Changing outboards to add power pros / cons

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Bugsbunnyboater
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Changing outboards to add power pros / cons

#1 Post by Bugsbunnyboater » Mon Jul 28, 2014 11:57 pm

My 18 foot sweetwater pontoon boat has a 25hp Tohatsu. The tohstsu moves it along and is a rock solid outboard very reliable but
I really would like to take a few longer trips and it seems 25hp will not get me there very fast lol.
I think my other boat has me spoiled 5.7 merc crusier.
So if you did a re power how did it go.
Why did you re power ?

18pontoon
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Re: Changing outboards to add power pros / cons

#2 Post by 18pontoon » Tue Jul 29, 2014 5:39 am

I went from a Suzuki DF50 to DF70. Was able to find a DF70 at a great price that needed major electrical repairs I was able to do. Controls were compatible and easy to swap. The 70 doesn't give much more speed, but is supposed to maintain a good cruise speed heavily loaded. Still haven't taken it out fully loaded yet. Now I just need to find someone to buy my old DF50.
2004 Fiesta 18'
1998 Suzuki DF70
(formerly 2004 DF50)
Lake Lanier Georgia

Bugsbunnyboater
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Re: Changing outboards to add power pros / cons

#3 Post by Bugsbunnyboater » Tue Jul 29, 2014 5:48 am

How much for the 50?

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lakerunner
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Re: Changing outboards to add power pros / cons

#4 Post by lakerunner » Tue Jul 29, 2014 7:31 am

Repower is nothing. I have repowered all my toons and may soon be again
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pontoonMoose
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Re: Changing outboards to add power pros / cons

#5 Post by pontoonMoose » Tue Jul 29, 2014 7:46 am

Went from a 1989 Evinrude 60hp with a WOT 17-18 repowered with a 2004 115 yam with WOT 23-24 with same load, burn 3 time's the fuel as the 60hp did,
but I have a lot more power than I did, if I was doing over again I would look for a 75 to 90Hp. to say I was disappointed would all be :censored I have a 20 gal tank and spend more time worried about fuel than anything else, not the price as much as how far I can go and still get back and the way the back is built it's hard to add a spare tank and finding a bigger one to fit in the spot where it goes would only add about 6-8 gals so Im going to add a 3rd toon next and have a fuel tank built into the log so I don't have that to worry about, and to see if that will help with speed and fuel.

If I was in your shoes I would look for a 70 to 90 and Ive heard 90 is a gas hog too, so I would stay around 60-70 unless your going 4 stroke then that's a diff ball game. you don't say how big your fuel tank is so just remember that is something to keep in mind, fuel tanks or not cheap
89 Tracker 24'DL Party Barge
04 Yamaha C-115
Prop 13 3/4 x 14 = 24 mph
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Bugsbunnyboater
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Re: Changing outboards to add power pros / cons

#6 Post by Bugsbunnyboater » Tue Jul 29, 2014 10:12 am

I have a six gallon tank now that came with the boat. I picked up a new six gallon tank last week.
A huge plus if the tohatsu is it sips gas at 25 hp.

Waterlogged
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Re: Changing outboards to add power pros / cons

#7 Post by Waterlogged » Tue Jul 29, 2014 10:59 am

No idea what HP your boat may be rated for, but would think a 60 may be a good match. It would give you more speed when you want to get somewhere, and good economy when cruising at the speed the 25 can attain.

Glenn
2008 SunTracker Regency Party Barge 22 with lifting strakes
2008 Mercury 115 4 stroke

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Re: Changing outboards to add power pros / cons

#8 Post by RcgTexas » Tue Jul 29, 2014 11:48 am

The returns diminish with larger motors, unless you go to tritoon. then its not that MUCH. I went to tritoon and from a 70 4 stroke to a 135 4 stroke. MY speed used to be 18 to 20 with load. Now my boat planes and will do over 30 but I spent about 12,000 to get 10 miles per hour. I like the increase in speed but not so much the increase in expense per speed increase.
1995 beachcomber conversion to tritoon with Honda 135 ,

Link to rebuild [url=http://www.pontoonforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=19016][Knot Normal][/url]

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Re: Changing outboards to add power pros / cons

#9 Post by OK Toon » Tue Jul 29, 2014 12:19 pm

lakerunner wrote:Repower is nothing. I have repowered all my toons and may soon be again
But unfortunately yours is for different reasons. Would you stay with 90 when you go Yammie or go up to 115?
Kim and Steve
2003 Lowe Suncruiser Trinidad 222
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Re: Changing outboards to add power pros / cons

#10 Post by lakerunner » Tue Jul 29, 2014 1:23 pm

OK Toon wrote:
lakerunner wrote:Repower is nothing. I have repowered all my toons and may soon be again
But unfortunately yours is for different reasons. Would you stay with 90 when you go Yammie or go up to 115?
115
Loyd & Betty Meeks
Livin the lake life
2004 Tracker 22 Regency/2010 90 E-Tec. Pulled by Ford 2020 F 250,
McAlester, Oklahoma
Home lake is Tenkiller

18pontoon
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Re: Changing outboards to add power pros / cons

#11 Post by 18pontoon » Tue Jul 29, 2014 2:50 pm

Bugsbunnyboater wrote:How much for the 50?
Dont know if I'm allowed to post too much info about it in here but I'm asking $3200 for it. It can be found on the Atlanta craigslist site. I have the link in the Buy/Sell forum
2004 Fiesta 18'
1998 Suzuki DF70
(formerly 2004 DF50)
Lake Lanier Georgia

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Re: Changing outboards to add power pros / cons

#12 Post by lakerunner » Tue Jul 29, 2014 3:17 pm

18pontoon wrote:
Bugsbunnyboater wrote:How much for the 50?
Dont know if I'm allowed to post too much info about it in here but I'm asking $3200 for it. It can be found on the Atlanta craigslist site. I have the link in the Buy/Sell forum

Post on members buy and sell thread
Loyd & Betty Meeks
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McAlester, Oklahoma
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teecro
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Re: Changing outboards to add power pros / cons

#13 Post by teecro » Tue Jul 29, 2014 4:39 pm

We bought our 18' Sun Tracker Party Barge with a 60 HP Mercury Four Stroke and with just me and the wife it will go just a little better than 20 MPH and with 4 people it is doing 15.7 to 16.2 MPH... I can't image having anything less and wish that I'd opted for going with a 75 HP motor for a little more speed namely when loaded...
T CRO
2017 Berkshire CTS 24 RFX with Yamaha F150/Simomized 200
2015 Caravelle 16 EBo with Mercury 90

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Re: Changing outboards to add power pros / cons

#14 Post by Bugsbunnyboater » Tue Jul 29, 2014 10:21 pm

Tomorrow Wednesday I will use my phone to see what my top speed is using gps.

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