Changing Engine and Steering

[Diamondjim]

I have a 2011 Aloha 25' Sundeck that I purchased used last year. The engine is a 115 Yamaha Fourstroke with 365 hours on it. The engine runs good and the boat overall is in good condition. This is a heavy boat and I have thought about needing more power. My local dealer that I have bought many boats from over the years offered me the following deal. A brand new 150 Yamaha Fourstroke and also adding the hydraulic steering all for $8000 plus tax. Does this sound like a good deal and will I see a difference by adding 35 horsepower to this boat? Thanks. Diamondjim.

[Bamaman]

Repowering your boat would only be worth it if your boat is a triton with strakes. Otherwise, you'll hit a 30 mph speed wall with only twin toons due to an unstraked boat being a displacement hull. A 25' boat with one of the sundecks is a pretty heavy animal. Your engine's worth in the $7000 to $7500 range to your dealer. A 150 hp Yamaha is available for about $13K where you can get a 150 hp FourStroke Mercury for about $10.5K, not including a $250 control box or installation. I would think you could end up with a much better deal than what you've been quoted by shopping around. See http://www.jacosmarine.com for a dealer that's 135 miles east of Memphis--not that far from you. He sells cheap and takes trades on motors. If your current steering was not up to the job, SeaStar can be added for about $700-800 plus installation--$1K total. My SeaStar also gets hard steering at about 32 mph, but steers easily up until then.

[Diamondjim]

Thanks for the input Bamaman. It looks like my dealer is pretty well in line with what you have given me. The deal was $8000 and that did include the Seastar steering system. I had also rather have the Yamaha engine and I know they are typically somewhat higher. What I failed to mention above was that it all included installation and the dealer goes to the lake and gets the boat (about 20 miles away) and I don't have to touch it. I keep mine in a wet slip year round and I don't own a trailer either. This boat really needs a third log but that will have to come on the next one. I thought it was a fair deal plus I have a new warranty just in case.
What you may not have noticed is that I am in Nashville, AR, not TN. I am in the southwest corner of AR so that is a long way away. Thanks again.

[willy13]

What is your top speed with your current Yamaha 115? Whether that 35 hp will make much of a difference may depend on what speeds your getting right now.

Is 150hp the max allowed for your boat?

[Rascal]

Make sure that what the dealer is selling you is SEAstar and not BAYstar. BIG difference.

Rascal

[Diamondjim]

I was only getting 22 mph with the 115 but I think there was a prop issue there. I am now getting 31 with the 150 hp Yamaha running a 15 pitch prop. I am thinking about going with a 13 pitch as I am only turning 5300 rpm with the 15. My mechanic says this is a 6000 rpm engine.
The 150 is what the boat is rated for.

We went with the SEAstar steering system and I am very pleased with it. There wasn't a huge difference in price between the BAYstar and the SEAstar systems except that the BAYstar was rated only up to 150 hp. That was the reason I went with SEAstar. I didn't want to be at the upper limit of the BAYstar system.
Thanks for the input.

[Rascal]

I was only getting 22 mph with the 115 but I think there was a prop issue there. I am now getting 31 with the 150 hp Yamaha running a 15 pitch prop. I am thinking about going with a 13 pitch as I am only turning 5300 rpm with the 15. My mechanic says this is a 6000 rpm engine.
The 150 is what the boat is rated for.

We went with the SEAstar steering system and I am very pleased with it. There wasn't a huge difference in price between the BAYstar and the SEAstar systems except that the BAYstar was rated only up to 150 hp. That was the reason I went with SEAstar. I didn't want to be at the upper limit of the BAYstar system.
Thanks for the input.

A very wise and prudent decision...

Rascal