advice on buying 150hp O/B

[davej]

I have a friend who is in the market for a new 150hp O/B and while resonable experienced with smaller engines asked my opinion on the larger ones. The boat it will be going on is 7m Aluminium imported Sports boat not a RIB for reasons which are complex.

Although I don't have one, my view is that he wouldn't be going far wrong with a Yam 150 4S, he has been interested in an etec but while I know members rave about them, they are a bit different and not as common.

He wants the most reliable engine and as a semi retired will be using the boat alot in Norway and the UK.

He will be fishing with family and friends, maybe 6 in the boat max and is thinking a 120ltr tank would be suficient.

Does anyone have any views and experiences with this size Yam, do they have known issues?

Has anyone bought a Yam 150 recently and knows the going price?

Many thanks

Davej

[npm108]

My advice Dave especially with engines has always been "Buy the dealer, and not the brand". Depending where you will be you should look at your local dealer and the level of after sales in your area/country.

No point having Brand X if availability of spares in your area isn't good and there aren't any experienced mechanics around.

That being said I would seriously look at the Mercury 150 4 Stroke given that it is a recently designed engine incorporating all the latest bits of technology. The Yam 150 has been around for a while and is certainly known as a very reliable engine, but I don't think it ever wins any awards for Economy or speed.

If you're going to be trolling for extended periods of time, forget the ETEC or any other DI engine. I own a 225 ETEC so I am speaking from experience and spend several hours trolling at between 4-6 knots....stick with a 4 stroke for that.

The DI's will give you more power and be alot more fun to drive, but sounds like for the application you have mentioned that isn't really a requirement.

Can't help you much with prices as am not in the UK, but I have a price infront of me from 2010/2011 for a Yamaha F150AETX at €13,188

[Turbodiesel]

The Mercury F150 is very cheap to at the minute too!.

[Downhilldai]

Don't believe anyone who says a 150hp etec will be more powerful than a 150hp 4-stroke.

Similarly, don't pay much regard to list prices, as discounts are ALWAYS available, but will vary according to the manufacturer.

[Chris]

Originally Posted by npm108

My advice Dave especially with engines has always been "Buy the dealer, and not the brand".

Never a truer workd spoken, Tell him to look at what dealer support is available in his area, make sure he gets the engine that has the best warranty and dont be tempted to save £500 and go with a brand he is not confident will be well supported where the boat is going to be located.

All bands have issues that will need sorting out from time to time and a good dealer will make the whole experience much more bearable.

[davej]

Thank you to for all for the helpful replies, I think we have pretty much deceided on a Yamaha 150 because of its reputation for reliability. Although after looking at the Mercury sales clips it looks a great engine, particularly the DIY servicing and ease of access. However, my own dive club have a mid 90s Yam 115 and its just a bril engine,the only part that we have ever replaced was a starter solenoid anything else has been a service item.

For those of you with the bigger RIBs and similar engines what sort of fuel tank capacity do you have- would a 120ltr tank be about right?

Again many thanks

dave

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by davej

For those of you with the bigger RIBs and similar engines what sort of fuel tank capacity do you have- would a 120ltr tank be about right?

I'd go for as big a tank as possible ...nothnig worse than spending the day tank watching ......120l will work , but if you can go go to 200L + I think you'd be more relaxed ....

[davej]

Great wonder what other people think?

Thanks Dave

[Downhilldai]

Depends how far you intend to go.

[npm108]

I reckon you would be looking at around 25 litres per hour with the Yam150 on that boat, so that should give you an idea of the fuel tank size you might need.

120L would be around 4 hrs at cruise with approx 20% reserves

[clydeoutboards]

From a test of 150 hp outboards in a swedish boat magazine:

Boat used: Flipper 605 WA (6,15 meter x 2,32 meter, total weight at test 1400 kilogram, water temp 18 deg. Celsius

Honda BF150
Top RPM in test: 6000
Prop used: Honda HR, 3 blade, 20 inch pitch

a) Speed (knots):
At max rpm: 41,7
Minus 500 rpm: 37,2
Minus 1000 rpm: 32,6
Minus 1500 rpm: 29,1
Minus 2000 rpm: 25,5

b) Fuel consumtion (litre per nautical miles):
At max rpm: 1,27
Minus 500 rpm: 1,03
Minus 1000 rpm: 0,91
Minus 1500 rpm: 0,80
Minus 2000 rpm: 0,75

c) Noise (decibel):
At max rpm: 86
Minus 500 rpm: 84
Minus 1000 rpm: 82
Minus 1500 rpm: 81
Minus 2000 rpm: 80

d) Acceleration (sek):
0-30 knots: 9,2
15-30 knots: 6,8

Evinrude E-Tec 150
Top RPM in test: 5100
Prop used: Rebel, 3 blade, 21 inch pitch
a) Speed (knots):
At max rpm: 44,7
Minus 500 rpm: 40,3
Minus 1000 rpm: 33,8
Minus 1500 rpm: 30,0
Minus 2000 rpm: 24,9
b) Fuel consumtion (litre per nautical miles):
At max rpm: 1,38
Minus 500 rpm: 1,19
Minus 1000 rpm: 0,99
Minus 1500 rpm: 0,93
Minus 2000 rpm: 0,83

c) Noise (decibel):
At max rpm: 87
Minus 500 rpm: 85
Minus 1000 rpm: 83
Minus 1500 rpm: 80
Minus 2000 rpm: 78

d) Acceleration (sek):
0-30 knots: 8,0
15-30 knots: 5,6

Mercury Verado 150
Top RPM in test: 6200
Prop used: Mirage, 3 blade, 17 inch pitch

a) Speed (knots):
At max rpm: 41,2
Minus 500 rpm: 36,5
Minus 1000 rpm: 33,4
Minus 1500 rpm: 29,5
Minus 2000 rpm: 25,6

b) Fuel consumtion (litre per nautical miles):
At max rpm: 1,80
Minus 500 rpm: 1,45
Minus 1000 rpm: 1,30
Minus 1500 rpm: 1,04
Minus 2000 rpm: 0,77

c) Noise (decibel):
At max rpm: 87
Minus 500 rpm: 86
Minus 1000 rpm: 83
Minus 1500 rpm: 82
Minus 2000 rpm: 80

d) Acceleration (sek):
0-30 knots: 7,3
15-30 knots: 5,4


Suzuki DF150
Top RPM in test: 6000
Prop used: Suzuki, 3 blade, 23 inch pitch

a) Speed (knots):
At max rpm: 43,2
Minus 500 rpm: 39,4
Minus 1000 rpm: 36,4
Minus 1500 rpm: 32,0
Minus 2000 rpm: 27,8

b) Fuel consumtion (litre per nautical miles):
At max rpm: 1,26
Minus 500 rpm: 1,17
Minus 1000 rpm: 1,04
Minus 1500 rpm: 0,91
Minus 2000 rpm: 0,85

c) Noise (decibel):
At max rpm: 87
Minus 500 rpm: 85
Minus 1000 rpm: 84
Minus 1500 rpm: 79
Minus 2000 rpm: 78

d) Acceleration (sek):
0-30 knots: 8,9
15-30 knots: 5,4

Yamaha F150
Top RPM in test: 5600
Prop used: Yamaha Pro Series, 3 blade, 21 inch pitch

a) Speed (knots):
At max rpm: 44,3
Minus 500 rpm: 40,3
Minus 1000 rpm: 35,4
Minus 1500 rpm: 31,7
Minus 2000 rpm: 26,0

b) Fuel consumtion (litre per nautical miles):
At max rpm: 1,26
Minus 500 rpm: 1,10
Minus 1000 rpm: 0,95
Minus 1500 rpm: 0,84
Minus 2000 rpm: 0,78

c) Noise (decibel):
At max rpm: 87
Minus 500 rpm: 84
Minus 1000 rpm: 83
Minus 1500 rpm: 80
Minus 2000 rpm: 79

d) Acceleration (sek):
0-30 knots: 8,3
15-30 knots: 5,9

The above should help and I can also give the best price on the Honda in the uk

[Screaming04]

I purchased a new mercury 150 4 stroke about 4 months ago. This is the all new, non-verado unit. So far, it has been outstanding. Quiet, fuel efficient and plenty of power/speed.

What sets it apart from other four strokes. Large 3 litre displacement, simple single cam design with a timing chain (no belts to change or valves to adjust). All maintenance can be done by the owner... Oil changes are dead simple.

[Boats&Outboards]

Originally Posted by Screaming04

I purchased a new mercury 150 4 stroke about 4 months ago. This is the all new, non-verado unit. So far, it has been outstanding. Quiet, fuel efficient and plenty of power/speed.

What sets it apart from other four strokes. Large 3 litre displacement, simple single cam design with a timing chain (no belts to change or valves to adjust). All maintenance can be done by the owner... Oil changes are simple as well.

The only problem with that is if you DIY you won't be covered on the warranty so it has a bit of a sales patter to it it only really benefits the owner from year 5 onwards.

Superb engines though at a great price

[Screaming04]

Originally Posted by Boats&Outboards

The only problem with that is if you DIY you won't be covered on the warranty so it has a bit of a sales patter to it it only really benefits the owner from year 5 onwards.

Superb engines though at a great price

Bollocks.

There is no requirement for dealer performed maintenance. In fact, making that a requirement For warranty coverage on this side of the pond is illegal. plenty of unscrupulous dealers will hint at it, as you have. Too many agents are trying to keep their service departments busy.

[Screaming04]

http://www.mercurymarine.com/media/m...0062182_38.pdf

There's the proof. Just keep records.

[Boats&Outboards]

Originally Posted by Screaming04

Bollocks.

There is no requirement for dealer performed maintenance. In fact, making that a requirement For warranty coverage on this side of the pond is illegal. plenty of unscrupulous dealers will hint at it, as you have. Too many agents are trying to keep their service departments busy.

We are by no means Unscrupulous dealers looking for service work - A we don't offer this service and B were not Mercury agents!

It's only what we've been advised by the dealers themselves. Personally I think its great that this new motor is aimed at offering a user-service option. That link you've sent offers excellent assistance on doing the work but it doesn't say weather it will remain within warranty by doing it. I guess its a case of waiting for some claims to get put in and seeing how the dealers evaluate the standard of "home" services carried out.

Peter @ Boatsandoutboards4sale ~ askboatsandoutboards4sale@sky.com ~ 07930 421007

[ppenman]

In the UK I believe that for the warranty to remain valid you have to be able to prove that :

1. The person performing the work is suitably qualified and trained
2. Correct equipment is available e.g. PC diagnostic tools
3. Manufacturer specified consumables were used
4. Provide proof that all maintenance was carried out at the correct manufacturer intervals (not very easy)

So yes, you can service it by yourself but can most people satisfy the above criteria.

In my own case I've recently bought a Yamaha f300. It's had one service at £250 so I expect that the total over 5 years will be around £1500 of which a substantial percentage will be vat and parts.

[Screaming04]

Peter, I wasn't inferring that you were unscrupulous, but obviously the agents who gave you the information are! You just happen to be helping them reinforce the myth.

Ppenman. I'm just referring to simple maintenance. Oil changes, plugs lube etc. The owner doesn't require diagnostic tools for that. Just like a car, these modern outboards will let the owner know when they need dealer attention ( warning codes etc)

My first service was completed by me. $50 for oil. $12 for the filter. Tax included. I already had the gear lube at home. 5 years service will be a fraction of yamaha service... Especially the belt/valve service. I expect those ones will be more expensive than your last one. That being said, the new F300 is a fine piece and will give you years of reliable service.

[BogMonster]

I have a 150L tank in the Vipermax with an E-TEC 150 and it's great - the old Humber had a much smaller tank, never was sure how big it was but down to 1/4 on the gauge would only take about 50L and it meant filling up every time. The E-TEC usually burns about 22-24lph at 26-27 knots which is a nice brisk cruise speed and keeps the revs around the mid 3000s, so you can leave with full fuel, spend a couple of hours tootling around and still have over 100L left. Buggering around filling up or swapping fuel tanks or watching the gauge and wondering is just a way to ruin an otherwise great day out, filling it up might hurt more but you burn the same amount of fuel in the end

[paddlers]

Having just taken my engine to a dealer who managed to wreck a good running engine then charge me £470 for the pleasure of having a box of 'bits' I would say it's a lottery !!