Motor suggestions

[alldodge]

Have a 18 foot Chrysler Conquer 105 and the motor block is cracked. For now I'm looking around at other 2-stroke motor options. The plate says 105HP max, but finding some 115 and 125 motors. The original 105 Chrysler only had 90HP at the prop, so finding a newer 105 would be a jump in power. Are there any 2-stroke motors to stay away from?

 

[tpenfield]

Not sure if you are buying new or used. If used . . . Ficht injection motors of the late OMC era would be something to avoid . . . They tend to go through fire extinguishers . . .

 

[Texasmark]

105 pretty much limits you to 3 cylinders these days. which will get you 90 at the prop which you had (should have had) with your Chrysler. I owned a '71 85 Chrysler and my last engine was a Merc '02 90 triple, looper. Nice thing about today's engines are that they are loop charged and 3 cylinders is the optimum performance number for looping.....per data available back in 1968 when Evinrude came out with the 55 hp 3 cylinder loop charged "Triump". Figuring out impulse tuning for a 4 cylinder is why it was quite awhile before 4's were looped. I had a '72 Johnson 125 V4 that had all the frills of the Triump looper except for the loop charging. It did much better than it's predecessors but not as good as the looper.

The Merc badge goes to 4 cylinders on the 100 hp and deactivates 2 at low speeds for economy in trolling (I guess). Mechanics on here state that if the activation point of the 2-4 integration is setup right you never notice the second pair kick in. Fine. I had single cylinder Merc 4.5 and a 6 cylinder 115 Merc tower and I can tell you that I definitely could tell the difference in the two extremes.

I can't speak for other brands in the near past. I did think that if I went to a larger engine on the boat I had with the 90 it would be a Yamaha 115 looped V4 because of the way Merc did their 4 cyls. But that was all speculation with no follow through. One thing I did notice was that the cubes on the Merc 90 were larger than on the Yammie 90 and size does matter.......Merc proved that when it upped the 2.0 liter bass boat 150 to an offering of a 2.5 liter rated at 150.....get the stern heavy, V padded hulls up and out of the water...along with the ported 4-5 blade prop. Back in the '50's the OMC Fat 50 was a high cube engine also, well over cubed as compared to the popular 1 cc per hp or more in today's engines which could push a lot of boat for what it was.

 

[ezmobee]

I like the Yamaha 90hp triples

 

[alldodge]

I like the 4-stroke but want to stick to 2-stroke because they are lighter for the same HP. Just get a used one to run around with once the hull is finished while still looking around for a Chrysler or 94 or older Force. I bet this boat will really scoot with a 125

Just thought of it but may have to re-rig steering if I don't stick with Chrysler or Force

 

[ondarvr]

I think moving away from the Chrysler/Force motors would be a good move, the Merc and Yamaha 90s were good motors.

 

[alldodge]

I think moving away from the Chrysler/Force motors would be a good move, the Merc and Yamaha 90s were good motors.

I agree, my thoughts of finding the Chrysler/Force at some point is because very few of these hulls are still around. Saw a 115 Conquer sell for over 8K with trailer, but it was a full restore.

 

[jimmbo]

As stated before, avoid the Fichts, While the V4 models weren't as bad as the V6 150 - 175s, the entire concept is suspect. Get a post 1984 OMC V4 100hp it will be prop rated and those engines are pretty much bulletproof. An OMC looper 90hp V4 is also a powerful little engine

If the OP was in Canada, there wouldn't be any issue with putting a 115 or 120 on it, but the OP is not in Canada

 

[alldodge]

Appreciate the input, will keep looking around. There is a 115 optimax on CL with only 130 hours

 

[ondarvr]

Only in some locations in the US is putting the bigger motor on an issue, if you don't live in one of those places it's up to you to decide what's safe and reasonable.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Get a 135 merc and a 90 hp decal set

 

[alldodge]

Get a 135 merc and a 90 hp decal set

Wonder if a Sharpe will work

 

[Alumarine]

Appreciate the input, will keep looking around. There is a 115 optimax on CL with only 130 hours

I wonder how the weight of the opti compares to a conventional 2 stroke?

 

[alldodge]

I wonder how the weight of the opti compares to a conventional 2 stroke?

The 115hp is listed as weighting 377, don't know what the 105 weight is

 

[ondarvr]

The 115hp is listed as weighting 377, don't know what the 105 weight is

Just over 300#

On an 18' boat it's not going to make a difference.

 

[alldodge]

Cool

 

[Texasmark]

I like the 4-stroke but want to stick to 2-stroke because they are lighter for the same HP. Just get a used one to run around with once the hull is finished while still looking around for a Chrysler or 94 or older Force. I bet this boat will really scoot with a 125

Just thought of it but may have to re-rig steering if I don't stick with Chrysler or Force

Sure Force and Merc won't interchange? Bet they will. Brunswick sells/sold both.

 

[alldodge]

I said steering but was thinking controls, currently have the Chrysler control.

 

[Texasmark]

I said steering but was thinking controls, currently have the Chrysler control.

'I had both but the Chrysler was in 1971. Long forgot what that was. Nice Quicksilver 2000 remote sold here in iboats for $250 when I bought mine. Cable came with it and engine connector choice was available to fit yours.

 

[alldodge]

Good to know if needed, thanks