Repower or backup????

I have an '86 Step V with a '97 Johnson V6 225 and keep it on Lake Michigan. I have had several tows this year because of outboard breakdowns. I have replaced the fuel pump, starter. It seems to have more white smoke than other motors its age.

I want to do longer distance trips next year but question the reliability of the outboard in open water.

I am considering putting a backup outboard for greater piece of mind, or spending some dollars and getting a recent used Yamaha 175 or 200HP.

What do you guys think?

[Skools Out]

that's a looper motor they are usually built like a rock. are you running oil injection? I've got 3 Johnson 225 Loopers and all have run like iron dukes.

hey 93, i know this is off topic but how much gas do you burn an hour? im looking at an 86 and i have an evinrude 225 to hang. my pop says it will burn 15 an hour easy... i say less. what do you say?
thanks.

[Skools Out]

his 97 will burn less than yours but the 86 was the change yr is yours a looper or cross-flow 86? late 86 was a small bore looper they burn a little less than the 88 up till 1995. due to smaller carbs and smaller bore. if it's a cross flow it will burn at least the 15 maybe more. the looper will burn 12 to 14 an hour.

[willy]

Skool so what is a 99 johnson v4 115 looper ??? also in keeping with this post, I would check compression on that head, if it is good i would have a good mechanic redo/update everything and add the back up motor. Bad compression I would go new motor, in the long run it will save you money. Unless you are like some of the guys on this site and can rebuild a motor in your sleep IMHO I just did this on my 1992 merc 150, it had issues that kept popping up, though it never stranded me it was touch and go a couple times, on the second trip back to the mechanic I told him if it is original replace it , hoses lines wiring electrical components pumps and if your testing says it is fine change it anyhow I'll keep it as a spare now i go out with a lot less worries

Willy,
What did it cost to to the full redo to the motor?
Also, what is a "looper?"

[willy]

Well I've called my wife something similar, which did'nt go over well by the way :-/ but I think it has something to do with the flow in the heads but that is why I asked Skool because I have a 99 Johnson on the boat I am buying and he would know. The work was a 1g when everything including draining the fuel tank and flushing it was done.

[Skools Out]

a 115 is a cross flow motor. the loopers are all late 1985, 120 and 140's and late 86 200 and 225's Johnson/Evinrudes and from 88 up they were all big bore looper in the 120 130 140 200 and 225 hp J/E motors. all use the same pistons too the 120 130 and 140 are all same block just different reeds and carbs jets and in the 200 and 225 the carbs are the only difference. it's a looper charge type fuel system. has a flat piston and the cross flow has the piston with the high top on one side.

[Skools Out]

some of the newer 150 and 175's are a style of looper, I think they were 1996 or around there and newer were loopers in 150 and 175 but different blocks and pistons.

[willy]

Skool you mean to tell me the only diffrence between my 1999 v4 Johnson (cross flow) and a 140 is the reeds in the carbs ???