Repowering - Going From 2 to 4 Stroke

[MikeB]

I am close to making a decision about a motor to repower my 1995 17ft Starcraft Superfisherman. I had a Merc 60 on it and I am wondering what I will have to change out, if anything, regarding controls and linkages (throtle/steering) if I go to a Merc 90 4-stroke. I know the tach will have to be changed out. Anyone have experience with this? THANKS, Mike

 

[JB]

Re: Repowering - Going From 2 to 4 Stroke

Hey Mike. You are looking at spending too much money to be taking shortcuts and scrimpimg where it will degrade what you end up with.<br /><br />If you are going to 4 stroke (a very good idea) don't go halfway, go for EFI. That means Suzuki 50, 70, 115. . . Yamaha or Merc 115, or the Evinrude version of the Suzuki 50 or 70. If your boat can handle it (legally) go to 115 EFI. Yamaha is the best bet because it is the lightest 115 EFI and because of their excellent dealer network, Suzukis seem to be unbreakable, but their dealers can be pretty far apart, Evinrude wrenches have been trained by Suzuki trainers to "do" the 40, 50 and 70 EFI. Merc? well, some dealers are great. . . others lie, cheat and steal with the worst of them. The Merc 115 EFI is a Yamaha powerhead on a Merc lower end. It is cheaper than the Yammy.<br /><br />I think your boat is rated for 90hp. I would do what I did on my Whaler. Suzuki EFI 70.<br /><br />Get a demo ride with a EFI 4 stroke in the right power range for your boat. Nothing I can say will make a difference.<br /><br />Red sky at night.<br />JB

 

[MikeB]

Re: Repowering - Going From 2 to 4 Stroke

Hi, JB. Thanks for the reply. The EFI's 4 strokes are clearly superior, but here is my delima. The Suzuki's would be fine except the nearest dealer is 90 miles from home. I go to northern Idaho for 2 weeks each year. The nearest dealer is over 100 miles away. They are the only maker currently offering a 90 hp EFI. To get a 4 stroke EFI I would have to go to the 115 Merc or 115 Yamaha or Honda 115. All 3 dealers are within 10 miles of home. My boat is rated for 1500 lbs capacity and 125 HP. The 115 Merc weighs 386 lbs and the 115 Yamaha weighs in at 418 dry wt. The Honda 115 tops the scales at a bogus 496 lbs. I am simply having a hard time justifying placing 400 lbs (give or take) out the back of the transom of a 17 ft boat. What I am really considering is the 100hp Yammie at 356 lbs. I wish it was an EFI. At this late date in the year I think I will wait for the 2002's to come out - Yamaha or Merc just might decide to go with EFI into the less HP models like Suzuki has done. <br /><br />Anyway, there are my thoughts. If you have other thoughts or info I would very much like to here it. By the way, I was talking to the Yamaha dealer today. He said that they would be bringing out in 2002 or 2003 a 225 HP EFI 4 stroke. If that is true it will probably be about the size of a Buick.

 

[JB]

Re: Repowering - Going From 2 to 4 Stroke

Hi, Mike. You've thought this through very well. I had the same concerns about weight and, like you, thought hard about the 100 Yamaha carb engine until I had demo rides with it, the Merc 90 carbed 4 stroke, a Honda 70 and the Suzi 70 EFI. I had set the 356lb Yammy as the heaviest I could consider. The Suzi was in a whole different class than the very smooth and quiet carbed engines.<br /><br />I've taken the risk associated with my Suzi dealer being 75 miles away, but have equipped myself with spare water pump, plugs,prop and fuel filter/water seperator.<br />I go to Lake Of The Woods for a week or two every summer where the nearest Suzi dealer is over a hundred miles away, but think I could get help from an Evinrude dealer in a pinch, since the Evinrude EFI 70 is the same engine with different decals. I would have bought mine from an Evinrude dealer if he could have gotten me one. Every 'Rude dealer I talked to had several on back order and wanted about a grand more for it.<br /><br />BTW the Suzi 90 and 115 EFIs are the same engine in different state of tune.<br /><br />Hang in there. The 2002 season may offer some jewels.<br /><br />Red sky at night.<br />JB