Repowering 21ft cuddy - engine HP/weight

[wendhall]

I have a 1994 Seaswirl Striper with a 1994 Johnson 140 Hp outboard. I am seriously considering repowering the boat with a larger engine. The boat label on the hull list 200 Hp as the maximum Hp engine for the the hull. What determines the maximum HP, does weight factor into the process, and what affect do 4 stroke engines/weight factor into the selection on an older hull boat?

Thanks
Wendhall

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Repowering 21ft cuddy - engine HP/weight

HP ratings are done with a USCG and BIA formula. They are rated on power.

Some older boats do not like the excess weight which places the transom deeper in the water.

Launch your boat and have someone stand on the transom along with your current outboard. The evinrude etec is probably the lightest or one of the lightest available today (new)

 

[NYBo]

Re: Repowering 21ft cuddy - engine HP/weight

What Bob said, on all counts.

An Evinrude E-Tec weighs 418# (20" shaft) or 433# (25" shaft).

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Repowering 21ft cuddy - engine HP/weight

Weight is an interesting thing when considering outboards. Typically when you make the jump from a 130-150hp engine up to 200hp or more you jump up in engine size also and add weight. What that means is you add power but also weight and therefore the performance gain may not be that significant. That being said getting into a modern fuel injected motor of either 4-stroke or direct injected 2-stroke technology will likely give you better performance and fuel efficiency.

Weight of the motor doesn't typically "weigh" in on the max power calculation. However, on many boats there is a separate label indicated the maximum motor weight. On my 04 Four Winns the USCG label says 175 hp and there is a separate label that says a maximum motor weight of 427 lbs. I've seen similar tags on smaller aluminum fishing boats.

In your case that Johnson is a 4 cylinder carbed motor which is actually kinda heavy for its power output. Based on NADA it is probably about 375lbs.

A current E-Tec 200hp V6 is only 433lbs with a 25 in shaft. So basically, you would be adding 60hp and only 58lbs. My guess is you would get a huge performance gain with essentially no ill effect.

For comparison sake a 200hp Yamaha 4-stroke is 593 lbs. You'd definitely feel that extra 218 lbs on the transom.

For more comparison a 200hp Honda 4-stroke is 610 lbs for a 25 in shaft.

A Mercury Verado 200hp 4-stroke is 510 lbs for a 20 in shaft...although your boat may not work well with the Verado tilt/steering setup.

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Repowering 21ft cuddy - engine HP/weight

I would go for a 200 E-Tec all day long... I love my Yamaha F150TXR a great engine, but if I could do it over I would have gone 200 E-Tec or 200 Verado... 200 Verado is a 4 stroke supercharged 4 cylinder that weighs close to my F150. Yamaha F200TXR is 117 more pounds... I can't justify a re-power, so I'm cool for now... But I feel 2 foot-itus coming on...

 

[dingbat]

Re: Repowering 21ft cuddy - engine HP/weight

Contact Seaswirl.
The solution to a heavier motor may be as easy as moving your fuel tank a couple of inches forward.