Advice on repowering boat and motor choice

Guys I have a 2003 southwind sf500 with a Yamaha 115 salt water series 2 stroke outboard with only 100 hours on it. My current motor is immaculate as you would expect with the low hours. The 2 stroke noise and fumes don't bother me but it does bother my wife for when we go to rotto and also a couple of regular deckies seem to fall victim to the smell and I wouldn't mind improving the fuel economy as the Yamaha is a fuel pig.

So I am thinking about repowering the boat with a 100/115/130hp 4 stroke and I am chasing thoughts on this, a new motor all fitted would probably cost close to the boats value however I don't plan on selling the boat so it would still be a long term investment.

1- would you even bother repowering considering the low hours on the 2 stroke I already have?

2- which brand 4 stroke outboard would you go with?

3- I believe most of the top brands are much of a muchness (Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda etc)

4- are the new model mercury outboards worth looking at as I know older mercurys had a bad rep.

5- who would you recommend to get the best deal?

6- what price can I expect to pay?

I don't want to do the leg work and getting quotes via email and online is proving hard work. Hoping someone else has recently been through the process. 

Cheers.

 

 

 

 

 


Paul H's picture

Posts: 2104

Date Joined: 18/01/07

you'll pretty much double

Sun, 2017-02-12 11:00

you'll pretty much double your range/half the fuel bill

plus less fumes and very quiet.

all latest model brands are good can't go wrong with the suzi or yam.

 

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My exact thoughts!

Sun, 2017-02-12 11:38

My exact thoughts!

Stevo81's picture

Posts: 1278

Date Joined: 16/04/12

I had a 200hp saltwater on my

Sun, 2017-02-12 11:50

I had a 200hp saltwater on my Old boat. Bulletproof but loud and bloody thirsty.

Those saltwater series are pretty ballsy outboards too. I reckon you would want 130hp min in a 4-stroke for similar performance to your current 2-stroke. 

Hows your performance ATM?

suzi, yam or the new merc 4-strokes are sweet

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                                   ••••••••  Electrical Contractor NOR  ••••••••

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Date Joined: 28/05/15

 I can get 37 knots out of

Sun, 2017-02-12 16:22

 I can get 37 knots out of it, I usually sit on 23-24 knots for best economy but that only gets around 1km per liter of fuel.

Posts: 126

Date Joined: 26/08/16

Fuel burn

Mon, 2017-02-13 16:39

you will go to 1 nm per litre easily. 

Auslobster's picture

Posts: 1901

Date Joined: 03/05/08

Check weight...

Sun, 2017-02-12 12:14

 ...a 130 four stroke may be a fair bit heavier than your existing motor. 

Stevo81's picture

Posts: 1278

Date Joined: 16/04/12

 Yep very good point

Sun, 2017-02-12 12:25

 Yep very good point

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Date Joined: 28/05/15

 4 stroke 130 yammy is only

Sun, 2017-02-12 16:24

 4 stroke 130 yammy is only 7kg heavier than the 115 2 stroke salt water

Posts: 163

Date Joined: 21/05/15

 Yamaha specs says the

Sun, 2017-02-12 13:17

 Yamaha specs says the difference between 115 2-stroke and the 130 4-stroke is 4kg. I recently repowered with the yammie 130 4-sroke, good motor, no complaints yet. 

merdel12's picture

Posts: 306

Date Joined: 19/07/12

 I've only heard good things

Sun, 2017-02-12 13:43

 I've only heard good things about the new mercury 4 strokes

Posts: 926

Date Joined: 22/01/10

australia

Sun, 2017-02-12 19:48

 a guy just did a solo voyage around australia with mercury outboards

Posts: 315

Date Joined: 07/05/11

F130B

Sun, 2017-02-12 13:55

Yamaha f130b - would have put one of them on if they were available when I repowered mine

 

 

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 Baron Sportsman

Just the depth that Varies

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Date Joined: 19/06/14

Hang on to it

Sun, 2017-02-12 21:20

Get new wife and deckies, spend money on fuel and beers...:)

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 My wife understands why I clean my rods n reels in the shower....

 

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 I spend way too much on fuel

Sun, 2017-02-12 21:43

 I spend way too much on fuel that's the problem, the 2 stroke is a pig.

Posts: 1111

Date Joined: 19/06/14

4 grand

Sun, 2017-02-12 22:08

 Next time you head out try and keep rpm at about 4000 , this should return you a nice happy speed ( 20 kts -ish ) and an even better fuel flow. The harder you drive it the more it's going to suck. I'm running a 92 yammie 2 Stroke on a heavy 5m glass centre console . I ran 18 miles today on about 24 litres, not bad for an old girl....;) 

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 My wife understands why I clean my rods n reels in the shower....

 

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 I don't go above 4000rpm but

Mon, 2017-02-13 14:40

 I don't go above 4000rpm but the fuel economy is still dirt compared to a four stroke.

daze out's picture

Posts: 75

Date Joined: 07/09/11

Just did it

Mon, 2017-02-13 10:12

Hi mate,
I just repowered my 6.5m ali from a 150HP saltwater series II and got a 200HP 4 stroke Yamaha put on it.
It is one of the new 4 cylinder motors so the weight is hell low. From memory, it was only 13kg difference to go up to the bigger motor and a 4 stroke. I nearly doubled the range of my boat as well and it goes like a dream.
I got Steve at Oceanlife marine to do it for me and all up it cost around $25k.
Depending on how big a motor you want to put on the price will be cheaper too.

Steve did all the chasing around for me to get the cheapest Yamaha dealer in Perth to buy the motor and came back with a number of options regarding motor choice, and fit out.

If you have any other questions PM me and i'll answer what I can.

bleicester's picture

Posts: 219

Date Joined: 10/09/14

Yamaha Promo

Mon, 2017-02-13 11:29

Don't forget that Yamaha do a promo at least once a year where they throw in new gagues, rigging and prop. There's a few grand saving right there if you're not in a rush.

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Date Joined: 26/08/16

Major rip off I reckon.

Mon, 2017-02-13 16:41

 How long has gauges and a prop been " extras" when your spending a bucket of cash on repose ring?

bleicester's picture

Posts: 219

Date Joined: 10/09/14

yes extra

Wed, 2017-02-15 09:58

 not everyone changes their gauges and rigging everytime they repower. Especially when sticking to the same brand.

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What PaulH said +1

Tue, 2017-02-14 21:32

What PaulH said +1

ranmar850's picture

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Been "extras" for quite while

Wed, 2017-02-15 07:57

 Unless specifically marketed as a package. If people  are repowering with the same make, gauges/controls may be quite adequate, particularly suits the crowd that repowers every 500 hrs or so.

snappermiles's picture

Posts: 2100

Date Joined: 05/11/10

food for though

Wed, 2017-02-15 09:41

the government is looking at outlawing 2 strokes from 2018
so they will only be sold new until then after that you will only be able to buy 4 strokes so im guessing parts may become hard to find.

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if you have hydrallic

Wed, 2017-02-15 12:00

if you have hydrallic steering you may have to change the ram set up depending on what brand of motor you buy. i brought a boat without the motor but it had the hydraulic steering set up on it to suit a 140 suzie. when i priced up the 130 honda they said i would have to change the steering ram which from memory was goign to be around $800.

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