BIG Question - replace Yamaha 150 HP with Honda 225HP

P

Pike-Hunter

New member
This is a great forum and I just signed up this morning and I am eager to learn as much as I can from the gang on this forum.

First, I have a 2004 Wellcraft V21 Steplift powered by 2003 Yamaha 150HP TXRC. Also a trolling motor Honda Four stroke 15HP for catching salmon and trout on Lake Ontario.

I was entertaining offer on trade in with Honda 225HP 4 stroke engine. This outboard has the best displacement of any given 225HP.See quote below:

New 2006 225 HP Honda - 25" - MSRP $18,389.

Discounted Sale Price $15,450.
Less 150 Yamaha - 5,800.
w\25" Shaft $9,650.* Plus Tax
Model TXRC

*Includes Installation on boat with Honda Controls & Gauge Package & 3 Blade Aluminum Prop as required - Engine qualifies for Extended Warranty to 5 Years at N/C (Value $2,300). Must be registered by 3-31-08 to qualify. Also $500 rebate offer on this one.

My biggest questions:
gas savings?
performance wise?

Am I better off to leave this outboard the way it is?

Thefermantor stated I was not wise to do this. Hence, this is why I am posting a new thread. Am I fool?

:zip:

Thank you for your anticipated feedback.

I will post pictures of my boat shorty.
 
A 150hp Honda would be no problem - right Reelapeelin?!

Here is a test you could do-

Take a 200 lb (very brave) man and have him sit directly on top of your 150 2 stroke while you do a hole-shot out of the water and venture out into some swells. With this temp modification technically it should perform about the same as the heavier 225 as far as porposing goes.

I know its not a realistic test that that's about what it would be like.

I'm going to have to agree with Pink Jeep.
:beer:
 
His boat was a center console not a cuddy like a V21, but that 225 HONDA is ALOT of weight to be hanging off the back. You'll also want to consider he had his transom mounted, and the V21 has a setback built into the hull already adding leverage. As many here have experienced, that setback can make some hulls a real bare to handle due to porposing. These are things to keep in mind. And could you also post pictures of your hull for us, it appears that a V21 was built in 04 but it doesn't resemble the classic V20.

And here is the link to jackman1939's previous post regarding his HONDA 225 experience.
http://www.wellcraftv20.com/community/showthread.php?t=7326&highlight=HONDA
 
Thermantor -

more information - I have a trim tab plus four stroke 15HP trolling motor already mounted next to the main OB.

So do you give this idea of replacing my current OB a blessing? Or am I better off keeping my current motor? I am thinking if nothing is broken then why fix (or replace) anything.

I still need to study on how I could post pix of my boat for all to see.

Thanks again.
 
I saw the new V21 at a boat show when they first came out, nice boat and all but no V20!! Not even close!

As for switching to a 4 stroke, If you have the cash, and you have the cash to maintain it at some mariner then go for it, if you are a DYI guy like most of us then forget it!!

I am not sold on 4 strokes, I love the power of the 2 strokes!! and will stay with one as long as I can!!
 
If it were me, I would keep the YAMAHA unless you use the boat for 500+ hours a year. You can buy alot of gas for the extra coin you'll put out for a 4 stroker. If you don't use the boat enough, then you have essentially just spent all that money just to have a 4 stroke, not for any savings. And I hate to say it(as I am against YAMAHA's), that 150 YAMAHA is a solid engine. And your biggest fuel savings will be seen at idle-trolling speeds, but you already have a kicker to save fuel there. I would strongly consider saving some coin and sticking with your current engine.
 
I would not do it, because of what Ferm just said but also an assumption that you are gaining a good chunk of weight. That is never good. I do not know the specs between the two.
When you add another 100-135 lbs for a kicker also sticking out on a adjustable mount I think two three things will happen
1. Your bank account won't look so good
2. You will love the power and you will play with it a couple of times like a hot rodder but you will not use it much after that unless you are like Skools and like that G force facial expression he enjoys.
3. You will not like the arse heavy set your boat will take nor the porpoising you will experience and have to correct with a lot of positive trim tab.

Besides with all do respect to the four strokes out there which I love to you have one of the most reliable and best built engines ever put on a boat already with what is considered by many to be the ideal horse power rating.
JMHO
 
I love my 4 stroke and would prefer never to own another 2 stroker.

That being said, if your 150 is running good, why replace it?

At $4/gallon you can buy 2412.5 gallons of gas times approx 2.5 mpg, you can go 6031.25 miles with your current rig for the price of the new motor. (oh, I forgot oil, like I said, I love my 4 stroke)

I don't think your mpg will be a lot better with the 225 Honda, I've heard that they are a bit thirsty for a 4 stroke, maybe 3 to 3.5 mph. (this from a guy running twin 225's on a 28' Mako CC)

It would take 10 years of running to make up the cost.


That being said, if you want it.......BUY THE NEW MOTOR!!!!! (its only money)
 
I say do it....no don't do it....no do it.....no don't do it.


Seriously, I personally would not do it for all of the reasons above.
 
of the 225's if you were dead set on a four stroke the honda would probably be the last choice. reason being there lower units arent up to par with the rest of the boys. main reason, plastic oil slinger and major issue with part interchangability. besides that head rebuilding and valve maintenence are a sinch with the hondas. also a yammie 150 stroke is a dog just like its fourstroke cousin. i ran both if then several times. if you would put a real 150 by either of the north american made companies you would see a big difference. the only thing you would have to change would be the wiring harness. since you can convert the box to go to either brand with 33 series cables.
 
Thank you guys for your two cents.

I will just go about with my current motor as this will be my 5th season.

About my V21 - I will post pictures for all to see. V21 is a perfect all around fishing machine and I run it with two cannon Mag 10 riggers, depth raider and Lowrance FF. Next month will be the beginning of the steelhead fishing and spring Kings.:beer:
 
randlemanboater said:
I love my 4 stroke and would prefer never to own another 2 stroker.

That being said, if your 150 is running good, why replace it?

At $4/gallon you can buy 2412.5 gallons of gas times approx 2.5 mpg, you can go 6031.25 miles with your current rig for the price of the new motor. (oh, I forgot oil, like I said, I love my 4 stroke)

I don't think your mpg will be a lot better with the 225 Honda, I've heard that they are a bit thirsty for a 4 stroke, maybe 3 to 3.5 mph. (this from a guy running twin 225's on a 28' Mako CC)

It would take 10 years of running to make up the cost.


That being said, if you want it.......BUY THE NEW MOTOR!!!!! (its only money)
Click to expand...

How much better on gas do you find the 4s over the 2s? Lets say a day trip where you would burn 25 gallons with a 2s how many gallons for the 4s?
 
Stillrunning said:
How much better on gas do you find the 4s over the 2s? Lets say a day trip where you would burn 25 gallons with a 2s how many gallons for the 4s?
Click to expand...

you cant say all 4's are better then 2's unless the 2's are carbed or efi. it is usually anywhere from 20 to 40% better except at w.o.t.
 
Stillrunning said:
How much better on gas do you find the 4s over the 2s? Lets say a day trip where you would burn 25 gallons with a 2s how many gallons for the 4s?
Click to expand...

The 4 stroke is mostly better than a 2 stroke NON-DFI looper at idle and slow speeds. At cruise the 4 stroke is probably only 5-15% better, and at WOT they are almost identical. A cross-flow engine is a wasteful SOB at pretty much any speed over idle to slow cruise when compared to a looper, but a looper burns excess fuel at idle to real slow speeds vs a cross-flow. DFI eliminates pretty all of the down falls of 2 vs 4 stroke.
 
I think you'll have worse fuel economy with the honda 225 ;) There was someone here on the site that had a 225 Honda on the back of a v20 . . . if I remember correctly the boat cruised at 2.5 - 2.8mpg . . . and topped out at only 45mph. I'll do a search and see what I can come up with.
 
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