Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On 9 Sep 2004 03:52:44 GMT, Marshall Banana wrote:

Also Sprach Bill Kiene :
There are tons of old boats around with large (over 100hp) old 2 strokes
that are no longer worth the trouble especially with labor, parts and fuel
costs.

Feh. My 140 HP Johnson is almost as old as I am, and has been 100%
relible in the 5 years I've owned it. Parts, if needed, are far cheaper
than a brand new 4-stroke or DFI 2 stroke. For one thing, there are far
fewer parts to begin with. Also, since it's been around forever, there
are plenty of aftermarket manufacturers to buy parts from, while with a
brand new engine you have no choice other than the manufacterer's
parts.

An example, I replaced the water pump earlier this season. It cost me
$39.95 for a complete kit, new impeller, gaskets, housing and
liner. Anyone want to look up what it costs for a 2004 4-stroke of
similar size?

I'm not so sure about that - I know on my FICHT that a lot of the
mechanical parts are identical to earlier to models and OEM parts.
It's the engine stuff that is different.

The fuel cost argument is a non-starter. A few extra gallons a
year is FAR cheaper than spending 15,000 plus installation costs to
repower.

I totally agree with you here, but I have FICHTS, I like FICHTS and
will probably stay with the DFI technology.

I will say that I was mightly impressed with the Honda four strokes.
I rode in a USCG boat powered with two Honda 225s and quiet, the boat
came up on plane quickly and talk about speed - amazing.

Later,

Tom
S. Woodstock, CT

I had a Merc Opti 135 V6 for five seasons before buying our current
Parker with the Yamaha 225 four cycle. At the time we got the Parker, I
wanted to order it with two 150 Merc Optis, but the Parker factory
simply would not sell our model with anything but Yamahas.

I've been pleased with the Yamaha, but I was also pleased with the Merc.
The one big difference I've noticed in operations is that the Yamaha is
much quieter at idle.

Both engines are plumbers' and electricians' nightmares under the hoods,
and I simply do not mess with them in any way. If a repair or adjustment
is needed, the dealer's mechanics get the work.



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