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Member
Posts: 97
Location: Rochester, MN | Im looking at buying another Crestliner 1750 FishHawk and was looking for some opinions on a few motors for this boat.
Obviously Crestliner is not pre-rigging for Yamaha. However my local dealer can still get me a Yamaha 115 with some rigging system called Teleflex. He also has 4 stroke Mercs and the Optimax. I really prefer 4 stroke for fuel consumption reasons. I know those optis really haul but I need 4 stroke because Im not buying a kicker right away. I havent looked at Honda pricing yet but im sure its high.
Another dealer has Johnson 115 4 strokes available that were made by Suzuki but are now discontinued. Ive heard this is a good motor but Im leary of the warranty issues. Ive also heard good things about a motor coming out next year called Etec? I think it will be made by Evinrude. I believe that this Etec is out now but not for 115.
This boat is rated for a 125 but I dont know that there is a 4 stroke out there that size.
Please somebody out there feel free to give me some advice on any of these choices. Its a big investment.
This would be my 3rd Cliner fishhawk. Im buying another one because of cost/benefit ratio is good in my opinion. But if someone can talk me into taking a look at another boat brand...im all ears also.
Thanks!
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Member
Posts: 2445
Location: Fremont, Wisconsin | Hi Hoagie
I have heard your story many times over in the years that I have been in the boat business. Confusion best descibes it. Even though you have owned boats in the past it is very hard to keep up in the ever changing world of boats and motors. This is where a good sales rep. is worth his or her weight in gold. I was taught a long time ago that everybody has a profession in this world and that is what they are good at. Let them do there job.
That being said, you have a lot of issues and quite frankly some misinformation about some products. I would suggest to you that you find a dealer close to you that you like. Find a sales guy that KNOWS what he is talking about. Don't just buy for price, his knowledge is worth more than the final price. Make suure what you buy will really do what you want it to do. For instance, I want a 115 4 stk because I won't have a kicker right away. The opti will haul. You are right, but the opti will troll slower than the 4 stk. Why? Because the 115 4 stk has to have a higher idle rpms than a 2stk to keep the oil pressure up. Thus creating a faster troll speed. A good sales person will know things like this and help to get the rigged "Dressed" the way it should be.
There is a lot of scuttle butt about can't get this motor on this boat. Hogwash. You can get what you want and NO, its not going top cost thousands more. Boats are ordered by the dealers with or with out controls and we are charged acordingly.
There is a lot of reason why making friends with and doing business with a good sales represenative is worth its weight in gold.
I would love to go on and on but I better get to selling something now. If you have more questions I will be happy to answer.
Denny Fox
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Member
Posts: 44
| I'm also curious about your fuel consumption statement. I was told by a marina that the new four stroke verado uses twice as much gas as the optimax of the same horsepower. Does that somehow change at 115 hp fourstrokes? |
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Member
Posts: 97
Location: Rochester, MN | My thinking was purely convential. Im sure there are exceptions to the rule when it comes to 4 strokes. Im certainly no expert. Thats why a posted for help. Perhaps a motor like the optimax demonstrates what you are talking about:
http://www.starkssportshop.com/motors.htm
I am not sure yet what motor I want to buy and want to hear as much debate as possible.
Im intrigued by the speed and $ saved with the mercury optimax.
Ive also heard that merc is good about warranty issues yet im sure that is debatable by some.
One mechanic said the opti can be setup to go down to 650 rpms if needed without choking to death
and having carbon buildup.
Another option is this Johnson/Suzuki 4 stroke. Although it has been discontinued, Ive heard it runs very good and does cost less than yamaha or merc 4 strokes. But what happens if there is a problem? Will someone stand behind it.
Im also interested in this Evinrude etec motor. Dont know much about it though.
Any advice is very much appreciated.
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| Just for your information, the 115 Optimax gets better fuel economy than the yamaha 115 fourstroke and the Mercury 115 fourstroke.......... Also the Verado does not even use close to twice as much fuel as the Opti. In fact the fuel economy is identical until wide open throttle.........Good luck on your decision but I would definately go for the Opti. |
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Member
Posts: 97
Location: Rochester, MN | Yes sir. Im hearing that over and over again and at this point im going with a 115 optimax on a Crestliner 1750 SC, then later adding a mercury pro kicker. My only remaining question is do I need a 20" transom or a 25" transom?
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| Before you lay out the cash, check the price of a 115 or 125 Merc 2 stroke. You will probably be able to find a non-current motor out there and save enough money to buy your kicker motor now. Merc has replaced tons of Optimax powerheads under warranty. The 2 strokes are thousands of dollars cheaper than the optis and four strokes and are bulletproof. I ran a 115 Merc for 15 years now with no problems other than a water pump impeller and a fuel pump diaghram, and believe me it has seen lots of hours. Also look at a Honda for a kicker, you can get an 8 horse for less than $2000. They are a lot smoother, quieter and lighter than any other kicker that I've seen. |
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Member
Posts: 3899
| Guest,
Merc HAD a problem with the 1999-2000 200/225 HP big block Opti motors. Yes they did replace quite a few under warranty. Pretty mush solved The were literally no problems with the 135-175 small blocks, and have been none with the smaller HP Opti's. The carbed motors are very reliable, but are also now obsolete. You can't get a new one anymore. Fuel mileage is much better with the Opti's, and performance is, too. They are cleaner, smoother, quieter, more efficient, and don't smell. I love my 135 Opti.
BTW, I paid $1980 for my 9.9 Merc 4 stroke kicker. It's been flawless, as well. |
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| Shep, check the 2005 Merc catalog. You will find a full line of Classic carbureted motors from 2.5-200hp. I bought a new rig this spring, the 150 Opti was $4200 more than the XR6, which is a carbureted 150. I went with the XR6. That's just too much of a price difference. |
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Location: Rhinelander | There are still some in the pipeline, but I can't order the carburated 2 strokes anymore on the Tuffy packages, so I think they are indeed done. |
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Member
Posts: 3899
| 2005 motors are not being made as of now. They are gearing up the 2006's, and Merc had dropped the carbed motors for 2006, as they do not meet the emmisions. That is what I was referring too.
Difference in price from a 125 carb to a 135 opti was about $2000 for me in 2002. When I was dealing on a different boat, the 150 EFI to the 150 Opti was about $1500. So I guess the $4200 is about right. 150 XR6 was a good motor, but it smelled, was rough at idle, fouled plugs, was loud, consumed lot's of oil, and got horrible mileage by Opti standards. I'm glad I have my Opti. |
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115 HP Motor Comparisons