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I have a 1989 Whaler Outrage 18 with a 1988 Yamaha 130 2 cycle which is on its last legs. The engine I am considering is a new Yamaha 115 4 cycle. My question is this enough horsepower for this boat. It is used primarily for fishing but occasionally to take as many as six adults from Falmouth, MA, to Martha's Vineyard. In short, is this enough power for what I want the boat to do? Any advice will be most appreciated.
Ray

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Yes, I know half a dozen or so owners over the years with a 115hp. Top speed running light, solo is 35mph.

IMO not wise for a full load on that long of a run in open ocean. I would go with at least 130hp. I would go for the low end torque of an E-TEC.

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I have a 18' with a 115 Yamaha 4 stroke and I like the set up. If I had known at the time would have had the motor installed 2 holes up. Now I think it is all the way down.

With 4 adults I can see where others would recommend more HP. My biggest issue with this boat is getting weight toward the bow whether it is human or otherwise.

I would choose between 115 and 150 with a lot based on useage and weight of motor.

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Engine Choices and Quick Reference Guides:
https://www.whalercentral.com/article...p?cat_id=4

18' models
https://www.whalercentral.com/article...ticle_id=6

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Ray, welcome to Whaler Central.

My first questions concern how your boat currently performs with the Yamaha 130? Are/were you happy with its power? Does/did it have all the power you needed for a heavily loaded boat?

If the 130 Yamaha 2-stroke sometimes left you wishing for more power when heavily loaded, I am fairly certain the 115 Yamaha 4-stroke will disappoint you.

One nice thing about the Outrage 18 is it CAN be adequately powered by a 115 hp engine. But for routine use with heavy loads, I suspect most would recommend bumping up to a 140 or 150.

The other factor besides HP is that you are switching from a 2-stroke to a 4-stroke. I think this is a smart move. But keep in mind that 4-strokes need more displacement than 2-strokes to produce comparable power (torque). So study the engine displacement carefully when comparing different makes/models.

If you decide to go the 115 route, the Merc 115 4-stroke is a higher displacement engine than the Yamaha 115, and it weighs less. And by opting for the optional CT gearcase, you can choose from a wider variety of larger props.

With your requirements, I would be looking at 140 and 150 HP 4-strokes.

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Have you looked at a Suzuki DF140A 4 stroke. I have a an outrage 17II. I looked at and test drove a few engines mostly 150's. I was convinced I wanted a 150 for all the reasons above - and my boat is rated for 150hp. The problem for me was weight. I did not want more weight than my 1998 carb merc 135 hp (470 lb) The Suzuki weights 405lbs in 25" shaft. The new 150 Suzuki is approx 100 lbs + heavier. The Yami f150 4stroke and the merc 150 4stroke weigh a little less. I am no expert on engines, this was the only engine that fit my objectives. Might work for you.

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Another vote for the Suzuki DF140A. I repowered my 1988 18' Outrage with one 2 years ago and am very satisified. I'm aware of some who say that this engine is more like 135 - 137 hp, but under the right conditions (lightly loaded with a slight chop) I've hit 43 mph. With a 3/4 full fuel tank and 4 adults, it will run 35 -36 mph. These speeds are not comfortable under average conditions in LI Sound. In my situation it didn't make sense to add the additional weight and cost of a 150 hp engine. This engine is extremely quiet, fuel efficient and may be less expensive than others. Another advantage is that it uses a timing chain which I believe is claimed to last the life of the engine, vs a belt that needs periodic changing. Having a dealer nearby is obviously a factor.

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I agree with all said above except Phil ;) I have a 1986 18 Outrage with a 2004 F115 and I run close to 40mph mounted all the way up with a 17" SS prop at 5900 and full tank. With 2 people I have seen 38mph. Would I recommend it...absolutely. Would I recommend it with 6 people going to the vineyard....are you serious? First I would NEVER have 6 people in a 18' boat in the open ocean. As the immortal words of Capt. Brody....we're gonna need a bigger boat! I personally am repowering mine with a 225/250hp. If you want an immaculate F115 with 192hours on it, let me know.

PS...I am a huge Suzuki fan and have owned them since 1981. I would recommend the F140 however in my findings it is more like 125hp in performance which might suit your needs better.

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I think there is a difference between the DF140 and the newer DF140A. the 125hp was the rep of the older model. From what I understand, and from my test drive, it does appear to be at least as powerful as my 135 merc. It is hard to judge apples and oranges ... as the 4 stroke is so quiet i cant tell it is running at idle - and no smoke ;)

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I hope my smokey, gas guzzling and noisy 1988 130 hp Yamaha runs forever. Lightly loaded it runs 44 mph gps. Planes quickly with six adults and is a blast to drive lightly loaded. Nothing like a vintage, well running, two stroke outboard!

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carreracup03---I have been out of the loop for a while with outboards as I went to the darkside in 2011 with a 454 Bravo one setup. I hope the new 140 is close to 140hp as I did not see much more performance between my 115 Suzuki and what others were getting with the 140.

E-Tec just started shipping their new 115, 140 and 150 3cyl. Not quite sure why they have a 140 & a 150 but they know more than me.

The Yamaha 130 was a great engine. My bud had 2 on his 23 Seacraft and she boogied pretty well. He repowered with 115 Suzukis in 2001 and remarkably only lost a couple mph. They did not make the 140's yet. He just repowered with a single 300 Suzuki and she screams.

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I just repowered my 1987 Guardian 20 with an ETEC 150. I was very concerned about the weight so I picked the ETEC which is still lighter (the G1) than a four stroker. The Guardian is heavier than the standard Outrage hull but I'm getting 40 MPH with 3-4 people on board. Very happy with performance all around. In my case, anything less than the 150 would have been disappointing. The Whaler dealer who did the repower commented that a lot of his customers with old Whalers pick ETEC's due to weight issue. 70 lbs may not seem like a lot but when it hangs out over the transom it makes a difference.
Cheers
Radawhaler