Repower questions

lemaymiami

For the guy with the great display that shows you all that information at a glance... Just exactly how do you see where you’re going at night?  I can’t operate with the slightest light distraction at night... All my displays (depth, gps, etc.) run dark unless I absolutely have to turn one on to check some specific bit of info.  Everything except basic gauges (tach, trim/tilt, water pressure) run dark and the separate gauges that are lit are softly backlit in red so they don’t bother my night vision at all.  Remember you not only have to see where you are and where you’re going... you also must be able to see floating debris, pot markers,  and other possible hazards that everyone encounters operating at night (or an hour or two before daylight in the backcountry of the Everglades...).

I see lots of ultra modern electronics on skiffs I’d love to own... But almost all of that gear shouldn’t be lit up if you’re running at night... Just ask the families of that baseball player and his friends that hit the jetty at Government Cut a few years back and died as a result... Don’t believe they ever saw those rocks.  I see lots of folks out at night are still doing just what I’ve described.  They’re the main reason I tell my customers each night that the biggest threat, operating at night - are other boats...

plastered

I have 2500 hours on my 300 zukes run great.

CaptJ

I think outboards are like cars - there are good ones and bad ones. I ran a pair of 2 stroke Yamaha 150's for 22 years without anything other than routine maintenance. Lost count of hours as I fish or dive at least twice a week - sometimes more often. Hour meter quit at 1100 in the early years. Went with a pair of 2018 150 Yamahas and haven't had any issues whatsoever. Also repowered my 20' Mako with a 2018 Yamaha 150 and after 200 hours in the last year of use (backcountry) also no problems whatsoever. I change oil, filters, and impeller on a regular basis. I only run rec 90 through all of them. I sold the 1997 2 strokes for $5000.00 (good compression, etc) and doubt that any other brand would bring that value. Best of all I've never had a breakdown with a Yamaha product in 24 years of regular use. Hard for me to look at any other brand. By the way, had a pair of Merc 175 Black Maxes on a 1978 23' Seacraft and they never ran for more than 2 days in a row. I'm sure the new ones are far better, but for what the motors cost today I'll go with a sure thing.

Gotsea

  Captain, the first thing to do while running  at night is slow down, pay close attention to where you are going, set your electronics to the night mode, you will see the information but won't interfere with your night vision, there are three things I monitor while running at night, map, water pressure and depth the rest of the information is irrelevant, there were several things that contributed to that unfortunate  accident you mention,  BUI, high speed, lack of experience/knowledge, you can't cut short of navigations aids . 

Soda Popinski

I am having a terrible time just trying to get quotes.   seems like no one wants to send you anything unless you are sitting right there with cash in hand and the boat in the parking lot.    I get a quote, and it's just a price, no explanation, is it rigged?   prop?  guages? Installation?   Irritating. 

Wooooo....13500 for a Merc, just the engine, so prob won't be going with one of those. 

lemaymiami

Call Seapower, Miami and speak with Jack Rupp tell him I said Hi...  He’s been my go to for almost 20 years now - and just became a Yamaha dealer (they’ve been servicing Yammie for about ten years now while still a BRP dealer...).  

pottydoc

Soda, If you don’t mind driving a little, call International Marine and Outboard Specialties. They’re both in SE FL, but both have great reputations and the lowest price around on Suzuki’s. 

pottydoc

Gotsea said:

  Captain, the first thing to do while running  at night is slow down, pay close attention to where you are going, set your electronics to the night mode, you will see the information but won't interfere with your night vision, there are three things I monitor while running at night, map, water pressure and depth the rest of the information is irrelevant, there were several things that contributed to that unfortunate  accident you mention,  BUI, high speed, lack of experience/knowledge, you can't cut short of navigations aids . 

Let it go, man. If Captain Lemay wants to use single purpose gauges instead of a multi function gauge why do you care? I would say that his experience in his long career speaks for itself. If you like lots of electronic stuff, fine, more power to you. There’s nothing wrong about either. 

CaptJ

They're all pretty pricey now.

cortr

There are shortages of everything due to shutdown, not just marine products.  Not a good time  to be looking for great deals when supply is limited.  You can wait til supply catches up with demand, or pay the price they can sellers can  get with increased demand for anything outdoor related!!!

evernic1

CaptJ said:

I think outboards are like cars - there are good ones and bad ones. I ran a pair of 2 stroke Yamaha 150's for 22 years without anything other than routine maintenance. Lost count of hours as I fish or dive at least twice a week - sometimes more often. Hour meter quit at 1100 in the early years. Went with a pair of 2018 150 Yamahas and haven't had any issues whatsoever. Also repowered my 20' Mako with a 2018 Yamaha 150 and after 200 hours in the last year of use (backcountry) also no problems whatsoever. I change oil, filters, and impeller on a regular basis. I only run rec 90 through all of them. I sold the 1997 2 strokes for $5000.00 (good compression, etc) and doubt that any other brand would bring that value. Best of all I've never had a breakdown with a Yamaha product in 24 years of regular use. Hard for me to look at any other brand. By the way, had a pair of Merc 175 Black Maxes on a 1978 23' Seacraft and they never ran for more than 2 days in a row. I'm sure the new ones are far better, but for what the motors cost today I'll go with a sure thing.

Hmmm I had a 1976 Black Max 175...bought used with 200 hrs...I fished it 2-3 times a week and put 2300+ hrs on it...ALL I ever did was plugs, impellers...second great merc I had after my '72 115 that I put 3800 hrs on!
have owned 6 more since then thru 2009, NO problems...I'm picking up a boat next Thursday with 3 more Mercs...

Gotsea

pottydoc said:

Gotsea said:

  Captain, the first thing to do while running  at night is slow down, pay close attention to where you are going, set your electronics to the night mode, you will see the information but won't interfere with your night vision, there are three things I monitor while running at night, map, water pressure and depth the rest of the information is irrelevant, there were several things that contributed to that unfortunate  accident you mention,  BUI, high speed, lack of experience/knowledge, you can't cut short of navigations aids . 

Let it go, man. If Captain Lemay wants to use single purpose gauges instead of a multi function gauge why do you care? I would say that his experience in his long career speaks for itself. If you like lots of electronic stuff, fine, more power to you. There’s nothing wrong about either. 

Potty I am not pushing anything,  it doesn't  affect me what other people use or prefer, I was just giving my opinion an answer to his question, that is what this forum is for some one else could benefit or get an idea, if you got a problem with it don't read it "MAN" 

Soda Popinski

pottydoc said:

Soda, If you don’t mind driving a little, call International Marine and Outboard Specialties. They’re both in SE FL, but both have great reputations and the lowest price around on Suzuki’s. 

I ended up getting a quote from them and a quote from a place in Orlando and Orlando was 800 cheaper.  I finally have what I think is enough saved up to start putting things in motion.  Plan is to drop it off beginning of January and have it on the water again in February at least on the lakes for break in and to make sure everything is good to go.   I want to get some time on the water with it before i make a run or trailer it to the keys.   Thinking 20-30hrs should give me sufficient enough experience with it.   
Wife asked me what I wanted for Christmas...I said you know.

1outlaw

Excellent!

Swat

I just repowered with a Suzuki DF200A, mechanical controls (not drive-by-wire), still breaking it in. You might want to read up on reviews of the Suzuki C10 gauge. 

Soda Popinski

Swat said:

I just repowered with a Suzuki DF200A, mechanical controls (not drive-by-wire), still breaking it in. You might want to read up on reviews of the Suzuki C10 gauge. 

reading up on it now.   I am planning on them hooking the motor up to my Garmin via a cable so everything is displayed through that and only have the tach separate.   

Soda Popinski

I want to get some opinions, because i have been pricing the 150 suzuki, but there might be an opportunity for me to move up to a 175 or possibly a 200.    I know the best thing is always to go as high HP as you can, BUTTTTT, lets say i've got an extra 2k to spend on this repower, would I be better off staying with the 150 and getting say....a trolling motor with spotlock?   I kind of think that little addition would be a game changer and worth sacrificing 50hp in the long run.   
Opinions?

cortr

Spotlock is definitely a Game changer.   You will rarely use anchor after installing a gps trolling motor. To give up extra power is also important, because you will run your motor harder and lose the advantage of more power in rough seas. 

Soda Popinski

cortr said:

Spotlock is definitely a Game changer.   You will rarely use anchor after installing a gps trolling motor. To give up extra power is also important, because you will run your motor harder and lose the advantage of more power in rough seas. 

I have seen plenty of 21 foot bay boats though that seem to do just fine with a 150.   I run mostly on the gulf, in fact i've had the boat for 3 years and not once have taken it on the atlantic side.  Roughest seas i've encountered are normally when NOAA gets it wrong and Tampa bay is choppier than they said it would be.  If it's over 12mph wind and 1-2s i don't even bother anymore.   I was also thinking if I went with a 4 blade prop, that would help nullify some of the horsepower deficiency.  

larrywitt

Just my opinion ,take the extra money and get a Rhodan or a Spot lock. I have a Rhodan on a 20FT. offshore cc boat .
 If you can bum a ride on a boat with one do it. I can move in 5FT increments  it saves so much time and effort to stay in the location and on the bite. 
larrywitt

Soda Popinski

Thank you both for helping kick this around.   How long does that spot lock last?   I mean battery life 2hours?  3?   

1outlaw

Spot lock is a game changer! Used a buddies pathfinder a couple of years ago that had spot lock. It was pretty windy, we set up between the pillars on seven mile bridge, That sucker kept us perfectly positioned. I kept thinking if this thing malfunctions we are screwed.and slamming into 1 of the pillars LOL.
Came home and bought 1 for my boat.
As for the repower. Another friend is a charter captain out of 10K islands. he repowered his 22 pathfinder to a 150 SHO. He said no reason to go back with the 225 he had as he never used the extra speed. He has no issues with it. And when time to repower will go back with  150

1outlaw

Soda Popinski said:

Thank you both for helping kick this around.   How long does that spot lock last?   I mean battery life 2hours?  3?   

i dont normally stay spot locked long (inshore fisherman) But i use the trolling motor the entire day. Never have even come close to killing the batteries.

pottydoc

1outlaw said:

Soda Popinski said:

Thank you both for helping kick this around.   How long does that spot lock last?   I mean battery life 2hours?  3?   

i dont normally stay spot locked long (inshore fisherman) But i use the trolling motor the entire day. Never have even come close to killing the batteries.

Same for me. I don’t see any difference between the time my current trolling motor with spot lock and the ones I have had before with out it. 

Soda Popinski

estimate for the keel repair came in at 850.   so...ouch

Soda Popinski

finbully

Soda Popinski said:

estimate for the keel repair came in at 850.   so...ouch

Actually that is a good price! I recently had glass work on a boat in an easier spot than a keel for significantly more $.

Soda Popinski

finbully said:

Soda Popinski said:

estimate for the keel repair came in at 850.   so...ouch

Actually that is a good price! I recently had glass work on a boat in an easier spot than a keel for significantly more $.

Just for the record I did NOT do that to my keel.   That was previous owner powerloading.   I am not a fan of powerloading.  or hitting stuff in general.   When i list off what is being done to this boat next month, new motor, rebuilt helm for seastar, keel work, and spotlock trolling motor this will be a pretty darn good boat.   I got new cushions last year.  I think if i re-gelcoated the interior and replaced the fuel tank it's a brand new boat. 

pottydoc

Glad you’re about to get her back on the water, Soda. Catch ‘em up. 

Soda Popinski

pottydoc said:

Glad you’re about to get her back on the water, Soda. Catch ‘em up. 

Looks like next week it's finally gonna happen.   I could have done it in January, but waiting has enabled me to attack this thing without financing and being able to buy the motor free and clear is going to be a load off my mind.   100% worth the wait.  Keel will be fixed.   wont be able to  get the trolling motor with spotlock just yet.   But getting the 175 and getting it cash is more than adequate in my mind.