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I am buying an engine this week for my 13 sport. I am trying to decide between 40 Yamaha 4 stroke and the Mercury 30HP. Mercury is less money, has EFI and weighs about the same as the Yamaha. Yamaha would have more power and everyone I know who has one swears it's the best motor and they would never buy anything else.

Any suggestions from folks out there?

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While my experience has been with Yamaha's, the choice can be influenced by your planned uses for the boat.

How much gear and people do you expect to have aboard on average? Do you pull a tube or water ski?

Are you in calm conditions and like to go fast?

Are the features the same (tilt/trim etc) with both motors?

Have you factored in the prices for rigging, gauges and throttle?

My preference is to re-power with the maximum rated horsepower (40 hp for the 130 sport).

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I assume we are talking about a classic 13' sport. In that case, go with the lightest engine if the difference is more than 25 - 30 lbs. if the two motors are about the same weight then go with the highest horsepower.

I we are talking the newer 130 then go with the higher horsepower.

Doug
former owner of a 13 Sport

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PS. if there is any chance that you will sell this boat in the next 5 -7 years then go with the cheapest motor. As wonderful as a repowered 13' sport is the owners take a big hit if they want to sell.

Doug

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I have a Yamaha 40hp on my classic 13' BW and couldn't be happier with it.

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Brett,
I see you have the 15" transom on your hull. I don't think either of the engines you mentioned are available in the short shaft. If you plan to use a jack plate then you should be ok. I put a Nissan 40 hp injected 2 stroke on mine. It is available with the short shaft. It weighs just over 200 lbs with ptt. The weight is not an issue for me. It performs GREAT! It idles, accelerates, and cruises flawlessly. It also sips gas. I settled for a 13" SS prop that seems to be just right for the rig. It comes out of the hole in a second and tops out at just over 40 mph at wot lightly loaded.
Mike

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Thanks for all the feedback. To answer some of the questions:

1) I plan to fish in skinny water for giant Redfish:)
2) I plan to take my wife and two young daughters out fishing and crabbing and skiing (the kids only).
3) I have resigned myself to using a jack plate.
4) I spent the last 4 years re-glassing, sanding, painting, re-fabricating all new mahogany, chasing down lights on ebay, etc. There is NO way I will ever sell this boat. It's a 1970 and I hope my great-grandkids are on this site asking how to find parts and overhaul an ancient 2008 Yamaha/Mercury 4 stroke or if they should consider the new 9 stroke nano-technology that weighs 11 lbs.

I am taking the day off of work tomorrow to make a purchase. Anyone wishing to weigh in tonight, it is much appreciated. I think the ultimate decision comes down to this:

Is EFI worth the loss of power?

It sounds like most of you (and my gut tells me the same) feel that I should max out the hp if the weight is the same and the cost is not prohibitive. Nobody seems too concerned about EFI vs Carb, so maybe I am thinking that is a bigger deal than it is.

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I am about to repower my 16ft skiff too and the Merc/BW dealer here told me the Merc EFI 30 (same engine as the Nissan/Tohatsu) is not a true EFI but more akin to a carb/throttle body. He also said it was a really great engine. I have seen two of them at the coast and you can barely hear then running. My Nissan dealer told me the same thing about the Nissan 30 EFI (not a true EFI) but said the 40 TLDI (a true EFI) was a much better bang for the buck ($700 more)... better out of the hole, under a load and WOT and just as quiet. I really like the Yamaha but our dealer here pretty much told me they don't like messing with the smaller hp motors so lack of dealer support eliminates the Yamaha. But I really like the Yamaha's multi-function tiller handle. We have a '95 Evinrude 30hp on our duckboat and the carb has performed flawlessly so don't let carbs scare you...especially Yamaha's carbs...they're the best in the bidness in my opinion. Dealer support should weigh heavily in your decision. That is the reason Evinrude and Yamaha are unfortunately off my radar. If they are comparable and the price difference is palatable, I like more hp. Congrats on your pending purchase and keep us posted on the performance. Paul

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hey brett...

i'm also in the same boat as you...i just restored a 1963 13 ft classic....

i'm also torn on what to do about a newer engine..i'm thinking about the 4 stroke 40 hp yamaha...but it needs to be 15 inch shaft correct?...what is this jackplate someone mentioned?

and what kind of prices are you finding?

.......thanks teddyfive

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After considering a new 25hp Suzuki 4 stroke for my restored `61 13 footer, I new I would be overweight 151 lbs. and the boat was designed for motors of 110 lbs. I bought a used `99 25 Johnson 2 stroke, short shaft at 110 lb.s. I saved a bunch of money and have a motor that fits the boat.
rich

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What did you wind up buying Brett?

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well boys...i'm done searching for a 40hp short shaft...for my 1963 13fter

today i bought a mint 20 inch long shaft 1999 yamaha 40TRLX for $1200

and i'm gonna use this mount (see below)...none of this 4 inch set back B.S.

i will post pix next week...

sorry to the purist group of whalers...i couldn't take the searching anymore:(

http://www.kentfab.com/Transdaptor%20...r%2013.htm

[img]http://www.whalercentral.com/images/Whaler_Bracket_13.jpg[/img]

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just for future reference should i have to make the same choice, how much was the bracket as i didn't see a price? (kent fab transom plate)

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I was able to find a new Merc./Tohatsu 25 short shaft at a great price for my restored 13 footer. I mounted it on a home built 6" jackplate. Weight is 15l lbs and 35 lbs for the trolling motor. I have had 25`s on 13 footers years ago, and was happy with the performance. I never carry more than one passenger anyway. My daughter has a 40 2 stroke Merc on her 13, and to me the extra weight and power is not worth the bad ride. I have other boats if I want to go fast. I previously ran a restored 1958 Evinrude Lark 35 on this boat that ran 29mph GPS. I won`t be able to take this boat out for testing for another week.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c19...rMerc1.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c19...rMerc2.jpg
rich

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That is the coolest bracket for the older 13's that I have ever seen.
That makes it very easy to use a 20 inch shaft motor on the older models with the cutout in the transom.

You could even paint that the color of the inside and outside to match your model.
I have added that link in the web links section for future reference.

Let's see photos of this installed on your Whaler along with the Yamaha 40 you just bought.

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Rich,

Your new steering wheel looks fantastic!! It looks so much better than the brown one you had on there before. Nice wrok.

Cliff