Re-powering a 1987 20ft Boston Whaler Outrage

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Author Topic:   Re-powering a 1987 20ft Boston Whaler Outrage

Tampawhaler posted 07-13-2005 04:14 PM ET (US)
My 1987 150 Mercury Black Max is dying, but the boat iself is fairly pristine. I'm having trouble deciding between a Yamaha 4 stroke, 2 stroke direct injection or a new warehoused 2004 2 stroke carb Yamaha. I hear a lot about the E-TEC as well but it seems risky given the fact that it is so new and unique. The old 2 stroke is around $3,300 cheaper, and that's before sales tax. But I'm afraid in 5 years I'lll regret the 2 stroke.
Any thoughts?
Tampawhaler posted 07-13-2005 04:18 PM ET (US)
Oh, and one more thing...weight concerns me. These newer engines are heavier than the old 150 Black Max...is the 150 Yamaha 4 stroke too heavy for an '87 Outrage transom????
Buckda posted 07-13-2005 05:20 PM ET (US)
Welcome to the club. I think we have new member inductions on a quarterly basis now.
('86 18' Outrage, 150 Mercury Black Max for me too!)
I think a lot of guys are scratching their heads over this one right now. No question the hull can handle the weight of the 4-stroke Yamaha, but there are questions about whether you will kick yourself in two years for not buying the E-Tec.
I'm leaning toward the E-Tec...If it proves reliable, I don't think you will ever kick yourself over it - the weight thing is important on a little boat like the 18. They can handle more, but the performance of a single is very responsive (as you know).
I've started a couple threads in the past about this as my relationship with my 150 HP Black Max has gone hot and cold. The fact that there is any doubt at all about the motor is a big reason (for me) to consider a repower, but now I'm mostly convinced to wait for the E-Tec 150 to come out this fall and to see if anyone down where you live puts one on and drives it over the winter. If they do, and report positive results, there just might be a new E-Tec on the back of mine come the beginning of the spring season up here in the hinterlands.
The other nice thing about repowering is to remember - those engines were powerhead rated - meaning that the true HP output is about 10% less than whatever it is at the powerhead (rumor is that the Merc's ran them at the high end of the power scale, so this may not be much of an issue when switching to a different brand)...but today's engines are rated at the HP that is put out at the PROP, meaning that all other things being equal, today's 150 HP engines are more powerful than those that used the old rating system.
Good luck in your search - and please keep us posted about the results you find....
Dave
Buckda posted 07-13-2005 05:27 PM ET (US)
One other thing...your hull is rated for 200 HP, so if you can go up, I'd go to the max HP. In this category, the 200 HP E-Tec is already available and getting good reviews....
Dave
Tampawhaler posted 07-13-2005 05:47 PM ET (US)
Thanks man. Thoughtful stuff. $$$ is an issue though. I'm really worried about buying something too high tech for what is basically a weekend pleasure boat and occasional bay fishing boat.
Buckda posted 07-13-2005 05:57 PM ET (US)
Well...if you plan to keep the boat, word has it that there are leftover Mercury 2-Stroke EFI 200's at some S. Florida dealerships. I'd call around...you may have to trailer the boat down to Ft. Lauderdale or up north a bit, but you can get essentially a replacement motor, use the same guages and controls and get another 18 years of use for less money than a new 4-stroke 150 HP with new controls and guages....
Plenty of ways to skin a cat....and you live in boat paradise where numerous options abound....
Good luck!
Teak Oil posted 07-15-2005 09:39 PM ET (US)
Dave your Merc should be crankshaft rated, Merc started in 1984 or 1985. Though yours may be getting a little on the tired side by now.
200 small block Dave! Do it man!
Tampawhaler so far I have not seen any complaints on the higher horsepower E-tecs. I think the current 200 E-tec (3.3 liter) would be a HUGE boost to your Outrage. Fuel economy should improve by at least 10-20%, and you will be able to loaf around at 3000 rpms instead of working a little 150 so hard.
You dont want one of those dog-pig four strokes on the back of your awesome Whaler do ya?
fourdfish posted 07-15-2005 09:51 PM ET (US)
Right on Teak Oil.

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Author	Topic: Re-powering a 1987 20ft Boston Whaler Outrage
Tampawhaler	posted 07-13-2005 04:14 PM ET (US) My 1987 150 Mercury Black Max is dying, but the boat iself is fairly pristine. I'm having trouble deciding between a Yamaha 4 stroke, 2 stroke direct injection or a new warehoused 2004 2 stroke carb Yamaha. I hear a lot about the E-TEC as well but it seems risky given the fact that it is so new and unique. The old 2 stroke is around $3,300 cheaper, and that's before sales tax. But I'm afraid in 5 years I'lll regret the 2 stroke. Any thoughts?
Tampawhaler	posted 07-13-2005 04:18 PM ET (US) Oh, and one more thing...weight concerns me. These newer engines are heavier than the old 150 Black Max...is the 150 Yamaha 4 stroke too heavy for an '87 Outrage transom????
Buckda	posted 07-13-2005 05:20 PM ET (US) Welcome to the club. I think we have new member inductions on a quarterly basis now. ('86 18' Outrage, 150 Mercury Black Max for me too!) I think a lot of guys are scratching their heads over this one right now. No question the hull can handle the weight of the 4-stroke Yamaha, but there are questions about whether you will kick yourself in two years for not buying the E-Tec. I'm leaning toward the E-Tec...If it proves reliable, I don't think you will ever kick yourself over it - the weight thing is important on a little boat like the 18. They can handle more, but the performance of a single is very responsive (as you know). I've started a couple threads in the past about this as my relationship with my 150 HP Black Max has gone hot and cold. The fact that there is any doubt at all about the motor is a big reason (for me) to consider a repower, but now I'm mostly convinced to wait for the E-Tec 150 to come out this fall and to see if anyone down where you live puts one on and drives it over the winter. If they do, and report positive results, there just might be a new E-Tec on the back of mine come the beginning of the spring season up here in the hinterlands. The other nice thing about repowering is to remember - those engines were powerhead rated - meaning that the true HP output is about 10% less than whatever it is at the powerhead (rumor is that the Merc's ran them at the high end of the power scale, so this may not be much of an issue when switching to a different brand)...but today's engines are rated at the HP that is put out at the PROP, meaning that all other things being equal, today's 150 HP engines are more powerful than those that used the old rating system. Good luck in your search - and please keep us posted about the results you find.... Dave
Buckda	posted 07-13-2005 05:27 PM ET (US) One other thing...your hull is rated for 200 HP, so if you can go up, I'd go to the max HP. In this category, the 200 HP E-Tec is already available and getting good reviews.... Dave
Tampawhaler	posted 07-13-2005 05:47 PM ET (US) Thanks man. Thoughtful stuff. $$$ is an issue though. I'm really worried about buying something too high tech for what is basically a weekend pleasure boat and occasional bay fishing boat.
Buckda	posted 07-13-2005 05:57 PM ET (US) Well...if you plan to keep the boat, word has it that there are leftover Mercury 2-Stroke EFI 200's at some S. Florida dealerships. I'd call around...you may have to trailer the boat down to Ft. Lauderdale or up north a bit, but you can get essentially a replacement motor, use the same guages and controls and get another 18 years of use for less money than a new 4-stroke 150 HP with new controls and guages.... Plenty of ways to skin a cat....and you live in boat paradise where numerous options abound.... Good luck!
Teak Oil	posted 07-15-2005 09:39 PM ET (US) Dave your Merc should be crankshaft rated, Merc started in 1984 or 1985. Though yours may be getting a little on the tired side by now. 200 small block Dave! Do it man! Tampawhaler so far I have not seen any complaints on the higher horsepower E-tecs. I think the current 200 E-tec (3.3 liter) would be a HUGE boost to your Outrage. Fuel economy should improve by at least 10-20%, and you will be able to loaf around at 3000 rpms instead of working a little 150 so hard. You dont want one of those dog-pig four strokes on the back of your awesome Whaler do ya?
fourdfish	posted 07-15-2005 09:51 PM ET (US) Right on Teak Oil.