrent, i havent been able to get a nice calm day yet but im thinking it will proabbly do about 55. perfect for me as i cruise about 35 most of the time @ around 3750-4200 rpms.