Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos

Posted by bob camire on 04/20/16 - 3:17 PM

might be jumping the gun here, however, if i decided to repower my dauntless with another 115 hp engine..i know its a personal thing , but what might be the best ?..my mercs pivot pin might be gone and i might not like the option of teardown at 750 hours..but the engin runs to perfection...evinrude, merc, yamaha ..what do u think? ..thanks in advance for your input..

Posted by JRP on 04/20/16 - 4:21 PM

If I had a boat that could be adequately powered with a 115 hp engine, the one I'd be looking at is the new 2.1L Merc 115 Fourstroke. It is the lightest 115 hp engine out there currently available, including the 2-strokes. And only the Honda 115 offers greater displacement, but it is almost 120 lbs heavier (478 lbs v. 359 lbs).

The 2.1L Merc 115 Fourstroke is available in several versions with two different sized gear cases. The latest greatest high-performance version is called the 115 ProXS Fourstroke, with a higher max rpm. All of them are nicely designed with a lot of thoughtful features to make routine maintenance simpler.

If for some reason there was no convenient or reliable Merc dealer in my area, next on my list would be the Suzuki 115 or Yamaha 115. These are all good engines options and I do tend to agree that good/convenient dealer support is an important part of the decision process.

Edited by JRP on 04/20/16 - 4:23 PM

Posted by Phil T on 04/20/16 - 4:24 PM

Bob -

The revised Yamaha F115 is now weight competitive with the Mercury FourStroke and ETEC.

For me, if in a cold climate, I would go for the ETEC to get the self winterization (often go out on a warm day in Dec. or March) and no engine oil/filter changes.

It is a very hard choice.

Posted by Joe Kriz on 04/20/16 - 7:27 PM

The 2006 Dauntless 160 takes a 20 inch Long Shaft motor from what I see.

Mercury 115 hp long shaft = 359 lbs.
https://www.mercurymarine.com/en/us/e...ifications

Yamaha F115 hp In-Line long shaft = 377 lbs.
http://yamahaoutboards.com/outboards/...ifications

E-Tec 115 hp long shaft = 390 lbs.
http://www.evinrude.com/en-us/engines...tec_115_v4

I would think staying with the Mercury you could keep the controls and gauges you have now which would save you some money.
Depends on what condition these items are in however.

Posted by bob camire on 04/21/16 - 3:47 AM

Thank you Joe, I like the lighter weight of the merc..my boat is low in the aft..good point regarding controls, however, my shifter leaves alot to be desired..no detent in neutral..which is a safety factor..that might have to go if i were to upgrade..Thanks alot for the comparison numbers..excellent