Small outboards,weight vs HP and performance

[SundayMoney]

I have a '08 Lund WC14 thats in need of a new outboard. The max HP rating is 25 with a transom weight limit of 230lbs.

I originally planned on buying a 25hp Yamaha four stroke and calling it a day. I stopped by the Honda dealer today just for kicks and he recommended a 20HP. He said the difference in HP will be made up by the difference in weight.

A 25HP Yamaha weighs in about 170lbs. A 20HP Honda is about 110.

I can see his point,but I'm also looking at the difference in displacement between the 20 and 25. The 20s from Honda and Yamaha are about 20-21 CID and the 25s are about 32-33.

What are your thoughts about weight,but also less displacement?

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Small outboards,weight vs HP and performance

Check both engines CC and go for the one that has more CC, 60 lbs more for the Yam is a insignificance having 5 HP more. Like boating with an extra teenager on board. If you don't have any legal issues, how about a Yam 30 ? Both 25 and 30 should weight same and your transom can hold 230 lbs,105 KG.

Happy Boating

 

[emoney]

Re: Small outboards,weight vs HP and performance

See if he or someone else has motors you can "demo". I think it's all speculation until put on your boat used the way you use it. And how will you ever know if you don't experience them both?

 

[scipper77]

Re: Small outboards,weight vs HP and performance

my 5.5 hp motor pushes my 12' aluminum boat with me in it pretty good. Not that fast but reasonable. That's 300-400 lbs. I'd say that an extra 5 horse with only 60 added lbs would be faster. If you really want a lighter motor get a 2 stroke.

 

[JEBar]

Re: Small outboards,weight vs HP and performance

have you considered an Evinrude 25 hp .... they weigh around 150 lbs .... their E-TEC design makes them a dependable, highly fuel efficient option

Jim

 

[WN2712NJ]

Re: Small outboards,weight vs HP and performance

As far as I know, most manufacturers only have 2 or 3 "small outboards". All their various HP offerings are just "de-tuned" variants of the same block. For example, I have both a Merc 9.9 HP and a Tohatsu 20HP 4stroke. They appear to be identical blocks (Tohatsu builds Merc, Nissan, Tohatsu, and now Evinrunde brands in this size). I recall that the spec's on the block are pretty identical. But I suspect different carb and ignition setup. I suspect even the Merc 8 is the same block. But the Tohatsu/Merc/Nissan 25HP is a whole different animal, a 3 cylinder, and much heavier. That is why I went with the 20HP when upgrading our 14 foot aluminum skiff. I've had it now 3 seasons and no regrets. I'm pretty sure we get about the same top-end speed (and how fast do you really want to go over chop in a 14 foot tinny, anyway?) as a 25 but w/o the trim issues the extra poundage hanging off the tail of the boat would cause. I think that this is a particularly important issue in a tiller-steered skiff...

My $.02,

-dm

 

[bassman284]

Re: Small outboards,weight vs HP and performance

Well, the 20hp has almost twice the displacement of the 9.9 - 21.4 ci vs 12.8. The 8 and the 9.9 (9.8) are the same displacement as are the 15 and 20.

 

[SundayMoney]

Re: Small outboards,weight vs HP and performance

See if he or someone else has motors you can "demo". I think it's all speculation until put on your boat used the way you use it. And how will you ever know if you don't experience them both?

The Honda dealer has a 20 mounted on 14' aluminum. We can take that for a spin or I can tow my boat down and we'll run a 20 on my boat.