115 hp or 150 hp yamaha
 

I am about to buy a 1986 v20. I used to own a 1975 with a 115 evinrude that seemed to cruise ok. I really don't care that much about speed as I fish the back bay most of the time. The choice is a about the 115 or 150 four stroke yamaha. If I remember correctly the old boat weighed in at 1920 lbs. My sons are telling me that the newer ones are a different animal.

Def a 150 if given the choice

Ive got a F150 on my '85.....you'll need the 150 for the hole-shot. You'll be happy with it, I get great fuel econ outta mine.

My numbers: http://www.wellcraftv20.com/communit...ad.php?t=15394

i'd throw a vote for the merc 150 4S, but i am very biased.

The boat came stock from the factory set up for a 150hp engine. Stay with it. A 115 will burn more fuel as it tries to keep your boat on plane, and in the long run you will not be happy with it. The 150 is the proper engine for that hull.

My vote is for a 150, but WELLCRAFT DID factory equip and sell many with 115's as late as the late 80's. The 1.6l sea drive was a 115hp flywheel rated engine, and many V20's got em. It was an underpowered guzzling pig though as mine gulped fuel.

True, but I was commenting on his 86, and by that time I think that Wellcraft had moved to the 150 as the stock setup. In all cases we both agree that a 115 is woefully underpowered for that hull.

Nope, you could still get a 1.6L sea drive at that time. Seen an 87 before with a 1.6L sea-drive on it which was still a 115HP flywheel rated engine, so only about 100-105 at the prop. I believe it was 88 they came out with the 2.0L 140 prop shaft rated sea-drive as the small motor.

Mine has the 150hp Johsnon on it and I love it. Def the 150. You won't be sorry.

I went with 115hp yamaha. I had a new 1975 and a 115 evinrude which moved the boat along very well. I also just found out that the previous owner had the boat shrink wrapped for winter the last 10 years. The surveyor was surprised about how solid the transom & deck is in tiptop shape. Thanks for all the replies.

sounds like you had the answer before you ask the question

115 saved you some weight & money

enjoy the 4S side, i am a recent convert and love it

Wishing you luck and hope you never have cause to regret your decision.

Guy near me runs a 115 Yamaha 4S on a V20. Says it does alright, not a speed demon, about 30 wide open. He runs offshore a lot with it. Another guy I know works at Skidaway Oceanographic Institute where they run some Yamahas. He just started doing maintainence for them and says they beat the hell out of everything they own, but the Yamahas never fail them. Says he thinks he did the first oil change on one that had 1500 hours according to the maintainence logs. Says the oil was pitch black. Who knows.

Just purchased the Mercury 115 4S myself. Love it so far.. And it haS moxy too.

Hey cam, what kind of speed and prop are you running with your boat?

I was pressured by my good friend to get a larger motor, but I don't care about going fast. I have been retired now for 9 years now, time to take things easy. Thanks for all your opinions.

I dont think it was as much about goin fast as it is gettin up on a plane w/o workin the hell outta that engine. Good luck with it though and I hope it works out for ya.....

What he said. A 150 will not make a V-20 a speed demon, but a 115 can make it a SLUG. And lugging or overworking an engine is a good way to kill one. Your going to have to be REAL carefull with prop selection to get one that allows the engine to get the boat on plane, keep the cruise RPM's down to ap oint you don't hurt the engine, but still allow it to turn up on the top end so as to NOT lug the engine. And I would also be prepared to come to terms with the fact that if you load her down heavy in any sort of wind or seas, you may not be able to get it on plane. I had an 84 cuddy with a 1.6L sea drive which was a 115HP engine, and I can attest it was a SLUG. Half a tank of fuel, and 2 people on board and she was WORKING to get up and go. And I had to push up awfully close to the redline to do much of anything. It came from the factory that way, but I will admit she was underpowered. It just didn't have enough gusto to push the bow down on plane, and it was always riding bow high because I didn't want to push it to the redline to get the bow down and fully on plane. Trim tabs would have helped out alot, and I have a feeling the money you saved is going to go towards a set so you can get your boat on plane and bow down as well.

115 should be ok but given a choice always go bigger 200 is the max for that boat I think but a 150 is the way to go, I have a ,150 merc 2 stroke on mine, she's old but runs great with a 15x 17 inch prop. The only problem I'm having is the tilt and tril. If you check my posts you will see that , my son has a 150 4 stoke yammy and he's really not happy with it no hole shot. Good luck.

My opinion for the wellcraft v 20. Is this. 2 stroke 150 turning a 15 x 17 inch prop. Perfect together. Mercury of course.

30 mph wide open is not too bad, but when racing back to the dock to beat a storm, 40 mph is better.

But I am sure you will have many fun days on the water with the 115.

Congrats on the new motor!

Or, put another way, owning a higher hp engine is like owning a gun. It's better to have it and not need it than it is to need it and not have it.

Well said destroyer

I have a 150 yamaha on my 87 V20...Would not go any less HP

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