Out with the Old, In with the new

[andreworiordan]

I have rebuilt,enjoyed and sold my Tornado 4.5m as previously posted, I have also Ordered and am awaiting my New 5.5m Excalibur which is due to be completed shortly, At the moment I am looking for the Engine! fun times as im sure everyone here has experienced atleast once in their boating life,

So far I have seen a couple of engines, The first being a 2stroke 90hp Johnson which is being rebuilt, its approx 2001 and looks clean!

the second is a 60hp 4stroke Mercury which is 2003

from what I understand is the 90hp will give me approx 38kts

what should I get out of the 60hp 4stroke with this set up?

I hope to put in seating for 3people with a centre jockey seat and two single seats side by side.

will post more pics as soon as I have progress,

[BogMonster]

I don't know the boat at all but as a general observation I would have thought a 60 would be a bit sluggish pushing 5.5m?

[willk]

Andrew, you're buying the best new 5.5m Irish built rib - are you SURE you have to devalue it buy fitting a decade old, well "dodge", engine?

[BruceB]

Originally Posted by willk

Andrew, you're buying the best new 5.5m Irish built rib

I thought he was buying an Excalibur, not a Redbay?

[willk]

Originally Posted by BruceB

I thought he was buying an Excalibur, not a Redbay?

He is. Redbay throw the little ones back

Andrew - my previous post reads a bit snotty - I just meant that if you plan to resell anytime, the lump will scare off buyers

[Daibheid]

Originally Posted by andreworiordan

So far I have seen a couple of engines, The first being a 2stroke 90hp Johnson which is being rebuilt, its approx 2001 and looks clean!

the second is a 60hp 4stroke Mercury which is 2003

from what I understand is the 90hp will give me approx 38kts

what should I get out of the 60hp 4stroke with this set up?

I hope to put in seating for 3people with a centre jockey seat and two single seats side by side.

will post more pics as soon as I have progress,

Congratulations on your new boat. Excalibur don't build them lightweight and extra seating adds quite a few kilos - and that's before the extra storage fills with junk! A 60Hp 2 stroke would be a poor performer on all but the lightest of 5.5 ribs - a 4stroke would IMHO potentially compromise safety. It might get the boat planing under normal conditions but if you're trying to get back on the plane in a swell or chop you need some margin. A 4 stroke 60 won't have any especially if you've people and fuel on board and maybe some water splashing in.

I'd reckon on at least a 90hp for an Excalibur 5.5 and 115 would be even better especially if going 4stroke but I'm sure Joe'll help ensure you get the right engine to match the design.

I'd also agree with others sentiments that buying a brand new quality boat and putting a 10 year old engine on it might hurt you at resale. That said, a 10 year old engine in good condition with known history is just as reliable as a newer engine - potentially more so given their increasing complexity. Rebuilt is fine too - as long as the cause of the rebuild is known and sorted. If you plan on keeping the boat a few years then you might as well avoid the expense of buying a newer engine.

[andreworiordan]

Update,

I just had a look today at a 90 hp 4 stroke Mercury engine year is 2004, anyone know about these? might be a better option than the last few engines she looked clean out and saw it running, pics to follow... what kind of money should i be looking at for such an engine, I may be going to collect on Friday, comments welcome! big step up from my 2004 mariner 2 stroke!!

[andreworiordan]

here are a few pics of the engine;

[alystra]

Originally Posted by andreworiordan

Update,

I just had a look today at a 90 hp 4 stroke Mercury engine year is 2004, anyone know about these? might be a better option than the last few engines she looked clean out and saw it running, pics to follow... what kind of money should i be looking at for such an engine, I may be going to collect on Friday, comments welcome! big step up from my 2004 mariner 2 stroke!!

Try Dave Mallett (Wavelength on here). I think he's got experience of several of those motors. My 90 4 str is year 2000 and is the earlier carbed version. Until last year it had no faults at all. The failed rectifier/regulator (see my posts) was an inherent design fault. This years gearbox problem was, I think fixable, but over enthusiastic fiddling by me and others resulted in a broken bearing carrier. There's still plenty of life left in the engine, negligable corrosion despite being afloat all season in salt water. I've been very pleased with it.

For various other reasons I've ordered a new Honda and am passing on the Merc to my son, who'll be able to get the gearbox sorted.

[Birdo]

I'd be wary about buying a merc or mariner 4 stroke engine of that age as there are a couple of common and inherent problems (my 2003 mariner 60 efi is just being repaired for them). The voltage regulator is prone to burning out and there is a problem with a rubber grommet that closes over the cooling pipe due to corrosion that causes the engine to overheat. It's an engine strip down job and is going to cost £400-500 to sort out. The regulator parts alone are around £135.00, so close on a grand when all's done I expect . I think the voltage regulator was a recall so I'd make sure that both had been addressed if I was buying a merc or mariner again (not very likely methinks). As far as I'm aware, newer engines have been improved and don't suffer from this (post 2006?)

Buy a Yam.... I wish I still had mine.

[andreworiordan]

From what I understand this one is a carb model, how can you tell what year it is, I have a picture of the plate if that helps, I was told it's 2004, the cowling looks fairly new.

[andreworiordan]

this might help with putting a year on the engine!?!

[alystra]

Originally Posted by Birdo

<snip>
Buy a Yam.... I wish I still had mine.

The engine on my Merc is a Yamaha.

Didn't know about any recall re. regulator/rectifier though, just had to buy another. I thought it was £300 plus as it comes with almost all of the engine wiring loom.

I've heard about that cooling grommet thingy, but mine's ok. There was also a problem with the early ones of corrosion of the adaptor plate which joined the Mercury leg to the engine. There are no signs of that trouble on mine.

Had I not had the gearbox problem, I'd still be happy with my Merc.

I have though, just bought a new Honda 90 - and now I'm broke.

The label that Andrew shows is, I think on the flywheel cover. Mine gives the 2000 date. On the pics, the fuel pumps are different from mine and there's a different fuel filter. The pics don't show the intake side clearly, so I can't compare mine and that one. Apart from that mentioned, it all looks very familiar.

[andreworiordan]

how did you all find these mercs on fuel? are they thirsty?

[alystra]

Originally Posted by andreworiordan

how did you all find these mercs on fuel? are they thirsty?

I've logged every trip for the last three years on a spreadsheet. The average fuel consumption over that time, running in general at 3600 revs, which gives 23 knots, is 1.65 miles per litre.

[andreworiordan]

Does anyone know what I should be paying for this type of engine, It looks like a good job and i feel happy to go with it!

[ciaranp]

Originally Posted by andreworiordan

Does anyone know what I should be paying for this type of engine, It looks like a good job and i feel happy to go with it!

pm sent..

think i know where that engine is..

[andreworiordan]

collected the engine friday and dropped it down to Joe, tubes are due here shortly! getting close now!!

[alystra]

Originally Posted by andreworiordan

collected the engine friday and dropped it down to Joe, tubes are due here shortly! getting close now!!

Hope it all goes well for you, Andrew.