Refurbished motors?

[saumon]

Re: Refurbished motors?

I agree with "Bo" suggestion: one main engine and a kicker. Best of both worlds in terms of economy, weight and safety. I like the idea of a 115 and a 25 (that's what i had, on a smaller scale: 60hp + 8hp and very happy with this setup when i burnt an impeller last summer on main engine. Still able to go back to ramp 10 miles up river at 5mph. Kicker is very basic: 2-strokes, tiller handle, rope start but well maintained. I made it run a few min. each outing)

 

[ted655]

Re: Refurbished motors?

Tjanks. I had thought of a kicker- big un setup (tiller/rope won't fly, wife says), but figured the dontrols cost was the same so why not give the extra and look REAL cool. Wife (ol puesestrings) loves the kicker idea.<br /><br />Nissan/Tohatsu ARE competitive with iBoat prices. I just wasn't sure of the reliability factor.<br /><br />More research to do.<br /><br />Here's the deal on mute point; It was sunk & underwater for 3 mo. before it was raised. I IMMEADITLY drained everything &pulled plugs, etc as per advice in manial. Actually there was little water IN anything. I sprayed everthing & turned everthing over & over.<br />I replaced fuses, relays but never got it to even cough once. Finally gave up & sold it for $500.00.<br /> no fool likeone who doesn't know he is, huh? NOW you tell me it was the BEST motor. Thanks! (smile).<br /><br />Last thing... 2 or 4 stroke? Is it just a question of fuel? There are so many more parts in a 4 stroke. The dif between cost is approx. $3500.00, that buys a lot of gas. Pros & cons?

 

[andy6374]

Re: Refurbished motors?

First off for a kicker, you can't beat a small Tohatsu.<br /><br />-Four strokes weight alot, so make sure between the kicker and the four stroke your transom and waterline can handle them. <br /><br />-The new DFI two-strokes are super efficient and cheaper. They are comparable to 4 strokes. If this should show to be your route, I would go with a Merc. Optimax or an Evinrude E-Tec.

 

[saumon]

Re: Refurbished motors?

Originally posted by ted655:<br /> Last thing... 2 or 4 stroke? Is it just a question of fuel? There are so many more parts in a 4 stroke. The dif between cost is approx. $3500.00, that buys a lot of gas. Pros & cons?

The only real matters with 4-strokes is price, weight, odor and silence. The "too many moving parts that can broke" is not a point. Just consider a 2-strokes outboard that run maybe 100 hours a year versus a car engine, they were all 4-strokes, with "many moving parts" that may run easily 500 hours a year for at least ten years: did they broke?

 

[bossee]

Re: Refurbished motors?

ted655,<br /><br />First: If You go EFI or DFI it really does not matter if you select 2- or 4-stroke except if you want to go "light" there are no larger 4-strokes that are as light as the lightest 2-strokes.<br />Second: The newest DFI 2-strokes are basically as expensive as most EFI 4-strokes. Not much money to gain there I'm afraid.<br />Third: Don't select to small main engine if you go with larger main outboard and a smaller kicker. You can cruise along on much lower RPM with a larger outboard and that way actually save gas and also get much quiter outboard. Personally I rank a quite outboard very high (second after reliability that is my first priority).<br />Forth: You will get CARB 3-Stars rated outboard in most cases if you select a new DFI or EFI outboard today. That is nice to know that one can contribute some to a less poluted environment. When I was Young I did not care if it was "clean" or not but as I have been older I realise more and more we must try to polute less if we want to stay on this planet named Earth.<br /><br />Tohatsu have some nice 2-strokes. The largest DFI based 2-stroke they had until recently was the TLDI 90 but I belive they have a TLDI 115 ready by now. <br /><br /> Link <br /><br />Their smallest DFI is TLDI 40 but that is probably little to much as kicker in Your case.<br />But they have 25 and 30 hp 4-stroke that may be fine.<br /><br />Tohatsu DFI outboards are only CARB 2-Stars approved but it is fine also.<br /><br />Tohatsu has good reputation for making reliable outboards. Very popular among fisherman in Japan.<br /><br /><br />If You want to go light and DFI the Evinrude E-Tech 115 would be a very strong candidate in my opinion. They have smaller DFI outboards also like the 40 hp E-Tech (but maybe to large as kicker).<br /><br />It is a matter of money if you can get a "light", powerful, "clean", lean etc outboard. There are for sure outboards out there that will meet your needs.<br />But I would for sure go with a larger main outboard and a smaller kicker for backup to save money. <br /><br />/Bo

 

[ted655]

Re: Refurbished motors?

I spent some time looking at dif makes. Here are my first impressions. Merc is no bargain new but "progrm" type deals keep them in the game.<br />Suzuki has no deals & stress Perfomance, never mention reliability.<br />Honda, yeah right, they won't post a price. They think their S don't stink I guess. I called localy, Forget it!<br />Bom bar de A, present owners of J & E. Well, like I said, they aren't presently around here so I admit I didn't look hard. Besides, didn't they turn out a bunch of junk in the 90s? LOTs of bad posts I've read.(maybe too harsh)<br />Tohatsu. Stressed dependability & were very competitive in price.Kinda unknown around here but if some of you say they are dependable I''l trust it. What is LEI ignition & "self diagnostics"? <br />I have decided to go "big-little'. thats why I asked for advice. I don't have a size or weight oroblem with the stern. This is a BIG, well made, heavy , plate aluminium boat. A jon boat on steroids!

 

[steelespike]

Re: Refurbished motors?

I don't buy the 4 stroke car motor proving reliability.A car motor seldom runs at more than half its max rpm.An outboard needs this just to get on plane.Then there is the speedy guy that runs his outboard wot all the time I don't think they are even in the same ball park stress wise.<br /> There is no question a 4 stroke requires more maintenance than a 2 stroke.They both have lots of tech stuff that needs maintenance but the 4 stroke has many more mechanicals to deal with.<br /> When is the last time you started your car and ran it at 100 miles per hour for half a day.Or ran it full bore out of the hole all afternoon while pulling a 200 lb trailer.(skier)

 

[bossee]

Re: Refurbished motors?

Some things to consider also:<br /><br />1. Do You plan to do most of the maintenance Yourself? If yes, a 2-stroke will make the that easier for you in most cases. Also carburator based 2-stroke is better for do it yourself people but the negative thing is you can not get an environmentally friendly 2-stroke with carburator (it must be 2-stroke DFI).<br /><br />2. If You want a quiet outboard almost all 4-strokes are rather quiet also at full throttle, but at cruise speed also older 2-strokes are reasonably quite. But a new EFI 4-stroke or DFI 2-stroke today are rather quiet also at full throttle so I would probably get such outboard.<br /><br />3. Some 4-strokes has metal chain as timing belt (many Suzuki 4-strokes) and maybe little safer. On the other hand rubber timing belt are very common and reliable also (and most cars has rubber timing belt without much trouble) and for example most Yamaha 4-strokes has 5 years or 1000 hours (whatever comes first) before it must be replaced so it is not needed much maintenance really.<br /><br />I do not know exactly what LEI ignition & "self diagnostics" mean but what make claim they have it? Self diagnostic is probably that it can report via beeps and lights what is wrong and you can take proper action (and some outboards may take proper action themselfs for you) - such basic functions has been on most outboards for years. Probably more advanced versions on some newer outboards but try to find that info on manufacturer website (some have the Owners Manuals available online).

 

[ted655]

Re: Refurbished motors?

Tohatsu is the only one where LEI & self D is used.<br />I'm not that bothered by noise. Yes just our situation/location makes it necessary to do our own maintaince. (days/weeks spent in the swamp/marshes. Living on a floating camp & fishing/crabbing. Our boat seldom leaves the water or see's a marina. even our land home has a canal & dock in the back.<br />Yeah.., We like to help keep things clean & green.<br /><br />Something a bit different from most is the speed we operate the boat. 80% is at idle or a tick above. Only when we move our camp (hurricane season) or come & go, do we run at even 1/2 WOT. Cypress stumps & mud bars are common.<br /><br />I went back & looked again. It seems that no matter the combo, it is going to cost $10,000.00/$12,000.00. Thats Big- little or med-med. The advice that it's better & more efficiant to low rpm a big motor that a small motor is interesting. Remember, We mostly run slow, but when we need power, we use it all.<br />The 140 did the job but after moving camp we just idled that big motor. I always felt I was doing harm. Indeed maybe some of my issues with its dependability were a result of operation at low rpm. ??? Thanks, Ted

 

[bossee]

Re: Refurbished motors?

Hi,<br />With all that idle or just above a DFI or an EFI outboard is the way to go. They can idle forever without problem. But no outboard like to only run at idle - they are after all built also to run at higher rpm. Very important to break in a new outboard (except Evinrude E-tech I belive is ready to run without need to break in).<br /><br /><br />You need quick access to spare parts for maintenance and if anything should fail. Good if it is a dealer/repair shop nearby also so I would check what they sell before I decide on make. I would select a make that there is a (good) dealer/repair shop nearby just in case...<br />Things can break you can not fix yourself and you need help then.<br /><br />So since You want/must to do most maintenance Yourself a 2-stroke is probably best then. Since You want to go "green/clean" DFI 2-stroke is natural choice.<br /><br />Question is how big main outboard You really need to get up on plane? Maybe a 90 hp can do it?<br />Anyway if You can afford a Tohatsu 115 TLDI that is available and that should take you up on plane.<br /><br />A new Mercury Optimax 90 or 115 DFI should also be something to consider.<br /><br /><br />So it seems You can choose from:<br /><br />Tohatsu 90 or 115 TLDI.<br />Mercury Optimax 90 or 115 DFI.<br />Evinrude E-Tech 90 or 115 DFI.<br />Any of these should do the job as main engine.<br />Evinrude 7 year waranty and no scheduled dealer maintenance for 3 years plus no break in period is hard to beat. The negative will be the cost, the E-tech outboards are not that cheap.<br /><br />If wallet permit I would probably aim at Evinrude E-tech 115 as main outboard.<br /><br />As kicker/rescue outboard I would stay with same make as main outboard if possible but not necessary a brand new DFI 2-stroke - a smaller 4-stroke may be as good but preferably EFI.