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I'm looking at repowering my '82 13 footer with a new Suzuki 25hp 4 stroke. The price is great- $3600 (newoutboards.com) shipping and all, and they claim dry weight for the long shaft version at about 161lbs. It's a Vtwin and is supposed to be easier to tilt. My question is - do I really need tilt and trim? I have been using the boat for tooling around rivers in coastal SC and I don't really fish. I'm trying to do this as inexpensively as possible. The one thing I have noticed, is that when I would try to tilt the lightweight 2 stroke (R.I.P.-died last week) it's tricky to stand in the back of such a light boat with all the weight in the stern. Thanks for any pros and cons you can share. Lee

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I have an '08 25hp EFI 4 stroke Mercury/Suzuki on my 13 footer, no trim and tilt. 157lbs. You can get along without it but its nice to have. Problem is with tnt if you run into really shallow water you can trim up your motor and idle through it. Without it you pray alot. Also you can`t really set up your motor for optimum performance, You can only go by the tilt pin holes. Mine is a short shaft motor and tnt wasn't an option plus it will add too much weight to an already overloaded transom. These boats were designed for 120lb.

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On the other hand, when you hit bottom without tnt the motor bounces up. With tnt it's locked down and the damage can be extensive.

I tilted a 33, a 40, and a 150 by hand for years, but I was young and agile. Also, you might get splashed a little more with the extra weight in the back, but that never bothered me either.

But I'm with Binkie on convenience and idling through shallow water and fine tuning for performance. TnT is a treat.

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Surfshark:

I have a pretty similar set up to you, look at my personal page. Mine's a 1978 with a 2011 Merc 25. I ordered one without tilt and trim from Tracker Marine. One came in just days after I'd placed the order, with tilt and trim, they called and asked me if I would rather have it. Being the impatient person I am, I jumped on it. Now that I have it, I'm glad I did. Tilting the motor up isn't necessarily the issue. Being able to quickly adjust the motor's angle is. We were out on the Folly River on Sunday morning. We beached a couple of times, and were running in shallow water a lot. Being able to tilt the motor up at the flick of a switch was really nice. I'd say go for it, and I had the same dilemma as you about the added price.

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Agreed. It's certainly not necessary. But, if you do boat a lot in shallow water, it's huge. Not to mention being able to properly set your motor angle properly based on your load, conditions, etc. It is a little extra money well spent.

Bruce

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Thanks for the info. The trouble I'm having right now is finding a motor here in Charleston. The dealer/parts supplier I like to work with in town said it's a crap shoot getting A Yamaha 25 because of the earthquake aftermath in Japan. Evinrudes are being pushed too hard by anyone, and I was quoted % Grand for a 25-ouch. May be that no-maintenance-for-3-year thing! Do you recommend anyone in the Lowcountry along with Tracker Marine- I'll look them up. My wife and daughter won't ride with me unless I get an new motor after my motor died on the Stono last week. Thanks!

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Hey Thank you very much everyone for your replies! I'll say it again- this is a great forum. Hopefully as a boating and Whaler newbie I can help some folks here eventually. Now if you have questions about Corvette's and building small block Chevy's- send me an email and I might be able to help!

I'm going to shop locally some more for a 25-30HP outboard and I would like tilt and trim. I pulled the heck out of my back last week, so the timing is perfect. Thanks again! Lee

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Surfshark:

I called all over looking for a Yamaha, every dealer within about 200 miles or so of Charleston, and no luck. I guess what I'd do is to go to the various engine manufacturer's web-sites, and look up the dealers close by, and just start calling them. I did have a pad of paper with all the quotes I'd gotten on it, but I threw it away when I picked up the Merc.

I believe that Tracker Marine says they won't be undersold, and the price quote I got was about $350 lower than a couple of Merc dealers here in the Low Country.

Sorry I couldn't be more help.

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Thanks for your help- will do! Lee

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Did yall check Hankel marine off of Savannah Highway? I know he use to have a few motors that he was looking for them to be gone do to starting to have birthday there. My dad bought a 2 stroke 70 hp yammy from him last year or the year before and he just put it on the back of his 15 whaler this past winter. If you have done so you might want to give them a call and see if they have any motors they are looking to fire sale.

Also seals outboard isn't to bad either they can be a little pricey on things from time to time but still good people none the less.

Don't know what renken has but might not hurt to call them as well. I know Kenny renken sold out and no longer owns it.

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Thanks for the info GI - today I called Berkeley Marine in Moncks Corner and he can get a Yamaha 25 in several days- end price about $4500 with power tilt only & controls. etc.. Seels is a great group and I have a call in to them to find me a motor. Spoke to Richard at Pawley's Island Marine and he was really helpful - 25 Evinrude ETEC runs about $5206 w/controls, system check gauges/harness/etc. with power tilt and trim. No break-in or 20 hour service needed on the ETEC.

I'll call Hanckel tomorrow as well.

Trying to keep the motor light as possible for my 13'. Cheap is out the window! :)

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There is also daniels Island marine as well. There is also some one over off of canhoy rd can't think of them right now.

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FOr a Suzuki I would call Chatlee Marine in Sanford NC . Worth the drive I have saved a bundle compared to other dealers.BG

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the guy on cainhoy is actually on 41 (around the corner from cainhoy) and it is Whitton Marine. He's a Merc guy.