Before Posting, Please Read Our Posting Guidelines Below.
1. Use the full 4 digit year for everything you are asking your question about. Example: 1962, 1988, 2000, 2011 2. Include the correct name of your Whaler model. Example: Montauk 17, Montauk 170, Outrage 26, Outrage 260 3. Include the length when necessary. Example: 16, 17, 18, 20, 22 4. Do not post your email address anywhere on this site as it is already in your user profile.
Looking for input of any kind regarding repowering my 1985 Super Sport 15. Currently I have the original two-stroke Johnson VRO 70. According to some research, this motor weighs around 240 lbs and a new Suzuki 60 hp four stroke comes in at 229 lb (for comparison, the 70 hp Suzuki jumps to a whopping 340 lbs). Price for the Suzuki seems to be considerably lower than Honda, Yamaha or Merc. and weighs less plus I like the troll mode feature. My old Johnson pushes me along at 30 mph wide open- the boat is new to me but that seems a little slow for this hull with a 70. Probably Looking to repower sometime in late 2017 or 2018. Uses: fishing, skiing tubing, cruising in fresh water only. Thanks for any advice!
uffda,
Repowering these classic B.W hulls that were built for lighter weight 2 stroke engines is not always easy especially if the boat has scuppers or low freeboard of the transome. I believe the Suzuki 60 is based off their 50 H.P engine and that is why it weighs less. Most if not all of the competitors 60 H.P engines are basically a detuned 70 H.P engine and that is why they weigh more. I had a later model VRO 70 on my 1995 15 foot Dauntless that I just re powered last summer with a Yamaha F70 which basically is the only lightweight 70 on the market and weighs within less than 10 pounds more than the original 2 stroke. I tried to go the more inexpensive route as you are researching but in the end I was not comfortable going down in H.P and I have been glad that I didn't. My Yamaha F70 performs a little less in regards to top end speed and holesshot as the old 2 stroke because, I believe, of the different power band and torque curve of the 4 stroke. However, the reliability, smooth idling, quite running and no smoking is worth the sacrifice.
jgortva wrote:
uffda,
Repowering these classic B.W hulls that were built for lighter weight 2 stroke engines is not always easy especially if the boat has scuppers or low freeboard of the transome. I believe the Suzuki 60 is based off their 50 H.P engine and that is why it weighs less. Most if not all of the competitors 60 H.P engines are basically a detuned 70 H.P engine and that is why they weigh more. I had a later model VRO 70 on my 1995 15 foot Dauntless that I just re powered last summer with a Yamaha F70 which basically is the only lightweight 70 on the market and weighs within less than 10 pounds more than the original 2 stroke. I tried to go the more inexpensive route as you are researching but in the end I was not comfortable going down in H.P and I have been glad that I didn't. My Yamaha F70 performs a little less in regards to top end speed and holesshot as the old 2 stroke because, I believe, of the different power band and torque curve of the 4 stroke. However, the reliability, smooth idling, quite running and no smoking is worth the sacrifice.
.
Good advice, thanks. With that said, I would be more comfortable going down 10 hp on a 15' Sport compared to a going down 10 hp on a 15' Dauntless.
