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My Outrage currently has a 1995 Evinrude 90 HP Ocean Pro. It is kind of sick. I lost a head gasket last weekend and after removing the head I found several scores around the exhaust port of the affected cylinder. After reassembly and compression check I had 122 PSI in three cylinders with 115 in the scored cylinder. It is within speck, but I think a new motor may be in my future. If you are wondering why, have you ever called you wife on your cell phone with your two childeren on board, eight miles off the coast to inform her you are having engine trouble? Not a great conversation! Anyway, due to weight my short list includes:
These days, all brands are very good. I would recommend an engine that is as light as possible since the Outrage 17 I is sensitive to transom weight.
The second factor is service, god forbid you have a problem. What dealers are local?
Third factor is price.
I would get quotes from at least 2 or 3 dealers for the same brand/model since prices are wildly different among dealers. Get a quote that has specific details with a price for:
Engine (standalone)
Rigging labor (hourly rate)
List of parts with individual prices.
Install schedule (how long for them to get motor/parts and schedule the work)
Boat dealers are one of the few service sectors left that don't want to compete on price. Many have a "take it and be happy" attitude.
I have read many stories of repowered that went well and some that went terribly wrong. Organization, detail and price knowledge will help it go well.
I only have one dealer I've done business with on any real basis, and he sells Yamaha. I've spoken to dealers of all brands over the phone and most will not even talk on list price. Rigging and labor varied from 700 to 1700 dollars. The only dealer who said he would work on the price was a local Suzuki dealer who said he would beat any price I got on the DF90. I don't now much about his reputation though. I'm not brand loyal so that is a plus I guess. I heard that BRP is still running their free rigging deal on E-tec's through tomorrow, but from the dealers I spoke to it seems they are pocketing most of the savings. Both dealers quoted the E-tec 90 at 9350.00 and 700-1000.00 for labor. I doubt many people spent 10 grand + on E-tec 90's before the promotion. Oh well, I'm going to run mine hard tonight at the lake and if it holds up I will probably wait until winter to repower. I should have more leverage then right?
