need advice on used outboard purchase... - Page 2

spareparts · #11 05-23-2008, 06:56 AM

bstekel, I have seen some people replace their seadrive engines, reusing the bracket part of the seadrive. I don't know which ones will swap(Skools is the Johnrude guy around here), but if the seadrive bracket part of your motor is in good working order(trim system, steering system, etc), it could save you some money on repower. I had a picture of a latemodel "Eagle" series Johnrude in place of an older seadrive powerplant, but I can't seem to find it. If there is anything questionable about the seadrive bracket part, skip the idea, as there is very little available for parts for them

bsteckel · #12 05-23-2008, 07:33 AM

what do you think about goin to a 225 ... price is right, but i was told that my max on my boat may be 200?????

randlemanboater · #13 05-23-2008, 07:46 AM

The two Mercury outboards I have owned were trouble free, the best, most reliable 2 stroke motors I've ever had.......

The two OMC outboards I owned cost me $200 to fix every trip......

The Johnzuki I have now is even better than the Mercs, no oil to mess with......

willy · #14 05-23-2008, 07:47 AM

Bsteckle, this is just from my personal experience, if you have a bracket or are doing a bracket do not put the bigger motors on that boat. They will not sit right in the water, they will not give you any appreciable gain in performance. Brackets all ready provide you with a noticeable gain in performance.
Every V I rode in with a bracket and a heavy motor on the back sat to low in the water in the arse, that is dangerous, that is wet as the scuppers will be below the waterline or so close they might as well be. With a couple of guys and other weight in the boat it will get worse.
The other problem with that is you will be dunking your engine if you come off of plane to quick, or if you fish in anything resembling where I fish in inlets around points etc.
Find a 115 to 150 light weight two stroke, put it on her and it will fly with that bracket, it will ride real nice to with no porpoising and you will not be hearing any gurgling from your engine on the end of every wave set or big boat wake.
Your boat without the heavier cuddy up front will be especially prone to these issues.
Trust me the extra little top end you pick up is no where worth the danger and aggravation you will get with a heavy motor on the back end

bsteckel · #15 05-23-2008, 08:34 AM

all good info .. thanks

i am making a deal on a flotation type bracket to hopefully help with some of those issues..

but avoiding extra weight would be a plus ..

THEFERMANATOR · #16 05-23-2008, 08:47 AM

The issue of weight that WILLY mentioned was my reason for reccomending the 2.0L MERCURY as my #1 pick. They're fairly light for a V-6 and PLENTY of power. I'm not sure on the YAMAHA's weight, but I believe it to be in the low 400's and the JOHNNY-RUDE will be in the mid to upper 400's. The 200 and 225 weighed the same from 86 on up, so there isn't much difference between the two. WEIGHT is your enemy here though, you gotta keep the weight down. I know others here have center consoles with brackets and they all have problems with sitting stern low in the water. The LIGHT V-4 would actually be best for this app, but not greatest for top end. And this is why the 2.0L MERC was my number 1 pick, it is actually lighter than my 140 V-4.

randlemanboater · #17 05-23-2008, 12:52 PM

Yeah, do a search for FLBuilder.....he redid a beautiful center console but had problems with it porposing because of the bracket.

I know I have seen several people on here moving gas tanks to the bow and relocating batteries trying to fix the problem on center consoles with brackets.

On the other hand, the cuddys seem to convert over just fine.

Spare has a great idea, hanging another motor onto the seadrive unit. I've seen them like that before also.

bsteckel · #18 05-23-2008, 08:52 PM

ok. ... now what years can i find a 2.0 mercury 150 ? are any years better than others?

THEFERMANATOR · #19 05-23-2008, 09:02 PM

1978 to around 2000. I would look for one from the late 80's that has the trim pump built in. The early ones use a remote mount pump for the trim and tilt. Nothing wrong with em, just prefer to have the leaner install of the later models. And the later models also came stock with the 40 amp charging system on them from around 88 on.

THEFERMANATOR · #20 05-23-2008, 11:00 PM

This one here would be high up on my reccomended list for your application. A 150 would probably be better, but the 135 is the same basic engine. This will give you an idea though of what to look for.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1994-...QQcmdZViewItem