posted 08-05-2004 12:19 PM ET (US)        

I now have an opportunity to get a larger Whaler which we plan to do, Montauk or 18 Outrage for big water and fishing on Lake MI. But the 11.5 is the sweetie.

QUESTION: Since I have significant history w/ old and new wood boats my instincts are to try and find a 20 or 25 HP the same vintage as the 11.5 - that's just me. I hear from some boaters that the older motors are great and perhaps better in some ways than newer models. I do not know the transom weight limitations for the 11.5, am not particularly interested in a newer 4 stroke (seem heavy). However, I would come off my wallet for new or newer used based on recommendations of experienced Whaler Bros.

Pls share your recommendations/opinions re: older motors and what vintages are good, great excellent and what to avoid. I certainly understand the issues of low hours, care and maintenance.

posted 08-05-2004 05:52 PM ET (US)            

No big deal, this motor certainly was entitled to SOME service after as trouble free as it had been. Unfortunately, the 20+ year old engine parts came to more than the boat AND motor was worth. The ignition module and replacement cost was something like $1500. I think the module itself was like $1200. Makes sense, the cost of holding that part for 25 years is high.

We did better with the tax write off donating it to a local charity.

Lesson here: Unless you are a collector, I'd look for more current technology.

posted 08-10-2004 10:35 AM ET (US)            

Or, any other good preventive maintenance for older engines?

posted 08-15-2004 10:54 PM ET (US)            

Mine is powered with a 1969 Chrysler 20 HP and on my last venture into the channels of Caribbean coast of Costa Rica the boat and motor combination was great!

We even tried the fishing in the middle of a river bar, with my PFD on and my brother's concern to leave the motor idling. But there was something wrong with the idle jet and the motor would not idle much or it needed adjustment.

If we faced the waves with the motor cut the water would start filling the boat as the wave entered the bow when we were comming down from a wave and we were very unstable to throw our fishing rods. So I watched out the waves and my brother tried to fish. But it was not possible and the fish were not bitting at all. We hoped for Snook or Rooster fish but these are better caught trolling, they say. The locals were not fishing either eventhough, they were using shrimp.

Another thing would have been to try to troll in these waters but I didn't try and my brother didn't want to have his digital camera getting wet or lost. Remember that my Boston Whaler Sport 11 only has a 5 feet beam and a 6 inch draft! However, it took better the waves from the beam. These were not breaking waves.

I wanted to feel my boat in rough waters and I even put it back at the waves but it seemed to take the waves better this way. One wave struck the motor on the way in but nothing happened only the different sound of the motor having almost the leg covered with water up to the short block!

On the second day of the trip we took the boat upstream and find quite many boats that were running aground and the low draft of the little Whaler proved to be the winning ticket! It took us to get to "Tortuguero" an important port in the channels about 2 1/2 hours upstream to the north east of our location and 9 gallons of fuel and oil were spent. Not a very gas saving venture and this is why I would now vote for a recent motor or a 4 stroke Honda 20 HP instead of a two stroke.

My favorite boat was the Boston Whaler Montauk 170 with a 90 HP motor, however, the seating arrangement of the Venutra 160 is much nicer but not the price! I guess I will have to save more and put some money aside for my kid's education before I sink some big dollar into boating.

posted 08-16-2004 12:18 AM ET (US)            

If you go 25 HP, you're 25% over the rating -- but okay on weight if you stay with a 2-stroke. If you go 4-stroke 25 horses, you begin talking about some significant weight on the transom. I'm trying to find someone who has a 25 4-stroke on an 11.5, and see what kind of performance they get -- or if they have any problems. I have a 25 Tohatsu I'm thinking of mounting -- it's a 4-stroke but comes in at around 160 lbs. all said and done.

Another concern with the new power tilt/trim motors is the need to anchor the bottom two bolts on the motor mount into the transom. The inside of the 11.5's transom is not open for the bottom bolts -- so you use lag screws (ouch) or find some other way.

I'm all for the 4-strokes because of fuel savings and other factors -- but only Honda makes a 20 HP (and it doesn't require bottom two bolting)... but of course, with Honda you're talking $$$. I'm with Pete, and hoping some other 11.5 owners can lend some input.

posted 08-16-2004 10:54 PM ET (US)            

I would definitively consider repowering with the Mercury Classic 25 E which is as heavy as any other 20 Hp or 25 Hp even a 1980 Chrysler 20 Hp but with less cu.in. displacement. The Classic 20 no longer manufactured has the same displacement as the 25 perhaps the difference is in the carburetor size.

How much does the Honda BF 20 cost? Is it made in the USA? I ordered a catalogue from Honda USA and found the motor very nice, but when I called the Honda dealer in Costa Rica they denied that there ever was a 20 Hp motor. They were very pissed because they lost the big sales to E-Tec by Bombardier!

On the other hand the 25 Hp is fancier structurally and comes with a full displacement oil pump, where as the BF 20 oil pump is not even mentioned. Perhaps it doesn't even have one and it comes with a splasher which could pose a question with regards to durability?

I liked the propeller on the BF 20 but with 4 blades I would think this is a motor meant to push pontoons, perhaps I am wrong.

The other route would be to overhaul your current motor and spend the savings in gasoline!

Regards,

posted 08-17-2004 09:14 PM ET (US)            

Thought about rebuilding my Johnson but would like something a little newer (and maybe more reliable). I may go hours (sometimes an entire day) w/o seeing another boat on some of the rivers I travel. The Johnson has never let me down, but I think it wants a direct fuel line to the nearest gas pump. I like the thought of a 4-stroke but the Honda is coming in around $3.5K -- a lot when I can get a Mercury (or other) 2-stroke for about a grand less.

I just don't know how much weight you can get on the tail end before it affects performance. I've also thought about the new 25 HP Johnsons -- but don't have any feedback.

Thanks for the input!

posted 08-19-2004 11:31 PM ET (US)            

Have you talked about your insurance with the agent about exceeding by 25% the upper limit, and have you considered a Tohatsu 18 HP four stroke which will not exceed that limit?

I wouldn't travel alone yet not even in rivers. Perhaps you don't have pirates where you live (neither do us but I have never encountered them yet), but there are always risks and lone wolfs don't really swim. I would rather join some sort of boating club (like I do here in Costa Rica) and that proves that we humans are pack creatures!

Regards,