Posted by uffda1976 on 01/13/17 - 9:16 AM
#1
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!
Posted by jgortva on 01/13/17 - 9:35 AM
#2
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.
Jim G.
Edited by jgortva on 01/13/17 - 9:36 AM
Posted by uffda1976 on 01/13/17 - 9:52 AM
#3
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.