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  90 HP Evinrude on 18' Outrage--enuf power?

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Author Topic:   90 HP Evinrude on 18' Outrage--enuf power?

commodore posted 07-23-2001 08:08 AM ET (US)
I am looking at a 1985 18' Outrage with a 1986 90 HP Evinrude. Well kept, engine runs well, I took it for a test run yesterday and with 2 adults and 3/4 gas, my GPS showed 31 knots (35 MPH) at WOT. While most of these Outrages had either 140 or 150 HP, this is priced fairly and will go fast enough for skiing and tubing the kids. I'd appreciate any comments before I commit to purchase.
Thanks,
Dave
hauptjm posted 07-23-2001 09:14 AM ET (US)
I would think if you can afford to repower, do it. And do it with a 150hp engine. I have the same boat with 150hp and would never go lower. If a squall blows up, or I'm needed in an emergency, etc. I know I can get there quick. I would consider the 90hp engine to be severly underpowered for that boat. Interestly, alot of people ask what the differences are in the Montauk and the 18OR....usually about 60 more horses! The montauk is run very well with a 90hp.
Tom W Clark posted 07-23-2001 10:40 AM ET (US)
Dave,
An Evinrude 90 is a great motor...for a Montauk. The 18 OR performs so well with a 150 that I just can't imagine equipping it with less.
You say the Evinrude is an '86. I know this is a great motor because I had one ('86 Johnson) on the back of a Montauk once. I suspect it will give many more hours of service but, it is still a 15 year old motor. As others here have repeatedly pointed out, you may as well look at the purchase as though it's "boat only". Ask yourself this: realistically, what could I sell the Evinrude for? (I mean sell, not trade in) Would somebody in your area give you $1000? Debatable. So work that into your offer for the purchase of the OR.
As to performance of an 18 OR with a 150 let me point out a few things:
A boat that is powered at its maximum may go like Hell but that is not usually the point. I rarely went full throttle with my OR for more than a few seconds. To maintain a given cruise speed (25 m.p.h. worked well for me) a 150 will be working much less than a 90. This has the benefit of extending engine life, producing a more pleasant sound due to the lower pitch of the engine noise if not an outright lower decibel level. and may even suck less gas.
I had a friend with a nearly identical 18 OR equipped with a Johnson 140 V-4. His boat did not like to cruise at 20 -25 mph. Once it was up on plane it kind of wanted to accelerate to about 30, or nothing. His boat also consumed more gas than mine!
In the case of the V-6 150's, these motors are part of a larger V-6 family and happen to be the smallest and least stressed models in that group of motors. So when they are operating near full throttle they are really just loafing. Imagine if you never really need to go full throttle anyway: they will never get pushed very hard but you will have a tremendous reserve of power if it's ever wanted.
By the way, The 18 OR is a Great ski boat but if you want to pull a slalom skier in the over 175# class, you really will be glad for those extra horses.
It sounds like this is a golden opportunity to buy a classic Whaler and equip it with the modern power of your choice. Good luck.
Peter posted 07-23-2001 11:04 AM ET (US)
I had an 18 Outrage also with a 150 and completely agree with the comments made here. This might be a good candidate for a repower. At this age, you should completely discount the value of the motor, particularly since it has had to work much harder than a 150 during typical use.
andygere posted 07-23-2001 11:32 AM ET (US)
Just a thought: If the price is right, you may consider buying the boat, and using it with the 90 for a season or two before repowering. This will extend your value a bit, and give you an opportunity to see how the boat performs under the conditions you will be using it. I purchased my Montauk with a '79 85 hp on it thinking a repower in short order, but after a year of very frequent use (thats all 4 seasons in California), it's showing no signs of needing one. I plan to run it until starts to fade (providing care and maintenance along the way of course), and then repower.
dreid posted 07-23-2001 12:50 PM ET (US)
Ditto what the others say about the '86 E90 being a great Montauk motor but way under-powered for the 18'. We've got a 2000 model Johnson Ocean Pro on the back of our 18'. For example, we're returning yesterday from 27 miles out with three adults and their gear on board, running comfortably in the bay at about 4,000 rpm and clocking 31/32 mph through a 1-2 ft. chop. Get into the protection of the Atchafalaya River, trim up and click her up to 4,800, making right at 39/40 mph. Earlier in the afternoon we'd dodged a thunder head, making 43/44 mph at WOT (5,200 rpm). Pretty much a usual day on the summer water. The nice thing is the new motor uses roughly the same amount of fuel as my old 86' J90 used pushing around the Montauk, trip for trip. And quiet. Nobody needs to shout to be heard, even at WOT. That little 90 may get you around in an 18', but for the long haul plan to re-power with a 150 soon as you can afford to. After about 18 months now, we absolutely love that Johnson 150.
commodore posted 07-23-2001 01:47 PM ET (US)
Thanks for everyones' input. I should have mentioned that I am moving up from a 17' Standard with a 90 HP Yamaha--great boat and motor, a little too tender for Lake Erie. Anyhow, the comment Tom made about "boat only" is exactly how I am approaching this. I hope and expect that the 90 HP Evinrude will last a season or more, as I fix up the hull, teak etc. To repower is the long term solution. BTW, the mechanic who maintains the Evinrude says "great motor, great compression, no problems" so looks like I'm headed into the deal!
Thanks,
Dave
whalernut posted 07-23-2001 09:16 PM ET (US)
Dave, I have a 73` `16 Currituck and love it! It has a 75` 85h.p. Johnson on it and it still runs superb! What year is you`re Standard? I fish out of Conneaut, Ohio on Lake Erie and it is an awsome fishing platform! I caught alot of big Smallmouth Bass this past weekend! I feel the Standard is good up too 4 foot waves, after that it gets you butt a hurting! Regards-Jack Graner.

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Author	Topic: 90 HP Evinrude on 18' Outrage--enuf power?
commodore	posted 07-23-2001 08:08 AM ET (US) I am looking at a 1985 18' Outrage with a 1986 90 HP Evinrude. Well kept, engine runs well, I took it for a test run yesterday and with 2 adults and 3/4 gas, my GPS showed 31 knots (35 MPH) at WOT. While most of these Outrages had either 140 or 150 HP, this is priced fairly and will go fast enough for skiing and tubing the kids. I'd appreciate any comments before I commit to purchase. Thanks, Dave
hauptjm	posted 07-23-2001 09:14 AM ET (US) I would think if you can afford to repower, do it. And do it with a 150hp engine. I have the same boat with 150hp and would never go lower. If a squall blows up, or I'm needed in an emergency, etc. I know I can get there quick. I would consider the 90hp engine to be severly underpowered for that boat. Interestly, alot of people ask what the differences are in the Montauk and the 18OR....usually about 60 more horses! The montauk is run very well with a 90hp.
Tom W Clark	posted 07-23-2001 10:40 AM ET (US) Dave, An Evinrude 90 is a great motor...for a Montauk. The 18 OR performs so well with a 150 that I just can't imagine equipping it with less. You say the Evinrude is an '86. I know this is a great motor because I had one ('86 Johnson) on the back of a Montauk once. I suspect it will give many more hours of service but, it is still a 15 year old motor. As others here have repeatedly pointed out, you may as well look at the purchase as though it's "boat only". Ask yourself this: realistically, what could I sell the Evinrude for? (I mean sell, not trade in) Would somebody in your area give you $1000? Debatable. So work that into your offer for the purchase of the OR. As to performance of an 18 OR with a 150 let me point out a few things: A boat that is powered at its maximum may go like Hell but that is not usually the point. I rarely went full throttle with my OR for more than a few seconds. To maintain a given cruise speed (25 m.p.h. worked well for me) a 150 will be working much less than a 90. This has the benefit of extending engine life, producing a more pleasant sound due to the lower pitch of the engine noise if not an outright lower decibel level. and may even suck less gas. I had a friend with a nearly identical 18 OR equipped with a Johnson 140 V-4. His boat did not like to cruise at 20 -25 mph. Once it was up on plane it kind of wanted to accelerate to about 30, or nothing. His boat also consumed more gas than mine! In the case of the V-6 150's, these motors are part of a larger V-6 family and happen to be the smallest and least stressed models in that group of motors. So when they are operating near full throttle they are really just loafing. Imagine if you never really need to go full throttle anyway: they will never get pushed very hard but you will have a tremendous reserve of power if it's ever wanted. By the way, The 18 OR is a Great ski boat but if you want to pull a slalom skier in the over 175# class, you really will be glad for those extra horses. It sounds like this is a golden opportunity to buy a classic Whaler and equip it with the modern power of your choice. Good luck.
Peter	posted 07-23-2001 11:04 AM ET (US) I had an 18 Outrage also with a 150 and completely agree with the comments made here. This might be a good candidate for a repower. At this age, you should completely discount the value of the motor, particularly since it has had to work much harder than a 150 during typical use.
andygere	posted 07-23-2001 11:32 AM ET (US) Just a thought: If the price is right, you may consider buying the boat, and using it with the 90 for a season or two before repowering. This will extend your value a bit, and give you an opportunity to see how the boat performs under the conditions you will be using it. I purchased my Montauk with a '79 85 hp on it thinking a repower in short order, but after a year of very frequent use (thats all 4 seasons in California), it's showing no signs of needing one. I plan to run it until starts to fade (providing care and maintenance along the way of course), and then repower.
dreid	posted 07-23-2001 12:50 PM ET (US) Ditto what the others say about the '86 E90 being a great Montauk motor but way under-powered for the 18'. We've got a 2000 model Johnson Ocean Pro on the back of our 18'. For example, we're returning yesterday from 27 miles out with three adults and their gear on board, running comfortably in the bay at about 4,000 rpm and clocking 31/32 mph through a 1-2 ft. chop. Get into the protection of the Atchafalaya River, trim up and click her up to 4,800, making right at 39/40 mph. Earlier in the afternoon we'd dodged a thunder head, making 43/44 mph at WOT (5,200 rpm). Pretty much a usual day on the summer water. The nice thing is the new motor uses roughly the same amount of fuel as my old 86' J90 used pushing around the Montauk, trip for trip. And quiet. Nobody needs to shout to be heard, even at WOT. That little 90 may get you around in an 18', but for the long haul plan to re-power with a 150 soon as you can afford to. After about 18 months now, we absolutely love that Johnson 150.
commodore	posted 07-23-2001 01:47 PM ET (US) Thanks for everyones' input. I should have mentioned that I am moving up from a 17' Standard with a 90 HP Yamaha--great boat and motor, a little too tender for Lake Erie. Anyhow, the comment Tom made about "boat only" is exactly how I am approaching this. I hope and expect that the 90 HP Evinrude will last a season or more, as I fix up the hull, teak etc. To repower is the long term solution. BTW, the mechanic who maintains the Evinrude says "great motor, great compression, no problems" so looks like I'm headed into the deal! Thanks, Dave
whalernut	posted 07-23-2001 09:16 PM ET (US) Dave, I have a 73` `16 Currituck and love it! It has a 75` 85h.p. Johnson on it and it still runs superb! What year is you`re Standard? I fish out of Conneaut, Ohio on Lake Erie and it is an awsome fishing platform! I caught alot of big Smallmouth Bass this past weekend! I feel the Standard is good up too 4 foot waves, after that it gets you butt a hurting! Regards-Jack Graner.