repower with mercury?

[Bob1101]

I own a 1999 21 ft robalo CC, I am considering repowering with a new 150 HP four stroke Mercury, Boats dry weight is approx 2400 lbs, has anyone had any personal experience with a similar scenario? or at least with this particular motor.

 

[ondarvr]

What is it rated for?

 

[Bob1101]

Boat had a 1999 200 hp mercury efi (max 225hp), this was more than enough power for my needs. I never had a need to run motor WOT. In an effort to save $$ it seems the 150 (new vs 15 y/o 200) might be all I need. On line performance test reveal good #s for this situation. thanks for responding.

 

[Frank Acampora]

In the early days of four cycle outboards, these engines did not have the low speed torque and were either slow to plane or would not get the hull on plane at all compared to a like sized two cycle engine. That is why the Mercury Verado engines were supercharged. Supercharging not only adds horsepower but increases the low speed torque.

Now, I am not sure as to what advances have been made in recent years but if it were my hull I would opt for the higher horsepower--better to have too much and not use it then to have too little and need more.

 

[ondarvr]

People like the new 4 cylinder 150 Mercs, but it would be at the low end of what might work on that hull, I'm not sure I would risk going with it for that reason. What's the cost difference between the 150, 175 and 200.


I have a 200 on my 19' CC bay boat.

 

[Chris1956]

Gee, I have a 150HP 2 cycle Johnny on my 21' DC. I consider the boat to be real bow heavy, but the motor pushes her pretty well. She has good out of the hole and I can do nearly 40 MPH with a tail wind. I would expect your 200HP 4 cycle motor to do at least that well. The question is whether that meets your needs.

 

[Bob1101]

(ondarvr) Above 150 HP Mercury offers their Verado series and honestly I did not even price it. On Mercury's web page there are multiple performance tests with some very impressive results, one being a 24 ft CC Sea Ray , dry boat weight 4350lbs, test weight 5500lbs, 0-30 mph in 6seconds; at 3500 rpms= 25 mph; at 4000 rpm 31 mph with 5.2 mpg at this rate. These results are almost too impressive. That is why I was hoping someone could verify these results with some first hand experience.

 

[ondarvr]

It may work fine.

Yamaha has larger 4 cylinder models that people around here really like too.

 

[bilge rat jim]

Here's another good test: http://www.boattest.com/boats/boat_video.aspx?ID=2795

 

[Teamster]

Boat had a 1999 200 hp mercury efi (max 225hp), this was more than enough power for my needs. I never had a need to run motor WOT. In an effort to save $$ it seems the 150 (new vs 15 y/o 200) might be all I need. On line performance test reveal good #s for this situation. thanks for responding.

What was wrong with the Merc 200??

 

[Bob1101]

Mercury 200 had multiple modules giving me trouble, idle stabilizer, alarm module, switch boxes, to name a few issues. Had it working for 6 mths or so and a crankshaft bearing failed. Completely disassembled motor and was going to rebuild. Motor is 15 yrs old, cost to rebuild, trouble I have been having with it, labor, just does not add up to rebuild.

 

[Teamster]

Powerheads start at $3400 right here on Iboats,............

Just an option,...

I've been considering that route on mine,...