posted 09-06-2006 01:42 AM ET (US)        

I had one season on my 135 Opti when I traded it in for a F150 Yamaha at a dealer that carries both lines.
One Mercury only dealer did not want my trade and one Yamaha only dealer did not want my trade.
I had 50 hours on the 135 the first season and to its credit the motor ran well in operation and performance in all catagories but one...SOUND LEVELS.
I know to some decibels isn`t that important, but it was really the main reason for my repower.
I considered all of the above 4 strokes and picked Yamaha .
Its weight was only 35lb`s more than the 135 Opti.
In one article I read the Honda was quieter at top rpms but I was more interested in sound level at idle and cruising speeds ( for me 3,000 to 4,000rpms).Plus the Honda is heavier and a little more expensive
I considered the Verado but... tests I read showed the 135/ 150 Verado`s may not be as quite as their bigger brothers . That and the weight is getting too high (my opinion) at 510(20") 527(25").And...to sink the Verado/Opti swap was the price that was going to be 2k more than the Yamaha.
The E-tec gets great reviews and I`ve see and heard a few on the lake now, its quiet....but I also wanted a 4stroke. I didn`t price the E-tec but with the lowest weight its a contender.
I`m not a fan of Suzuki so I didn`t look at them but when I checked their site for weights I noticed they have a 140 thats only 410 lb`s. I prefer the proven F150 Yamaha. I noticed a small fleet of 12 commercial fishing yawls 18-22ft on Lake Winnipeg a while back that was 90% Yamaha 4strokes. That`s a pretty good testimonial for me.
I traded the 135 Opti with analog gauges for the F150 with analog gauges which fit the same holes.My personal preference is analog over digital despite the extra information you can get from the digital.I can glance at the gauges and don`t have to change sreens . I had the Smart craft features linked with my Navman 4380 with the Opti and never really used them. I still get some features with the Navman without the Smartcraft like water temp(lake), voltage, speed etc. I use the Navman mostly for its sounder feature and confess that I haven`t yet read the entire manual to know all what the Navman can do for me. Included in the trade was a 14 x 19 Vengence Mercury prop which I haven`t gotten back to pick up yet. I am running the stock 19" aluminum prop the motor came with and it has performed well. Sal A had tested some props when he repowered his Nantucket so I was able to take advantage of his research. I expect the Merc Stainless prop will improve everything. The only problem/glitch in the swap-out was that the new Yamaha 704 premium binnacle is smaller than the Mercury so the hole was a little too big. When the mechanic called to tell me this I picked up the binnacle and got a piece of 3/16 abs black plastic from a plastic`s shop and I made a plate that`s a 1/2" bigger than the binnacle to cover the exsiting holes/gap.It matches the black plastic housing of binnacle exactly.
The repower/trade cost was 6K Cdn. I bought the extended warranty raising it from 3 to 5 years for another 800. Not sure if I needed to do that or not ...but its done now.
Some will say thats a lot to pay but its worth it too me . The boat is so much more enjoyable. My ears are not ringing after a long ride . When cruising at 3-4,000rpm on the opti I had a had time talking to my brother-in-law/navigator standing beside me at the helm. Now with the Yamaha at 3,000rpm I can talk and hear him even when he`s sitting on the bow cushion.I can talk on the cel phone at cruise(not that I practise that) and hear it ring in my pocket.
Also there is no vibration, The Opti vibrated the boat at just under 1,000rpm.
Though the stern seats are not very comfortable(backrests too low in my opinion) people can now sit there without the roar of the Opti.
Power, speed and hole shot is great but not that important to me . the 135 Opti had lots of power and as good a hole shot for those that like that.
The F150 is also great for idling along at slow speeds in and out of bays and in shallow areas sightseeing and I don`t have to worry about fouling plugs.
I had / have been considering a T8 Yamaha kicker too but now don`t know if its needed . We can troll with the 150 and there is no exhaust smell and its quiet.And I don`t know it the stern wants the added 100 pounds. That and its a pain to link the steering to the main motor with the kicker needing to be on a bracket etc.and the bracket weight and remote control etc etc.
When we are drift fishing near rocks or an island I like to keep the motor running especially if its rough out in case we have to move quickly. Last year I found I was turning the Opti off to avoid the clacking and to hear someone in the front of the boat.
I am at 50 hrs now and extremely happy and reccommend the F150 Yamaha for the Nantucket/Outrage 190.
Thanks to Sal A for all the information I found in the archives on his repower and for answering my emails on some of the smaller details.
Thanks also to Jimh and the members that contribute the technical information and real experience that helped me with the repower and boating in general. Ken

posted 09-06-2006 02:32 PM ET (US)            

On the top Yamaha 150 4s cowling there is a collection basin for water that gets into the engine air intake. The basin has two hoses that run down the forward part of the cowling then into fittings the drain out the bottom of the lower engine casing. There is a problem with saltwater residue plugging these fittings at the bottom that causes the hoses that connect to these fittings to crack. You should check these fittings periodically and flush them with fresh water after every trip, especially if you boat in saltwater. I had a friend that didn't even know they existed and after checking them found them competely clogged. Here are some pictures from the THT.

[url] http://www.thehulltruth.com/photos/get-photo.asp?photoid=18403[/url]

http://www.thehulltruth.com/photos/getimage.aspx?width=150&photoid=18402

Cheers ......

posted 09-06-2006 02:44 PM ET (US)            

Thanks to Nick Owen for the pictures.

http://home.earthlink.net/~bluewaterpirate/sitebuildercontent/ sitebuilderpictures/f150.2.jpg

http://home.earthlink.net/~bluewaterpirate/sitebuildercontent/ sitebuilderpictures/f150.1.jpg

posted 09-06-2006 08:23 PM ET (US)            

I settled on the Honda motor because it was actually less expensive than the Yamaha 4 stroke. Similar performance, fuel economy and quietness so I went with what cost less. I am happy with my decision and have no regrets at all.