Brand new mid hp motor?

[spareparts]

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

[RidgeRunner]

The 115 Merc is all new. From Merc -- It is a single OHC 4 valve per cylinder Inline 4 that is 20 lbs lighter than any of the competitors offerings. 315 lbs is where I was, 360 is where I will be with more hp on tap. So, If I shift my snakebite formula from the rear of the boat to the middle or front, the weight should not be a factor. Besides I just lost 65 pounds and the pilot sits near the stern, just saying..

[THEFERMANATOR]

Weight is HUGE with a flat bottom, or mostly flat bottom skiffs. I would find another boat with newer power on it and try it out. If going new, I would put weight at the top of my list of deciding factors, and HP 2nd. I know I have seen some skiffs repowered with newer power, and it made the boats almost unfishable by adding 100 pounds in the stern.

[RidgeRunner]

This inverted V has a couple quirks but weight carrying is not a problem.
In Mercury (4-strokes and the Opti's)and the e-tec Johnson/Erude the 75,90,115 are all the same weight. Same displacement and size motors with different hp ratings. So I am not considering putting 45 pounds of additional weight back there without maxing out the hp to weight ratio in the category.
Yamaha motors are completely different going from the 90 to the 115. Pricey all of them. I think I want the Mercury because of the deal/dealers in my area. I lean American, is th Merc even made here anymore?

[spareparts]

If you are going Merc then go all the way. 150xs!!!!!!

[RidgeRunner]

Boat has a hp rating of 115, or I would have put Ozzie's 200 on it. With the 20" Mariner Magnum mid that you got. I thought about it, real hard, but then look where I would be now. Ultimately I am going for economy not speed.. The main quirk to the hull is it will never be fast, it has a huge rocker with hull extentions that plants the sponsons the more power you give it. It squeezes the water between the sponsons and creates a super cavitated mix of water as it goes over the lower unit, quirk #2. This might all sound a little unwanted in a skiff, but it will run places it can't even float, plane off in frog spit and is as stable a fishing platform as you can get in the size. With the larger gearcase and prop, it should be even faster to plane, like 2 seconds in two boatlengths. So quick and efficient and legal.

Think Hickman Sea Sled with a little more deadrise at the transom. LOL!
http://www.winninghoff.com/common/in...av=EE&page=E01

[RidgeRunner]

Committed myself to the Mercury motor today. Controls and harness cost just north of $500 clams at a decent discount I might add.. Ouch!
Spare I will finally get to use those Smartcraft gauges that have been sitting on my shelf for how many years? Talk about new old stock...
Now I need to get the rest of the Johnrude off this old girl and start with some more glass work. The dash will need to be reconfigured/recored as the bonehead (ME) that rigged it 18 years ago didn't seal up around the gauges too well (AT ALL) and allowed water to rot the core in the dash..(In one little spot but because I am anal) I mean who knew, I never had anything fancy enough to need a gauge before NV. I finally found a camera. If I only had a couple double A batteries. It is always something.

Epiphany - I have fully embraced the fact that I am going to find many a mistake by doing it wrong the first time..

[reelapeelin]

Originally Posted by spareparts

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

Daughter's boyfriend has new 90 on his 17' flats boat...it's a ZIP SLED!!

[RidgeRunner]

Sorry I got distracted earlier Reel.. Busy day. I hear all of the weight concerns loud and clear. Which is why I am attempting to buy the lightest weight 4-stroke motor made in 115 hp. This new mota at 2.1 liter is a lot of displacement yet 40 pounds lighter than the old 1.7 liter/115. Makes more torque than the old 2-strokes according to Merc.

This is the motor I originally tested on the demo boat. It is 10 pounds lighter than the 4 -stroke Mercury. http://www.outboard-engine.com/engin...p?recordID=238
They have made some inroads in the weight department.

Thanks Bradford for the congratulations;-) It will be my first new engine...
Hope I ain't steppin' up to be another guinea pig (read TEST BIT*H) for Merc.. NEW MOTOR AND ALL! OH good goodness, knock on wood! We will have EXTENDED Warranty and a full understanding of the lemon law before we initialize that final contract, just to be safe.

[RidgeRunner]

Mercury spent a few hours testing this motor before release. They claim that the mid-hp motors are 30% of the outboard segment. They surely needed to get it right with such stiff competition from the Japanese. But did they?
Well, the motor is in (exactly when they said it would be) and I am still not ready. Still need to do some rigging and my new switch plate hasn't arrived yet. One of my delays involves a USPS delivery. The US mail cannot deliver a package to an address unless that address has a mailbox?? WTF? That is why UPS, FEDEX, DHL and others cost a tad more but your package will get there. Bear in mind this package will no way fit into a mailbox and the postage carrier must get a signature so they must go to the door. They never even tried. OK OK, I knew they wouldn't deliver here but I had no idea there was anyone that still used USPS to ship packages either.

Now is time for a plug for NEWWIREMARINE out of Charleston, SC. They do marvelous work with switches. They use the best switchgear and have some of the finest workmanship I have ever seen. Laser engraved backlit Contura switches are what lit me up, no pun intended. My hommemade switchplate wasn't up to the task, aesthetically. Yeah, I know skiffs ain't supposed to be pretty. If that motor had been here earlier I would have been fishing by now instead of spending dollars on switchgear...

Meanwhile, Instead of bringing back the Black Cloud Thread I thought I would inform you all, I am officially out from under that SOB... I burned up a lower unit Labor Day weekend and that was the end of the BAD LUCK. There I said it.. My health is also returning to normal. Thank you all for your prayers. It means a world to me to have such caring folks on here share their support and good wishes. I woke up this morning for the seventh consecutive day feeling good. What a struggle this has been. Haven't even been scalloping all year.