New motor

[Reel Time]

Planning on buying a new 200, 225 outboard for my 1988 Sou'westr. Is it even an option these days? Yamaha or Suzuki . I'm in Maryland.

 

[Andy]

Planning on buying a new 200, 225 outboard for my 1988 Sou'westr. Is it even an option these days? Yamaha or Suzuki . I'm in Maryland.

Here in eastern NC, it certainly is an option, but you'll likely be put on a waiting list.... Are you in a hurry?

 

[warthog5]

1988 Sou'westr.

What size boat?

Do you know the internal differences between the Yamaha and the Suzuki?

 

[MadGar]

In my opinion, go with your lightest option, regardless of make (all of these new motors are good). I say that bvecasue the sou'wester was designed when only 2 stroke motors were available. Those original motors were much lighter than present day 4 strokes but fortunately, some of these very new 4 strokes have really worked on weight.

 

[Reel Time]

What size boat?

Do you know the internal differences between the Yamaha and the Suzuki?

Internal differences ? No

 

[Reel Time]

In my opinion, go with your lightest option, regardless of make (all of these new motors are good). I say that bvecasue the sou'wester was designed when only 2 stroke motors were available. Those original motors were much lighter than present day 4 strokes but fortunately, some of these very new 4 strokes have really worked on weight.

Good point, hoping wide beam will carry the extra weight of newer 4 stroke. My other boat has a Cat diesel in it so I'm learning here with my fun
travel boat.

 

[Reel Time]

Here in eastern NC, it certainly is an option, but you'll likely be put on a waiting list.... Are you in a hurry?

Thinking I need a reliable motor worthy of a tow to Marathon Fla. in February. Gives me a little time.

 

[warthog5]

Suzuki.......Has a timing chain...Runs in oil bath.....Yamaha has timing belt....Some engines ARE interference engines....Means break a belt or skip a cog....Valves collide with pistons.

Gear ratio.....Suzuki has the Lowest gear ratio of all Outboards.....Means it swings a Larger dia. prop....Think larger tires for more traction. Run a Suzuki prop!

Suzuki....typically cheaper to buy than Yamaha.

And....Remembering history....Yamaha....2003- 2004 their HPDI's .....There were boats that couldn't even make it across the bay. Each engine needed a team and took 12hrs to fix.....Yamaha acted like they didn't have a problem. SKA boats were the first to get fixed....People had payments on brand new boats and couldn't use them.

I've owned 5 Suzukis on different boats now.

 

[Efx]

I own a Suzuki and have owned prior Suzuki. Great engines. Now I have four Yamahas. All four strokes. Two f115’s and two f150’s. If you can get a Suzuki, go there but if not go with Yamaha. Also, in my yard the Mercury engines are holding up after many seasons. They haven’t flaked yet or have shown any flaws. All three are good buys. I do like that Mercury is exploring electric options, at least on smaller outboards and also thinking outside the box with that 600hp.

 

[Reel Time]

Suzuki.......Has a timing chain...Runs in oil bath.....Yamaha has timing belt....Some engines ARE interference engines....Means break a belt or skip a cog....Valves collide with pistons.

Gear ratio.....Suzuki has the Lowest gear ratio of all Outboards.....Means it swings a Larger dia. prop....Think larger tires for more traction. Run a Suzuki prop!

Suzuki....typically cheaper to buy than Yamaha.

And....Remembering history....Yamaha....2003- 2004 their HPDI's .....There were boats that couldn't even make it across the bay. Each engine needed a team and took 12hrs to fix.....Yamaha acted like they didn't have a problem. SKA boats were the first to get fixed....People had payments on brand new boats and couldn't use them.

I've owned 5 Suzukis on different boats now.

Thanks for the info, I'm hearing nothing but good things about Suzuki's for the most part.

 

[warthog5]

The average person .....has No Clue.

 

[PastTheBarb]

I love my new Mercury 150.

 

[offduty5]

Go with Suzuki…. I re powered my 1994 1800 and although not a speed demon …. It sips the fuel and is super reliable… awesome outboard.. good luck…and take warthog5 ( Bob’s) advice.. he is a full fledged mechanic and I have taken his advice on some projects on my boat… he’s very knowledgeable…

 

[seahare]

I bought my first Suzuki 9 years ago. A new 90 hp four stroke for my 18' Privateer. What a great motor. Never a single issue with that motor but traded it in on another new 90 Suzuki after 6 seasons. Didn't cost much to make the trade and got to start over with a new engine. In my third year with the second 90 and it is also a fuel sipping joy to operate. Here in NJ it seems you may have to wait literally months to get a mechanic to look at your motor if it needs repair so that's why I like a new engine. The cost of losing a season to a mechanical problem is not measurable in dollars.

Also repowered my Parker 23 SE three years ago with a Suzuki 175. Another fuel sipping joy of an engine. Not a particularly fast boat but gets on plane very quickly and lets face it, a Parker SE isn't fun to run fast in any conditions that are not fairly calm. I personally am very satisfied with this combination. I bought this boat new in 1988 and have no plans of getting rid of it. Over the years I have had a 200 hp Johnson 2 stroke and a 150 hp Johnson 2 stroke on this boat and they did not provide better performance than this Suzuki and they used a painful amount of fuel. Probably twice as much fuel.

One comment on the 175. My dealer insisted that the Suzuki 16 X 18.5 prop is the best choice for my boat and I'm not convinced. Would like to know what props others are running on their 23 SE's.

 

[markman03]

I repowered with a Suzuki on my 2110. This is my second season. Great motor so far. Gets on plane a lot faster.

 

[Lucky John]

I have been waiting 13 months now for a new 300 yamaha 30" shaft. I came across 2 Suzuki's last winter in Florida but didn't pull the trigger, mainly because I didn't want to lose my mechanic BUT if I don't hear anything positive by the end of this season I will be strapping on a new 300Zuk.

 

[Reel Rebel]

Go with Suzuki…. I re powered my 1994 1800 and although not a speed demon …. It sips the fuel and is super reliable… awesome outboard.. good luck…and take warthog5 ( Bob’s) advice.. he is a full fledged mechanic and I have taken his advice on some projects on my boat… he’s very knowledgeable…

What HP Suzuki did you go with? What prop and what are your FOT and cruising speeds? Looking to repower.

 

[2801 Parker]

Go with the "Ichiro" you won't be disappointed.

 

[Reel Time]

Thouhgts on a 200hp versus 225 hp Suzuki on a 1988 Sou'westr 25ft. CC . 225 weights 77 lbs more. Oh, and $3000 more.

 

[warthog5]

200 is a Big inline 4 cylinder engine.......225 is a V6...