I found a 200hp e-tec is it worth it?

[macojoe]

agreed, but the 175 2.4 merc i have is real good on gas, and it pushes my 23 sea ox to 30 knots!! thats a 3000 pound hull, add 100 gal gas and three guys and motor
i am not a merc guy but this motor is a good one!

[Genie Aye]

If you are going to put that 200 on your 78--you best beef up the transom. I have a 88 V-20 with the heavier 200HO and have now issues except I did have to put scupper covers over my rear scuppers in the transom--in off shore conditions it was bringing in to much water in reverse--so the covers worked great for me. The side scuppers are okay,,, the regular 200 probabley would have worked fine--but I wanted to be at the bottom of the HP range for the block used in the motor. If the motor comes with everything including the multifunction tach with all the gauges on it then that is not a bad price--you can probabley find a motor for less--offer less and see what they say--maybe 5900. As for letting them sit for awhile between usage--no problem for me so far--just use seafoam in your fuel to stabilize it and do not be afraid to use the winterization system as often as you want in between usage--only takes about 3 minutes to winterize.
Good luck with your choice.

[taqwache]

Well which ever motor I go with, I'm definitely going to beef up the transom. As for the winterization, I'll pretty much run this boat all winter long down here so I don't think I have to worry about that. By the way, how fast can you get with that 200HO on there?

[Genie Aye]

With 3 people and the top up--52.3--with the same load with top down--53.4. GPS

Faster than I want to most of the time--but cruises easy at 40 to 42 with a load and real easy at 35.

[bgreene]

That's fast. Got a 2005 Evinrude 200 DFI on mine - the model after Bombardier bought and cleaned up the issues. Real nice running strong engine, and good fuel economy on my Mako.