need outboard suggestions for repower

[Ssericz]

Hi guys I have a 14' livingston skiff with a suzuki 40hp 2stroke on it right now and Im looking to repower with a newer 4stroke for better fuel econ and better reliability when idling around all day I would like to keep the new engine in the same power to weight range or better and stay in the same weight range not too much more than the zuki.

What is the best 4 stroke on the market that would suit my needs of:

being around or less than 180lbs
30-40hp
fuel injected or reliable carb
Reliable
smooth slow idle and can do so for hours on end

pros/cons of the different engines. I have already looked into Honda 30 and tohatsu

Thanks for taking some time to add your input
Eric

 

[steelespike]

Re: need outboard suggestions for repower

If Your thinking new you should at least check out the Evinrude Etec direct injected 2 stroke. It is available in 25,30 and 40 hp.
25 and 30 are about 180lbs or less depending on model and accessories. The 40. a little heavier at 240.
No service for 3 years or 300 hours. also fewer less complicated service intervals.Manual start available.
If you do a carefull comparison you will note that fuel use is a wash. And will be better than your old motor,
though All outboards use fuel at a rate of about 10% of the horsepower. A 25 would use about 2.5 gallons at wot.

 

[phillnjack2]

Re: need outboard suggestions for repower

if your main concern is about fuel economy then forget it, a new 4 stroke engine is gonna take a lot of
years to pay for itself,and the service prices will make it take even longer.
brand new engines aint cheap, the price of a new 40hp 4 stroke is gonna be high and they aint as good as
some people try to tell us.
The 4 strokes are also very very heavy, a 40hp 4 stroke is almost the weight of a 90's johnson 70hp 2 stroke !!!!!
now if your taking the engine on and off the boat every time you use it, then forget about 40hp 4 stroke,
its just not gonna happen unless you have a small crane.

if you want the same power and weight then get your engine serviced or rebuilt, its gonna work out a lot
cheaper and youl get better performance as well.

the 2 stroke 40hp suzuki is a very good engine with plenty of spares available and its a very reliable engine as well.
Maybe your engine needs a real good tune up by a professional outboard technician.
suzuki are that good at making engines, even BRP use some of their engines under the hoods.

here is my take on the 2 stroke v 4 stroke outboard engines.

pro's for the 4 stroke
1/ Its cleaner running,
2/ it idles a little bit better than 2 stroke, (but no outboard is built to idle for too long)
3/ no 2 stroke oil to mix or buy
............................................
cons for the 4 stroke
1/ slower than 2 stroke
2/ 50% heavier
3/ No more economical due to weight issues.
4/ Harder to work on.
5/ more expensive to buy
6/ more expensive for parts
7/ more expensive to service

_______________________________________

pro's for the 2 stroke
1/ easy to work on
2/ low weight per hp compared to 4 strokes.
3/ faster than 4 strokes of same weight.
4/ just as economical as 4 strokes at same performance
5/ low price servicing compared to 4 strokes
6/ not so many parts to go wrong as 4 strokes

con's for the 2 stroke
1/ smelly compared to 4 stroke
2/ need to mix or have onboard tank for 2 stroke oil

these are just my own personal findings.



phill..........

 

[82rude]

Re: need outboard suggestions for repower

though i cant speak for the smallests evinrudes, brp makes all their own engines in the size he,s looking at.smell?no smoke emissions atall as a matter of fact e-tec uses pinpoint oiling so the 2 dont mix atall.as a matter of fact park my etec beside a 4 stroke and its just as quite and unless its a cold day you see nothing in the exhaust dept.on a cold day the 4 stroke will look the same.suzy use to do the 4 stroke omc,s though .as for cleaner running, etec has proven time and time again their equal to or better than 4 strokes in that dept.there! thats my totally biased opion and im sticking to it.seriously you would be doing youre self a disfavour if you didnt at least check up on e-tec.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: need outboard suggestions for repower

Yamaha is certainly a trusted brand in either 2-stroke or 4-stroke, but Suzukis have been getting very good owner reviews in my area. I've also heard some anecdotal information suggesting that they are more fuel efficient than some of the other 4 stroke brands.

I like ETECs alot, but am not convinced that that they can beat the "Zukis" on fuel economy. This opinion is based more on engine/boat reviews than on what people are telling me.

 

[Ssericz]

Re: need outboard suggestions for repower

I want to believe that my zuk is not a fuel hog but, she is haha my friends have newer 4 stroke 50-60hp yammies n hondas on their boats and use half the fuel im using and sofar the honda, tohatsu, merc, and new zuki are all 7-10lbs min less than my current engine. I use my boat atleast 3 times a week sometkmes more and fuel does add up and even more now with gas at 5 bucks a gallon at the pump ans 7-8 on the dock.
Also out here more and more lakes are 4 stroke only

 

[82rude]

Re: need outboard suggestions for repower

wheres out here?lake tahoe one of the most regulated bodies of water in north america is patroled by etecs or at least was.are you sure its not just carbed 2 strokes their banning?if other motors are more available and supported go for it ,up here a suziki is a rarity as theres no dealer ,even etec,s are scarce except for the law which seems to favour them on both sides of the border.yamaha dealer closed up here also .

 

[Ssericz]

Re: need outboard suggestions for repower

Sorry im in socal and more and more of the resivour lakes are only letting 4 stroke on or new 2 strokes but limited access like certain days and such.

What could be done for my engine to get better fuel econ? It runs like a dream but 2mpg or a little more is really quite crappy i think right?

 

[pootnic]

Re: need outboard suggestions for repower

Don't expect the new e-tecs to be as light as the older 2 strokes,there not.
The 25-30hp will be around the same weight(bit lighter) as your current,older 2 stroke Suzuki....I like this size outboard(30hp).The 40hp e-tec is more or less a detuned 60hp,so it's weight is to high at 240lbs.;theres some brands of 4 strokes,that are lighter.
I your boat is a solid,heavier boat maybe the extra weight of the 40hp e-tec won't be a problem.If it's a lighter boat(aluminum)maybe a 30hp e-tec or lighter 4 stroke(merc 3 cyl and the Yamaha,are around 200lbs)
They all will be better on fuel and most new outboards will meet the current laws regarding emissions.
Good luck with your decision....dealer support and price maybe the key.

 

[steelespike]

Re: need outboard suggestions for repower

Sorry im in socal and more and more of the resivour lakes are only letting 4 stroke on or new 2 strokes but limited access like certain days and such.

What could be done for my engine to get better fuel econ? It runs like a dream but 2mpg or a little more is really quite crappy i think right?

Your motor carefully setup and tuned 40 ; will use about 4 gph (gallons per hour)
For that matter a present day Etec or injected 4 stroke Will use about the same amount.
What is your present wot rpm and speed by GPS?What size prop?
Is the bottom of your boat clean and smooth? Is the anti vent plate(just above the prop ) about even with the bottom or slightly above.
Is the prop in excellent condition?Is there any weight you could eliminate or move to balance the boat better?
Careful prop selection and setup can get the most out of a gallon.Does the boat plane easily?
Does it stay on plane well at reduced throttle?

 

[Ssericz]

Re: need outboard suggestions for repower

Once on plane it will stay there till about 1/4 throttle then it falls off, prop is clean no nicks or damage
Weight balanced best possible
The boat is a catamaran (14' livingston) cavitation plate has a hydro foil and it is 3/4 way down hulls on plane and the prop pulls clean water no matter what. Not sure rpm but 3/4 throttle 24knts full throttle 27knts -30knts

Bottom of boat is painted with oil based paint and fiberglas mold release as anti fouling bottom paint. Hull is very smooth and clean. Last outing used 11-12 gals on a 35 mile run mostly 3/4 throttl wthe whole time i think i will check chart plotter tomorrow to double check mileage.

 

[82rude]

Re: need outboard suggestions for repower

some things not kosher.i will just give you an example .my boat is 17 feet,cedarstrip,flatbottom.weight without motor or gear approx 550 lbs.2011 etec 60hp 15p prop.i go to camp up a large resevior in northern canada(ontario).total trip plus fishing is give or take a mile, 80 miles .i use 1 ten gallon tank !i can use up more if i pin it but usually run at a max of 3/4 or slightly less for crusing .

 

[pootnic]

Re: need outboard suggestions for repower

From what I've read and like steelespike sort of mentioned,your outboard will have around the same usage of fuel at WOT.(somewhere around 10% of the hp rating).
BUT...at cruise speed(like you seem to run),some bigger outboards(not sure on mid range ones);have seen up to a 35% savings in fuel usage.
Again this is only what I've read...no real life data.
Heres a post from this site,stating some interesting facts and real life data.
http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j...pYCICg&usg=AFQjCNHpDk-d13Cf1WJ_4zb1eFJQZGbnrg

 

[steelespike]

Re: need outboard suggestions for repower

I wonder if you have a bad fuel pump diaphram leaking fuel into the crankcase.