Brand new mid hp motor?

[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..

[RidgeRunner]

The 115 is slow coming from Mercury ( Another Month of waiting) so I said "Screw It" and plan to rig the 250 EFI instead. With a 25" leg I should have the prop in some clean water and be able to get the bow up and flying on the flats boat..

Seriously, the 90 Yamaha is 380 lbs, just a squeeze more than the 115 Merc 4-stroke. E-tec is 320 for the 90 hp 380 for the 115 (so the e-tec is heavier than the NEW 115 4-stroke from Merc) That is interesting..
Still what a kick to the scrotum to find out Mercury won't have more motors to ship until 9/11/14......... Unbelievable!

[RWilson2526]

Originally Posted by 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! .

Shoot, you throw more than that away on any given day.

[RidgeRunner]

Oh Yeeouch! You had to go there, I can only assume that reference is for the lost wallet.. I have not fully recovered from that one..
That is cold. I feel the love here. LOL! Thanks Wilson.
I could always sell that Merc stuff on fleabay.. Go Yamaha?

OR Let me bank account recover a bit and then pull the trigger. Just hate waiting around and the boat was supposed to be ready for the Labor Day debut... Sucks, just saying!!

[bradford]

Congrats on your soon to be new engine Ridge!