repowering a baron sportsman
Hi All
As the title says I have had my baron for 4 years now and have worked out what works and doesnt work for me so now it time for some mods. Fishing use is typically out of sydney with extended trips (30NM each way) limited trolling but mostly shallow and deep reefs.
1. Engine is a 1980 150 hp evinrude which wont die. Each year Ive said when it dies Ill upgrade, whilst the power is good the fuel economy & fumes are a killer. Looking over the forums there seams to be a huge range of engines fitted to these boats from 75 to 225 hp. The fishing magazine article I have when these boats were going to be released on the east coast had a maximum of 175hp. Ideally I wont to keep the same performance as I have now (not quite sure if my OB is still putting out 150 but I can get 40knt on a good day) but am interested in peoples experience with other HP range engines fitted to these hulls.
2. Fuel capacity. Have an underfloor custom aluminium tank that runs down the centre but only have 100lts usable capacity What sought of capacities do others have and is it enough? Im expecting a new engine will halve my fuel usage so this may not be an issue???
3. Transom layout. Dont really need the rear quarter seats and would like the extra room that I would have by utilising a straight transom and a pod. Whilst I have seen a few Barons fitted with pods were they an afterthought (along with all the issues that that can cause) or are they a hull that readly lend themselves to the fitting of a pod and ideally a 150hp 4 stroke?
Thanks in advance
Bob
marble
Posts: 778
Date Joined: 03/09/09
Go a 150 or 175 suzuki or
Go a 150 or 175 suzuki or yammi 4 stroke. Dont let anyone tell you 4 strokes are slow out of the hole and gutless either, fair enough your old 150 rude is a rocket but does it really matter if it takes 3.2 or 4.1 seconds to plane ?? I had a Bonito 180 which is exactly the same hull as your Baron. I put a 115 Yammi 4 stroke on it and it was pretty good always but wished I`d gone with the 150, just couldnt scrape up the extra rent at the time. The bloke who bought it from me put a 175 suzuki on it and reckons its such a great boat hes shipped it to New Zealand where he lives now. Pretty good hull youve got there.
PMY 25 Centre Console DF300 Suzuki
milsey
Posts: 1462
Date Joined: 22/08/07
I would go as big as you
I would go as big as you can, it will basically mean you can run on lower rpm meaning less work on the engine plus better economy. Brand wise have a search on here if you want to get into that debate, you will be there for a while tho. All new 4st are pretty bloody good so go with the best deal you can find.
Anthony Hall 87
Posts: 193
Date Joined: 09/01/10
X 2 for the fourstroke, just
X 2 for the fourstroke, just gone to the 115hp yammis on my cat and loving them. Had 100 hp mercs and the new ones by far out perform them in every area, only thing that might be a concern is the extra weight. Wouldn't think it would be a huge issue with the old heavy hull, got a nice high transom. To give you an idea of the economy diffence I am using 40-50% less fuel then I was plus no two stroke oil!!
On the issue of pods I'm not sure why you would bother, its a great hull design so why butcher it. Seen so many boats getting around with pods that have major issue's.
Yamaha had a 6.99% finance deal when I got mine too
Tight lines to all :)
wangler
Posts: 607
Date Joined: 26/04/08
I have a
Johnson 140hp 4 -stroke (40% fuel saving, but cost more to service and repair) on my Baron, wot gets 30knts, weather permitting, on a full load( 3 divers ) raised (5")and strenghtend the transom, removed the ali tank (started to have pit marks), use 25lt plastic tanks, under the floor ( good indication of how much fuel is used or left), and jerrys if heading 35nm off shore. A 150 or 175 would be nice, as an option if you ever decide to get a bigger boat ( 6.2m and up) transfer the motor. Leave the rear seats in and imo don't put a pod on, the older inboards have pod mods...
Want to make someone mad... tell a lie! Want to get the world upset... tell the TRUTH !
Dougie
bobakers
Posts: 23
Date Joined: 05/06/11
Hi guys thanks for the
Hi guys
thanks for the replies. Not overly worrying about which brand as I dont think that there are too many bad engines on the market in the 150hp range. Does anyone know what the maximum transom weight would be for the baron sportsman. As I said the original article said up to 175 but at the time that would of been a 2 stroke so I guessing around 180kg?
Bob
just dhu it
Posts: 1081
Date Joined: 14/05/09
pod it
bobakers , from my experiments i would hang a new motor out on a pod and close up the transom to increase deck space , as for a motor you know that the 150 handles well for a 18.6 ft boat so why change , just choose a brand
glastronomic
Posts: 892
Date Joined: 16/02/11
One thing to remember is that
One thing to remember is that the HP rating changed from crank HP to Proppellor HP in about 1987.
150HP crank rating is about 120HP @ prop rating.
So by putting a 150HP prop HP (new post 1987) on it you gain +/-20% or there abouts straight away.
strike_zone
Posts: 403
Date Joined: 09/09/10
direct injection 2 stroke
go a di 2 stroke lighter better power to weight ratio just as fuel efficent as 4 stroke a no brainer really thats where i would put my money if i had some
The_Wanderer
Posts: 735
Date Joined: 24/09/08
Yeah but you still have to
Yeah but you still have to factor in the two stroke oil.... which transaltes to addtional running costs... The new range of four strokes currently on the market are consdierably lighter than the first models that came out. Just do a search on the web I reckon the majority of boat owners would be utilising 4 strokes opposed to to DI 2 strokes. stick with fourstroke.
smash
Posts: 434
Date Joined: 01/12/10
4 stroke-what else?
140 suzuki is cheaper and same weight as an Etec, added bonus is that people still want them second hand :-)