which motor for pontoon

[johntg3]

i currently have a 90hp 2 stroke yamaha on a 22f/c G3 pontoon. i am wanting to upgrade my motor for more Hp and better economy.I have a choice between a 115 4 stroke yamaha and a 2 stroke injected 115 nissan both 2010 models. any suggestions.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: which motor for pontoon

yammy, no brainer.

 

[johntg3]

Re: which motor for pontoon

does anyone run either of these motors that may be able to give me some pros and cons.

 

[rrhodes]

Re: which motor for pontoon

+1 on the Yammy

IMO Honda and Yamaha are the top motors out there

The only new 2 stroke I would buy is the Etec

 

[lmuss53]

Re: which motor for pontoon

If the Nissan is direct injected and works like the Optimax or Etec models it is a good candidate for on this boat. The direct inject 2 stroke is lighter, just as economical, and will get the same power to the water as quickly or quicker than the 4s. The weight difference is what would have me leaning toward the 2 stroke. If the warranty is similar and the dealer has a good reputation and is near by I would not hesitate to put the Nissan on my boat.

If I were shopping fo a new powerplant for my boat I would buy the max HP in an Optimax or Etec. If the Nissan is a comparable motor to them I wouldn't shy away from it.

If by injected on the Nissan you mean oil injection to mix fuel and oil to run through an old fashioned carbeuretor, then I would say the 4 stroke is what you want. You don't want to mess with a carbuereted 2 stroke motor in this day and age.

 

[johntg3]

Re: which motor for pontoon

the nissan is a fuel injected and oil injected 4cyl. 2 stroke.the dealer tells me it will outperform the 4 stroke yamaha.

 

[lmuss53]

Re: which motor for pontoon

Interesting reading from the Nissan website on DI 2 strokes.

http://www.nissanmarine.com/tech_talk/tldi_faqs.html

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: which motor for pontoon

I have a Mercury 115 four stroke on my 20' Crest. It is a Yamaha motor that was made in Japan. I gotta tell ya, I love it. I will NEVER own another two stroke. It's quiet, doesn't smoke, doesn't put oil from combustion in the water, no fooling with adding oil to the oil tank, no worrying about whether the oil injection is going to get clogged and stop injecting oil while we're under way, etc. I love this motor. This is my fourth boat and first four stroke and I am sold on it.
When I got the boat it was propped all wrong, and with some help here on iBoats I got the right prop and it is an absolute joy to own. I was the first on the river here to have a big four stroke on a pontoon, now I see them all time. I know that the Etec is a good motor, but after owning this four stroke, I don't see myself ever having another two stroke.
My advice, get that Yamaha. Get it now. You will love it.

 

[Frankenstien]

Re: which motor for pontoon

I have a Mercury 115 four stroke It is a Yamaha motor I will NEVER own another two stroke. It's quiet, doesn't smoke, doesn't put oil from combustion in the water, no fooling with adding oil to the oil tank, no worrying about whether the oil injection is going to get clogged and stop injecting oil while we're under way, etc. I love this motor.

Taken slightly out of context... but what Soul Said....

 

[Silvertip]

Re: which motor for pontoon

But you still need to change oil and filter and dispose of it so those engines are not as environmentally clean as one thinks. At wide open throttle the noise levels of modern two strokes are within a very small margin of the four strokes. All you need to do is check performance reports. A two stroke makes a different sound than a four stroke so most folks equate that to quietness which it is definitely not. No -- I'm not biased. I have both technologies. The four stroke is much more service intensive. Valve adjustments, oil and filter changes, etc. Doesn't make them bad motors, but it does not make them any better or worse than DFI two strokes. And a DFI two stroke will almost always out holeshot an identically equipped boat with a four stroke motor of the same HP. I happen to prefer a four stroke on my pontoon since it is not required to run at high rpm nearly as much as my V-hull. On it I prefer the hustle of a two stroke.

 

[TooManyQuestions]

Re: which motor for pontoon

My two cents worth:

Im no where near the experience level of others on this post, but I will say that the 115 2 Stroke Evinrude Etec that I got for my 22ft has been great. Now having said that, I have no experience to compare it to other than a small 14ft Starcraft with a 40HP Johnson that I used for 3 years.

But I must say that I talked with two mechanics and several boat owners who said the 2 stroke has less parts and therefore less to go wrong with it.

And I always heard that the Evinrude was "bullet proof." As folks on here may remember, I was struggling between the Mercury Optimax and the Evinrude. I even bumped up the HP after talking with a couple of people.

And I had a "Made in America" requirement as well. Im sure some engine componets were shipped in from overseas though.

I could use some advice on prop and whether Im "propped correctly." I need to do some measurments and report back, however I assume (remember the first three letters of the word though) its a standard prop for the engine (although I was told its aluminum, which is better than steel).

And also, one of the posters on here refered to the oil injection resevior (sp). What should I watch for on this issue.

Glad to contribute, but I still have ...

Too Many Questions!

(lol)

 

[trooplewis]

Re: which motor for pontoon

two-strokes and pontoons go together nicely. The low-end torque of the 2-stroke would be my first choice.

I had a 250hp Evinrude and it pulled way stronger than any 4-stroke outboard OR inboard teha I have ever been on in that horsepower range.

 

[mmcneice]

Re: which motor for pontoon

I have a Mercury 115 four stroke on my 20' Crest. It is a Yamaha motor that was made in Japan. I gotta tell ya, I love it. I will NEVER own another two stroke. It's quiet, doesn't smoke, doesn't put oil from combustion in the water, no fooling with adding oil to the oil tank, no worrying about whether the oil injection is going to get clogged and stop injecting oil while we're under way, etc. I love this motor. This is my fourth boat and first four stroke and I am sold on it.
When I got the boat it was propped all wrong, and with some help here on iBoats I got the right prop and it is an absolute joy to own. I was the first on the river here to have a big four stroke on a pontoon, now I see them all time. I know that the Etec is a good motor, but after owning this four stroke, I don't see myself ever having another two stroke.
My advice, get that Yamaha. Get it now. You will love it.

SoulWinner, what prop did you end up going with on your Merc 115? I have a similar set up (Merc 115 4 stroke on a 22' Bentley Elite) and am potentially interested in changing out my prop to increase my top end (currently at 24 MPH). Thanks!

 

[Russell48]

Re: which motor for pontoon

Wow, Big motor's an low speed, I do 22mph with a 1980 80hp merc 2 stroke with a 19 pitch prop on a 24ft lowe pontoon,, Sure looks like ya'll should get better speed with the bigger motor's wow,

 

[texasabil]

Re: which motor for pontoon

My brother has the yam.115 he loves it i have used his boat about 5 times he wouldn't trade it for anything!!!

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: which motor for pontoon

SoulWinner, what prop did you end up going with on your Merc 115? I have a similar set up (Merc 115 4 stroke on a 22' Bentley Elite) and am potentially interested in changing out my prop to increase my top end (currently at 24 MPH). Thanks!

Would need to know your current wide open throttle RPM's now to recommend the correct pitch prop. But knowing that boat and motor, I would say a 13.75 X 15" pitch would get you real close.

 

[5150abf]

Re: which motor for pontoon

June 14 2009, old thread.

mmcneice, check the date on a post before you answer, generally people don't keep up with threads unless they are active, I haven't seen Soulwinner on the board for quite awhile.

You can send him a private message and he may get it.

 

[mmcneice]

Re: which motor for pontoon

Thanks for the heads up, 5150abf. My bad. Will try a PM. Thanks

 

[mmcneice]

Re: which motor for pontoon

Thanks for the response! Wide open I am running about 5800 - 6000 RPM, depending on load. I currently have a 14 X 11 Mercury prop on my 115 (as delivered by the dealer). I was hoping to get closer to 30 MPH on the top end.

 

[Silver Eagle]

Re: which motor for pontoon

I have an 2007 Starcraft 24 ft. with an 90 hp Merc . two stroke and it handles the load very well. plus it runs quite and it's great on gas. One question though what grade of gasoline do you guy's use I use 87 octane.