Yamaha F115 pulling skier ?

[hear4128]

I'm about to purchase a new outboard.<br /><br />I have a Campion 505 (17ft) with a 115 Mercury carburated 2 stroke from 1997. I use the boat for family trips, fishing and water sports. <br /><br />The boat weights about 1300 lbs. itself and about 2400 lbs in total with people and all. I know that the 4 stroke is 4 is 95 lbs heavier but all test and the performance bulletins on Yamaha homepage shows that the F115 should plane nearly as fast as the traditional 115. <br /><br />Do anybody have experience with F115 and you think the F115 will pull skiers as well as the 2 stroke (also 115). <br /><br />I'd appreciate any comments or suggestions.

 

[JB]

Re: Yamaha F115 pulling skier ?

Hello, hea115.<br /><br />Welcome to iboats. <br /><br />I would expect any differences in performance between a correctly propped F115 and a carbed 2 stroke 115 to be unnoticed except maybe with a stopwatch.<br /><br />You would have far greater user friendliness and economy of operation, not to mention being able to converse at WOT.<br /><br />The torque differences at part throttle are greatly exaggerated.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[Bomber]

Re: Yamaha F115 pulling skier ?

I have 18 Lund Fisherman with a 115 4 Stroke Johnson. About the same weight and size as the boat you are describing. It can pull me (200lbs) out water skiing with no problem which is no easy feat. You should be fine with the four stroke and as JB says you will enjoy the user friendliness, quietness, and great fuel economy.<br /><br />I ran (mostly trolling) for approximately 25 hours last memorial day weekend, fishing at Moosehead Lake, and only went through a little over 10 gallons of gas.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Yamaha F115 pulling skier ?

The Yamaha will be leaps and bounds better for towing skiers than that 2+2 Merc ever was or ever could be. Those Mercs have problems keeping a steady speed between 1800 and 2200 RPMs, they can't decide whether to run on 2, 3, or 4 cylinders in that range. That's where wakeboarders and beginner skiers usually run. Most of the complaints about those motor's running characteristics revolve around skiing. They're okay for trolling (running on 2 cylinders), okay for wide-open (running on all four). But for skiing they're just plain awful! You couldn't give me one.<br /><br />Changing motor brands is going to mean some changes for the boat. The wiring harness will have to be changed. If you have a trim gauge, it'll have to be replaced with a Yamaha compatible gauge. The shift and throttle cables will also have to be changed. Mercury uses the Yamaha powerhead on their F115s. You might wish to go that route instead. That way you can just remove the old motor and put on the new with very few to no changes.

 

[Mercathode]

Re: Yamaha F115 pulling skier ?

Have you considered a larger motor! An Opti-max 135 would kick butt! You would be staying with the same brand!