Brand new mid hp motor?

RidgeRunner · #1 07-28-2014, 07:55 AM

So I am looking at a 90 to 115 hp outboard 20" shaft to repower a skiff. My NV boat has been such a good old girl and is so unique as to be downright worthless to most. I am going to do the right thing and freshen her up a little. New trolling motor, GPS, outboard and a fresh rig job, rebuild a couple hatches and re-seal the transom. 18 year old boat deserves it, right?

Looking hard at the new 115 Mercury 4-stroke - Lightweight of the crowd at 365 dry I think it is lighter than the Opti. Has an Suzuki is out due to lack of dealers in my area. Honda, Yamaha and Johnson/Evinrude are all palatable choices.
Anyone got any opinions? First hand or otherwise.

BTW- The motor I am looking to replace is a 90hp Johnson crossflow from 1994. It still runs but is looking a little rough around the edges. If anyone is interested let me know as it is for sale as of right now. Cheap, make offer.

The boatNV ONTO Trailer 008.jpg

randlemanboater · #2 07-28-2014, 11:56 AM

Does Bombardier still sell the Zuk as a Johnson?

If so, you know my vote.

spareparts · #3 07-28-2014, 12:10 PM

90 Yamaha? Lighter than the 115, will push a 17 Montauk with no problem, has plenty of power for a 90. I've re powered two 17 Montauk with them, turned out pretty good

phatdaddy · #4 07-28-2014, 08:18 PM

i've got a friend that repowered a 20 dusky with the new 150 merc 4 stroke. he loves it. i'm guessing the 115 is a smaller version.
have you had any experience with tohatsu. i repowered my 13 whaler in 03 with a 40 and it's been a great little motor. i think that was the last years of the carbed 2 strokes. i've heard good things about the tldi's they have now. buying one is like buying a dodge truck, you better like it , cause nobody will give you anything for it.

the daydreamer · #5 07-29-2014, 07:18 AM

A friend of mine just repowered his 17 montauk with a 90 hp yamaha and is well satisfied!!!!

RidgeRunner · #6 07-30-2014, 07:11 AM

So there are more than a couple Yamaha 90 hp fans. I hear you, and Spare is right on the 115 Yamaha is a lot heavier. Still lurking at this NEW Merc with the High Thrust lower unit option. HT lower has a 2.33 gear and has the same diameter gearcase as the v-6 Mercs so the prop choices go through the roof. With only 115 ponies that lower ought to hold on for years. That is important to me, I am tough on lower units and skegs in particular. Pricing on the Yamaha seems to be a little higher than the Merc offering as was the E-tec. They are really selling the no service for three years on the Johnrudes. Suzuki and Tohatsu are out simply because I don't have a friend that owns a dealership, like I do on the other products.
Switching away from Johnson I will need to replace all the controls which i$ going to add up real fa$t. Even if I didn't trade brands I would replace it all anyways. Might trade the old engine for some new controls.. Might even be forced to do a little glass work to the console while I am there, the binnacle control on the Johnson has a huge footprint. IIRC There are definitely new battery cables in my future, I am fairly sure the original rigger used a cheap set of jumper cable wires on a Monday morning Budweiser googles screwjob! Yep a complete re-rig is a coming. 3 stators and a weak start later... No more putting this off. Time to do it.

RidgeRunner · #7 07-30-2014, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phatdaddy

i've got a friend that repowered a 20 dusky with the new 150 merc 4 stroke. he loves it. i'm guessing the 115 is a smaller version.
have you had any experience with tohatsu. i repowered my 13 whaler in 03 with a 40 and it's been a great little motor. i think that was the last years of the carbed 2 strokes. i've heard good things about the tldi's they have now. buying one is like buying a dodge truck, you better like it , cause nobody will give you anything for it.

That last statement there is how I feel about the boat. I had heard Tohatsu was tough as cut nails. Mercury used them for a few of their smaller hp motors back in the late 80's. IIRC The 40 was one that Mercury didn't make. Never heard anything but good. Same of the Yamahas except for a oil pan corrosion issue on some of the 90's. My neighbor's for instance...

spareparts · #8 07-30-2014, 05:21 PM

do you think a 70 would push it? the 70 Yamaha seems to be the #1 choice of the flats guys around here, granted they are pushing lighter boats, but the 70 is lighter than the 90 and seems to be a very strong 70

RidgeRunner · #9 07-31-2014, 07:12 AM

A 90 does it justice. On plane fast with a old Mach 4 blade prop, ran the boat to near 40 WOT. 70 seems a little lacking in a 4-stroke I would think. But that 70 Yamaha is a sweet little package.

Yamaha 115 2-stroke is what I wet tested on the hull before I bought one. No regrets, I went used 90 hp Johnson on a new boat. It got me on the water, this time I am going to pony up. Literally. I think a 115 4-stroke is what it needs. I should be able to put it on plane and make fuel at 3500 RPM -- close to 7MPG cruising.. Stoked because the ole 2-smoke does not get 2 MPG I kid you knot...

spareparts · #10 07-31-2014, 07:28 AM

you need to find some one that has one of the newer fourstrokes on a boat similar in size to what you have and take it for a spin. The newer engines are not lacking in power, teh 70 and 90 are both new engine designs(in the last couple years any way). The 115 is still teh same engine they have been making for a while. I've heard of several people opting for the new 90 over hte 115 because of weight and negligible difference in power. If it were a heavier boat, I'd definitely say go with the 115, but knowing its a shallow water boat, the weight difference may be worth the loss of hp, minimal as it is