posted 01-29-2006 04:49 PM ET (US)        

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I went to the Nor Cal boat show last night, and stopped by the Whaler exhibit set up by the Outboard Motor Shop. My favorite boat overall was the Conquest 285. Looks like the perfect combination of cruising, fishing, and big water capabilities. A very nicely finished boat.

While there, I got to talking with the Whaler factory rep about the Conquest 23 I bought from BillS. I told him that the only thing I'd like to improve on that boat is the engine noise levels (twin Opti135s) particularly when the weather curtains are up. He told me that Whaler engineering has OK'd the fitting of these boats with the new Verado midrange series. It seems that the boat can handle the additional weight on the transom.

Two questions for the congniscenti on this site.

1) How difficult do you think it would be to re-rig this boat? After all, it will require Smartcraft gauges and digital throttles (the existing Hydraulic steering, I think, can be used).

2) How difficult is it to trade/or sell my existing Opti 135s. These are strong engines with plenty of life left in them.

posted 01-29-2006 05:14 PM ET (US)         

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The best pricing I have yet heard of on a pair of 150 Verados installed, with new DTS and Smartcraft, 25K for the pair. This is on the East coast, and whether you can match that out there is questionable.

But if you think this look is irresistable, compared to all the traditional, old fashioned looking engines on the market today, go for it!

http://photobucket.com/albums/v429/lgoltz/Verados/?action=view& current=7269006-R1-048-22A.jpg .

As for Optimax values, since you are earlier than 2003 models, the year they were officially declared completely "fixed" by Mercury, they may be more difficult to sell than newer ones. Not that most of them weren't good before them. But it only took a few internet posts of sporatic problems (like we have now seen on the Evinrude 90's and 60's), and that bad run of 3.0 liter 2001's (recent discussion again revived here also), to hurt the reputation of the pre 2003's.

posted 02-03-2006 12:30 PM ET (US)            

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I found this information helpful. Some of the people I spoke to about the potential of doing this said that the weight of the Verados was causing BW to move the helm forward on the conquest and outrage lines.

When I looked into the weight factor, it only seemed like a couple hundred pounds difference, which didn't seem like that much considering that would be one adult sitting in the bench and could be offset by some fuel.

posted 02-03-2006 01:08 PM ET (US)            

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I was please to know that my options whenever I decide to replace the 135's are no longer limited. That said, if/when I do go forward the Verados will be under consideration as well as the Etecs and the Opti 150s.

Does anyone know if the Etecs would be significantly more expensive to re-rig? I'm assuming not, as they don't appear to use any electronic instrumentation or controls. (although the Etecs would break the heart of my mechanic).

posted 02-07-2006 06:22 PM ET (US)            

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I repowered last year with a suzuki 250 hp outboard. I got rid of the 250 EFI merc. If I were you, I would go with twin 140's or 150's, either suzuki or honda. suzuki comes with 6 year warrantee. The merc I had ran out of warentee a year early because of all its repairs exceeded the policy value.

Tim