Motor upgrade: Worth it?

You know the drill..

Moderators: Redneck_Randy, badmoonrising, lakerunner

Message
Author
billb1981
Posts: 46
Joined: Wed May 20, 2015 5:33 pm
Location: Shawnee, KS

Motor upgrade: Worth it?

#1 Post by billb1981 » Wed Jun 10, 2020 9:10 am

I know this question has been asked several times, and I'm sure there are several answers, but I always appreciate opinions so here goes.

My wife and I bought our 2015 Lowe SF214 brand new from Cabelas about 5 years ago. As much as I wanted a bigger motor it just wasn't in the cards at the time. The motor on the boat is a 2015 Mercury ELPT Commandthrust 60HP. It tops out around 20 mph when the toons are clean and empty with me. We've pulled a tube behind it, but it's more like you could sit back there and drink a beer while tubing. My question is, would putting a 115 make a huge difference as far as overall top speed? I'd like to be able to pull a skier, and pull a tube faster than about 13 mph. :) Is it best to reach out to local marinas to "trade" or upgrade? Or is it really worth it?

Thanks for any guidance.

Steiner
Posts: 390
Joined: Thu Aug 01, 2019 7:51 am
Location: Lyman, SC

Re: Motor upgrade: Worth it?

#2 Post by Steiner » Wed Jun 10, 2020 9:31 am

Uh....YES. A 115 can spin a bigger prop and would probably get you to 30 at least. Doesn't sound like much but on a boat and compared to 20 it's flying. You'd probably do a lot better selling privately. Easier than getting a whole new boat which is the route I had to go.

My 90 could pull a wakeboard no problem but my friend's kid put on a bored look riding the tube. I told him this year I'm going to show his ass boring.
2019 G3 SunCatcher V322 SS tritoon, Yamaha F200
2019 F-150 XLT SuperCrew FX4, 3.5L EcoBoost Max Trailer Tow Package

billb1981
Posts: 46
Joined: Wed May 20, 2015 5:33 pm
Location: Shawnee, KS

Re: Motor upgrade: Worth it?

#3 Post by billb1981 » Wed Jun 10, 2020 10:30 am

Haha....that's funny. Thanks for the input, I've contacted a few local dealers to see what it would cost. Is there a concern of buying used in the same year range as what I have? Looks like I can buy a new 2019 115 ELPT Commandthrust for about $10,500. Yikes.

Steiner
Posts: 390
Joined: Thu Aug 01, 2019 7:51 am
Location: Lyman, SC

Re: Motor upgrade: Worth it?

#4 Post by Steiner » Wed Jun 10, 2020 3:02 pm

Probably a few people doing the same thing as you, so there might be some deals out there on a lightly used one. Plenty of places ship as well. Dealer will get up in you for sure.
https://www.captkirks.com/--xpreownedin ... y%20marine
2019 G3 SunCatcher V322 SS tritoon, Yamaha F200
2019 F-150 XLT SuperCrew FX4, 3.5L EcoBoost Max Trailer Tow Package

User avatar
wwind3
Posts: 1515
Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2009 10:03 am
Location: Lake Livingston Tx

Re: Motor upgrade: Worth it?

#5 Post by wwind3 » Wed Jun 10, 2020 4:41 pm

60 is a fairly weak motor Merc wise--old ones esp.. Not sure about yours. If it's rated for 115---slap one of those babies back there! You wont regret it--except for the hole in your pocketbook :biggrin2
2009 LOWE SS204 25in logs
90 Merc Optimax
Motorguide W55 Wireless
Underskinning
28 GPS

billb1981
Posts: 46
Joined: Wed May 20, 2015 5:33 pm
Location: Shawnee, KS

Re: Motor upgrade: Worth it?

#6 Post by billb1981 » Thu Jun 11, 2020 5:10 am

I'm assuming I can talk prices on here? If not mods, feel free to delete.

Called around to a few places, so far one of the "best" deals seems to be $9200 for a 2020 Mercury ELPT 4 Stroke 115, and they'll give me $3,000 for my 60hp. One of the more interesting things I learned is I probably don't need the Command Thrust on a 21'? Guy also told me the lower unit on the 2020 Merc was the same size as the 2015 CT I have now.

User avatar
steve1313
Posts: 679
Joined: Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:33 am

Re: Motor upgrade: Worth it?

#7 Post by steve1313 » Thu Jun 11, 2020 6:28 am

Here's a good video explaining the difference between the regular gearcase and the Command Thrust version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZFDAetHRIQ
Steve
"Serendipity" - 2017 Sweetwater 2286 WB Tritoon w/ 150HP Yamaha
Slipped at Lake Anna, Virginia
Primary Residence: Richmond, Virgina
Lake House: Lake Anna, Virginia

billb1981
Posts: 46
Joined: Wed May 20, 2015 5:33 pm
Location: Shawnee, KS

Re: Motor upgrade: Worth it?

#8 Post by billb1981 » Thu Jun 11, 2020 6:31 am

Thanks, this is helpful!

Steiner
Posts: 390
Joined: Thu Aug 01, 2019 7:51 am
Location: Lyman, SC

Re: Motor upgrade: Worth it?

#9 Post by Steiner » Thu Jun 11, 2020 6:32 am

Shoot, if they could do the swap for $6k cash it would be the best thing you ever did to the boat for the money short of installing a stripper pole. Really that's probably not much more than what you would've paid at the time of purchase to get the 115 over the 60.
2019 G3 SunCatcher V322 SS tritoon, Yamaha F200
2019 F-150 XLT SuperCrew FX4, 3.5L EcoBoost Max Trailer Tow Package

billb1981
Posts: 46
Joined: Wed May 20, 2015 5:33 pm
Location: Shawnee, KS

Re: Motor upgrade: Worth it?

#10 Post by billb1981 » Thu Jun 11, 2020 7:21 am

HAHA....thanks, kind of what I was thinking. They charge $200 to swap it, but heck of a lot better than me doing it, 1. I can't lift that kind of weight, 2. Reminds me of grumpy old men when the motor goes flying off into the lake. :)

Steiner
Posts: 390
Joined: Thu Aug 01, 2019 7:51 am
Location: Lyman, SC

Re: Motor upgrade: Worth it?

#11 Post by Steiner » Thu Jun 11, 2020 7:23 am

My only question for them at this point would be "HOW SOON CAN YOU DO IT????"
I assume they're throwing in the correct prop as well.

Friend of mine swapped motors with a "independent" guy he found on craigslist. The doofus just took the prop off the old motor and put it on the new one. No speed first trip out....output shaft was spinning inside it.
2019 G3 SunCatcher V322 SS tritoon, Yamaha F200
2019 F-150 XLT SuperCrew FX4, 3.5L EcoBoost Max Trailer Tow Package

billb1981
Posts: 46
Joined: Wed May 20, 2015 5:33 pm
Location: Shawnee, KS

Re: Motor upgrade: Worth it?

#12 Post by billb1981 » Thu Jun 11, 2020 7:44 am

Actually the guy said a week or so. Cabelas wants to sell me a 2018 new one clearance priced at $8200, but would take them about 3 weeks. They are not throwing in the prop, but I'm going to try to negoiate the prop or the $200 install. In watching the video the CT looks like it would be good to have, but he did say the lower end of the 2020 is the same as my 2015 60 CT.

Steiner
Posts: 390
Joined: Thu Aug 01, 2019 7:51 am
Location: Lyman, SC

Re: Motor upgrade: Worth it?

#13 Post by Steiner » Thu Jun 11, 2020 8:30 am

Command thrust thread: viewtopic.php?t=21759
What's a little more money at this point?
2019 G3 SunCatcher V322 SS tritoon, Yamaha F200
2019 F-150 XLT SuperCrew FX4, 3.5L EcoBoost Max Trailer Tow Package

User avatar
Towdaddy
Posts: 242
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2009 6:07 pm
Location: Michigan

Re: Motor upgrade: Worth it?

#14 Post by Towdaddy » Mon Jun 22, 2020 5:48 pm

Before you spend the money on a new motor, you should see what an ECU reflash will get you. SImon’s motorsports can reflash a 60 to increase HP. I am sure that it will not get you to 115 but it may be enough. I just got mine done for my 2009 225 Verado and they took me to 348 Hp and an 11 mph increase. For $870 it was a lot cheaper than the 20K my dealer wanted for a new 300 hp Verado.
Jeff

----------------------------------
Peggy Sue
25 x 10' 2009 Premier Escapade
225 Mercury Verado

billb1981
Posts: 46
Joined: Wed May 20, 2015 5:33 pm
Location: Shawnee, KS

Re: Motor upgrade: Worth it?

#15 Post by billb1981 » Tue Jun 23, 2020 11:50 am

Interesting, wish I'd of seen that prior to dropping my boat off and having him order me the new Mercury. :) It's going to be about a $6500 difference for us, so it's not terrible.

Post Reply