140HP on Mako 17 Classic (135HP Max Rated (j
I own a 1985 Mako 17 Classic with a 1998 90HP Mariner. I want to re-power early next year. The existing 90HP runs great, but seems marginal in power. The boat is heavier than most modern boats and I have it loaded pretty good (MK Ulterra with 2 Batteries in bow, 2 crank batteries in the console and other gear).
i would love for the re-power to provide high 30's in top MPH and to be able to cruise at 30 MPH.
I am running a 4 blade 15P prop getting 29 MPH @ 5350 RPM. Can cruise @ 24 MPH @ 4800 RPM. My existing 115 Mariner weighs only 305 Lbs. wanting to stay as light as possible, I am considering a 115 Merc 4-Stroke (363 lbs) or a Suzuki DF115 (413 lbs).
My question is - Should I consider a 140 Suzuki (same weight as 115 Suzuki). I would like the extra power and am not concerned about fuel economy as I don't make long runs. Problem is, the Mako is rated for 135 max HP. Florida Statutes says you cannot over power, but states no penalty for doing so. I would only be 4% over powered. Any experience or thoughts about which way I should go?
i would love for the re-power to provide high 30's in top MPH and to be able to cruise at 30 MPH.
I am running a 4 blade 15P prop getting 29 MPH @ 5350 RPM. Can cruise @ 24 MPH @ 4800 RPM. My existing 115 Mariner weighs only 305 Lbs. wanting to stay as light as possible, I am considering a 115 Merc 4-Stroke (363 lbs) or a Suzuki DF115 (413 lbs).
My question is - Should I consider a 140 Suzuki (same weight as 115 Suzuki). I would like the extra power and am not concerned about fuel economy as I don't make long runs. Problem is, the Mako is rated for 135 max HP. Florida Statutes says you cannot over power, but states no penalty for doing so. I would only be 4% over powered. Any experience or thoughts about which way I should go?
Replies
Other than that go for it.
You may have problems insuring it when powered above recommended max power.
My posts are my opinion only.
Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for. Will Rogers
Sucks that todays outboards are so much heavier than they were 20/30 years ago. Even 2 strokes are much heavier.
I repowered my 20' GradyWhite in 2004 with a Yamaha 150 fourstroke from a 1993 Johnson V6 175hp and added 110
pounds to the transom. Yes,,I did gain 40% better fuel efficiency though.
Only in America, where now the Communist Media labels their reporting videos as peaceful protesting while buildings are burning in the background, criminal thugs are running out of stores with looted goods, vehicles being burned out, innocent persons getting shot or getting their heads bashed in and general mayhem and chaos and the media video reports to the public peaceful protesting.
LeBron James Slams "........" over Goodyear Boycott: "We Don’t Bend, Fold or Break for Nobody - Except China."
Lebron James greatly helped the unemployment rate to go down to %2, that is for child slave labor in China.
My main question is... Should I consider a 140 Suzuki which would be 5HP over my max HP rating. The 140 weighs the same as their 115 (413#) and cost the same as the 115 Pro XS Merc. The Suzuki has a 6 year warranty and mercs and yammies only 3 years.
what I dont want is an issue with FWC or Marine Patrol
You could calculate the difference and then add a couple of sand bags to the back of the boat and see what happens, if you can live with it sitting lower in the water then that is what you will get.
My posts are my opinion only.
Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for. Will Rogers
Flec - I just looked at the Yamaha performance site. I looked at boats of similar design, but about 1600# (mine is 1400#) to compensate for my heavy TM and dual batteries in the bow compartment. Closest match was a Key West 18-8. I have decided that 115 is all I will need. I am leaning toward the Mercury 115 Pro XS. THANKS!
The weight needs to be off the back of the transom, like the motor though. a sand bag or two or three on top of the motor would bee more accurate.
My posts are my opinion only.
Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for. Will Rogers
Only in America, where now the Communist Media labels their reporting videos as peaceful protesting while buildings are burning in the background, criminal thugs are running out of stores with looted goods, vehicles being burned out, innocent persons getting shot or getting their heads bashed in and general mayhem and chaos and the media video reports to the public peaceful protesting.
LeBron James Slams "........" over Goodyear Boycott: "We Don’t Bend, Fold or Break for Nobody - Except China."
Lebron James greatly helped the unemployment rate to go down to %2, that is for child slave labor in China.
My posts are my opinion only.
Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for. Will Rogers
My posts are my opinion only.
Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for. Will Rogers
Get all the brochures then check out comparable weights as one way of making a selection.... Unless you have a brand new fuel tank - I'd be very leery of any four stroke unless you've had the tank completely emptied, steam cleaned, etc. Today's fuels are nothing like the gasolines of thirty years ago - that's why anyone with a four stroke motor goes looking for fuel that doesn't have any ethanol blended in... I've been running nothing but ethanol laced fuel for every E-Tec I've ever had (since 2005 in hard commercial service) and my motors never have a fuel problem at all...
By the way with an older boat - along with re-habbing that fuel tank - make a point of replacing every bit of your fuel lines with USCG rated ethanol resistant lines... Avoid any big box store's fuel line - go directly to a quality marine hardware store for the line - it will have the USCG rating printed right on the line - continuously....
By the way, if you haven't guessed by now I'm lucky enough to be on BRP's guide program and was on OMC's guide program before that.... I might be a bit biased about Evinrude or Johnson engines since that's all I've ever run (since 1974, and I didn't get on anyone's guide program until after 1996...).
The current much heavier motors (particularly four strokes) work just fine with new rigs since the hull was designed from the beginning to carry and run with the current motors.. Older hulls like mine - and that Mako were designed to run, float, and ride with much lighter motors... In the under 20' hulls it will make a difference in whether the hull floats level at rest (only important if you want to ease it into the shallowest of waters) or how it drains if self bailing at rest (might be important if you keep your rig in the water...). In bigger boats (particularly hulls with twin or triple motors that were originally designed for relatively lightweight motors) - those nice new four strokes might cause you some serious problems, since those hulls were never designed to carry that much weight in the stern...
Hope this helps... aren't boats fun?
Bob LeMay
(954) 435-5666
Only in America, where now the Communist Media labels their reporting videos as peaceful protesting while buildings are burning in the background, criminal thugs are running out of stores with looted goods, vehicles being burned out, innocent persons getting shot or getting their heads bashed in and general mayhem and chaos and the media video reports to the public peaceful protesting.
LeBron James Slams "........" over Goodyear Boycott: "We Don’t Bend, Fold or Break for Nobody - Except China."
Lebron James greatly helped the unemployment rate to go down to %2, that is for child slave labor in China.
The rig I've worked out of for the past 24 years is something similar, an old Maverick hull that's just two inches shy of 17 feet long. I got it in 1988, long before I took up guiding - and had the great fun of rigging it out myself from scratch.... Can't tell you how many motors that hull has seen over the years. My average day on the water works out to be a round trip of about 70 miles into the backcountry of the Everglades... so that's where I'm coming from.... and yes - it's got that terrible 20" transom....
Hope this helps... aren't boats fun?
Bob LeMay
(954) 435-5666
Only in America, where now the Communist Media labels their reporting videos as peaceful protesting while buildings are burning in the background, criminal thugs are running out of stores with looted goods, vehicles being burned out, innocent persons getting shot or getting their heads bashed in and general mayhem and chaos and the media video reports to the public peaceful protesting.
LeBron James Slams "........" over Goodyear Boycott: "We Don’t Bend, Fold or Break for Nobody - Except China."
Lebron James greatly helped the unemployment rate to go down to %2, that is for child slave labor in China.
Only in America, where now the Communist Media labels their reporting videos as peaceful protesting while buildings are burning in the background, criminal thugs are running out of stores with looted goods, vehicles being burned out, innocent persons getting shot or getting their heads bashed in and general mayhem and chaos and the media video reports to the public peaceful protesting.
LeBron James Slams "........" over Goodyear Boycott: "We Don’t Bend, Fold or Break for Nobody - Except China."
Lebron James greatly helped the unemployment rate to go down to %2, that is for child slave labor in China.