what is a better outboard 1996's- Mariner 100 or Evinrude 130

summit583guy

Recruit
Joined
Mar 16, 2010
Messages
5
there not letting me post anything in the engine section? sorry.


I just picked up a new boat to me a 1982 Hourston Glasscraft double hull boat made in van,bc. This boat is in decent shape for its age, the boat is about 2500-2600lbs with the outboard and fuel. It has a 96 evinrude 130 v4 on it now with about 500 hrs with about 300 hours of salwater use the last few years have been freshwater only, it runs like a top and has no issues that I can see so far. I purchased a mint condition mariner 100hp 1996 about 2 month prior to buying this boat hoping to find a boat without a motor (dumb idea). This motor has approx 300 hrs of fresh water only use and appears to be in mint condition, i bought it of ebay, saw a video of the engine run etc ( did my homework ) what I need to know is if i should switch the boat over to the mariner? what is a better motor? is a 100hp going to be enough hp to still ski behind once in a while? My needs are

Skiing a few times a summer 30%
crabbing in the ocean and fishing for salmon 50% of the time
touring pleasure 20%

is the mariner 100 going to be a huge power loss compared to the evinrude?

thanks guys
 

scoutabout

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Oct 14, 2006
Messages
1,568
Re: what is a better outboard 1996's- Mariner 100 or Evinrude 130

Hey summit - welome to iboats. It seems to me if the 'rude is running perfectly you should leave well enough alone. I've never heard anyone say they've been happy with less power rather than more. As a comparison, my boat weighs about 1200 pounds (less motor) and has a 90 four stroke. From that benchmark I'd say doubling the weight and adding only ten horses is not going to be satisfactory.

Changing out the engine is also going to require you find a control box for the Mariner as well which will cost you at least some money probably. Why not re-sell the Mariner and invest in a kicker as a backup, limp-home contingency plan for that extra insurance on your ocean outings and call it a day.
 

88wellcraft

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 9, 2007
Messages
208
Re: what is a better outboard 1996's- Mariner 100 or Evinrude 130

^^^^^^^ +1
 

NYBo

Admiral
Joined
Oct 23, 2008
Messages
7,107
Re: what is a better outboard 1996's- Mariner 100 or Evinrude 130

As long as the Evinrude is at or below the maximum horsepower rating of the boat, stick with it.
 

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
45,907
Re: what is a better outboard 1996's- Mariner 100 or Evinrude 130

"there not letting me post anything in the engine section? sorry."

You must not try to post in the Engine FAQs Forum, Summit. It is read only.

I am moving this to the Outboard non-Repair Forum, where it should have been in the first place.
 

5150abf

Vice Admiral
Joined
Aug 12, 2007
Messages
5,808
Re: what is a better outboard 1996's- Mariner 100 or Evinrude 130

If the rude runs great why would you change it, 500 hours is just getting broke in for an Evinrude, keep the smaller engine in the wings in case something goes wrong with this one but I wouldn't change engines, especially if it means losing that much power.
 

americaneagler77

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 15, 2011
Messages
231
Re: what is a better outboard 1996's- Mariner 100 or Evinrude 130

i agree as much as i love my mercs, i would leave the rude on there, thirty ponies is a lot to drop, now if it were a merc 115 or 125 id think about it, but as said above, if the rude runs, why mess with it
 

summit583guy

Recruit
Joined
Mar 16, 2010
Messages
5
Re: what is a better outboard 1996's- Mariner 100 or Evinrude 130

thanks guys that helps my decision, i think all try and trade the merc for a newer 9.9 kicker. thanks
 
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