Yamah in-lin 4 cylinders

[Blue_Runner]

still thinking hard about it but got a couple other things to take care of first (car for daughter etc. )

How about vst filter maintenance? I hear yami recommends annual change out but from talking to friends with 4 strokes they've never changed the vst filter?

Spare?

[spareparts]

usually some one gets crap gas before the filater cloggs under normal use. The horse shoe filter before the vst can be repalced without removing the intake, but its not that big of a job to pull the intake, clean out the vst and replace all the filters. When I service an engine with a vst, I usually open the drain and flush it a bit with the primer bulb before starting it up, it gets the heavy crap out of the vst

[Starzofchaos]

I was told when they tune their motors SAE allows a difference of +- 10% hp than what is rated for. Its been proven with most motor manufactures that they all produce hp in the +10% range. So 10% of a 150 is 15hp. So its true you can get 165hp from a stock 150hp. Its pretty much the norm.

As for the Yamaha motors, the dealers here in Jacksonville, FL think they are gold. One quoted me 16,500 installed for a 4 stroke 150. One other quoted me 15,900. This is with out any digital gauges, just analog. Called the Mercury dealer close to me, he is quoting me 10,700 on the motor 13,500 out the door on a 150hp 4cly, with two of the smartcraft gauges, full new rigging(I am providing hydraulic steering), an extra 2 year warranty (total of 5 years with an option to buy 2 more years) and there is a 500 dollar rebate. I am going to give it some more time to see if the new motors they produce are doing well. So far everyone that I've found have had 0 issues with them.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Be careful with that 10% +/-. YAMAHA got busted BIG time over this when the 200/225 4 strokes first came out. After they were out for a few years, some magazines dyno'd them, and found the 200 was making roughly 212-215 HP, well within the +/- 10%, the kicker was the 225 was also dyno'ing in the 212-215 HP range. It was within the +/- 10%, and was teh only thing that saved them, but those 1st 3 years were turning out the same engine for both 200/225, and charging $1200 more for different stickers.

[phatdaddy]

starz,those were the exact same numbers for my merc. i've been pleased so far,just rolled over 200 hours on it this weekend.
the way i figure it i've saved 4 gallons @ hour over the 150 2S (6gph vs 10gph). so thats 4 x 200= 800 gallons x $2.50=$2000 + 16 gallons of merc 0il @ $25 = $400.
total fuel savings $2400.

so in 5 -6 years, it will pay for itself

i realize there are a LOT of variables in this equation, but it's the one i used to convince myself to buy a new motor.

feel free to use it

[THEFERMANATOR]

I was ANTI-4 stroke for a LONG time, but after having one I couldn't go back. 2 stroke DFI's are just to complicated anymore IMHO, but 4 strokes aren't much different than car engines with EFI systems closely mimicking the late 90's for cars. Software is out now to scan most of them, so that helps to cut the dealer out, they are SO MUCH QUITER it is ridiculous, and they are getting the weight down on them now to a point thats not much of an issue now. I still like old school 2 strokes for simplicity, but being able to listen to the radio while having a conversation on plane is nicer.

[SkunkBoat]

I love my 4 stroke. I can't think of any good reason to buy a new 2 stroke in 2016.

All major brands are quality, really. They all have their pluses and minuses.

If you are looking at price as a factor, don't rule out Suzuki. You can get more bang for the buck and get a 6 yr warranty.
OEM Suzuki maintenance parts are readily available on Boats.net at reasonable prices.

I have 12 years and over 900 hrs on my DF140 and I trust it to go 60 miles east and back.