Choosing a motor for Ocean Whaler

MAINEVENT · #1 31-12-2010, 12:19 PM

The new year will hopefully see me buying a new boat. I have pretty much decided on the Ocean Whaler 565 which can take upto a 115hp. A 90hp seems to be a popular choice for this hull but I dont want to be in a situation where Im wanting "more" in a few months time, so im going for the max hp.

Problem is the more I look into outboards the more confused I get. 2 stroke or 4? I originally was thinking E-Tec. Light, powerfull, minimal servicing, white looks sexy. But there seems to be a few "problems" reported with the electrics at times.

Suzuki seems to be a very good motor. Cant find a bad thing about them. Nomad run them on the same boat im looking at. They just dont seem to be as well known as the other major brands. Will servicing the Suzuki be a drama?

Which motors have the best "smart craft" style gauges/sounder gps compatibility?

Cheers for the help.

DaiwaFreak · #2 31-12-2010, 08:33 PM

I've recently fitted a 140 Suzuki to my snapper boat, and its awesome. Side by side with a mates Honda 135, its quieter, and not to mention costs less. I doubt servicing will be a problem. First there is a 20 hour service, to make sure the engine has been run in properly, then 100 hours, 200 hours, 300 hours... I have also seen the Suzukis wired up with Garmin GPS/Fishfinders along with Garmin digital guages. Looks awesome, but I'm guessing the digital guages and all will be quite pricey.

I reckon go for a 4 stroke, regardless of the brand, whether it is Honda, Mercury, Suzuki or Yamaha, go 4 stroke. Honestly though, would you feel safe going offshore with your E-tec going 200-300 hours unserviced? It's pretty much like Land Rover saying, service your car every 15000km, the people who try and stretch that end up with a car that breaks down in the near future. People who service their Land Rovers every 5000-10000km hardly have any of the typical Land Rover problems. Even the salesman said, Evinrude says 300 hours, but I would recommend that you service it every 100 if you want to keep your motor in good condition.

Cheers,

Daiwafreak

BlackBreamer · #3 31-12-2010, 10:12 PM

For a boat that size i'd go no less than a 115hp or you will be under gunned.. A mate of mine has a Surtees 5.5 and is running a 100hp on the back and likes it but wishes he went to the max rating 115hp on the transom... His got a suzuki 4 stroke and loves it,he is having a bit of trouble atm with it but it sounds like the engine managment gauge... When he punches it out of the hole it loses power ??

Bear · #4 01-01-2011, 08:35 AM

Having jumped on Scott's at Walpole over Chrissie, I'd go the 115. Good choice by the way.

Brad Y · #5 01-01-2011, 08:50 AM

Brodie- Etec make a 115HO as well- you wont get any more power than that...

Ive had the 90 on my boat for over a year now and its been 100% brilliant. Dad and I are looking at going halves in something ocean going and ive already told him that I wont be budging on the etec. Sewelly has put one on his ocean boat and from what I hear he is happy with it, Tosh as well on his polar- again more than happy with it and Bubba put a 130 on his bay boat with the i command gauges too.

I havent heard of any recent problems with them and even if you had one, thats what warranties are for. I believe you wont be dissapointed with one

MAINEVENT · #6 05-01-2011, 09:35 AM

Yeah Brad I saw that they do the HO in the 115hp. Whats the main difference in the HO series?

How is Bubba finding the I command gauges?

Brad Y · #7 05-01-2011, 10:11 AM

Send him a pm but from what I can gather he is happy. The HO stands for high output from what i have read and you can expect an extra 10% in power. You may want to do some internet searching about it as I dont own one and not sure if they are suited for trying to squeeze speed out of a motor for bass boats and racing boats or if they are designed to be used on ocean going boats etc where you may only be running mid revs most of the time. In other words 115HO would produce 10% more hp than a straight 115. Whether its actually worth it or not Im not sure.

brad mcdonald · #8 05-01-2011, 10:29 AM

so why not call it a 126.5 hp then .................. somethings make me shake my head!

but yeah i like the e tech's to, seam to go bloody well from the boats i've been on so far.

and they beep when you start them, cool.

MAINEVENT · #9 05-01-2011, 10:44 AM

Apparently due to insurance reasons they cant call it a 126hp. But the manufacturers are "allowed" a 10% acceptable margin, so I just saw on a US forum.

Brad how do you find the fuel economy? That will probably be a big factor as the Whalers apparently dont have a huge range (92 litre tank)

Cheers

Brad Y · #10 05-01-2011, 10:58 AM

Mine is only an 80L tank and I get quite a few trips out social breaming out of one tank. The ABT comp weekend in walpole I used half a tank- thats for prefish day like a mad man back and forth in the inlet and two fishing days. Havent actually calculated consumption for taking it in the salt but 20L a day for running flat out around geographe bay or off tantabiddi is what my memory is telling me. Best of all in 2 weeks in exmouth i used 2l of xd100. Thats fishing probably 10 days solid and a decent day across the gulf.

Ian Sewell · #11 05-01-2011, 07:45 PM

Like Brad said, I have been running a 150 for about 160 hrs now. Have been very happy with it.

The only real choice to make is whether you change oil or burn it, the two engines you are looking at are both very good.

As for fuel consumption, if I go wide open throttle I can use a lot of fuel, if I pull it back a bit I can get quite staggering effeciancy. If I sit on a cruise speed of about 25 knots, I can get one nautical mile per litre. (I command gauges are helpful for these things)

scottt · #12 05-01-2011, 08:17 PM

Hi Brodie,
I have just returned from Walpole for 11 days and didnt have to fill up once,that included plenty of runs to skippy rock , right upstream the Frankland and all over the inlet.I havnt found the range of the 90ltr tank an issue I actually thought it has been excellent with my 90 four stroke.When at home I do about 3 or 4 runs to and past the five fathom bank when chasing snapper before I think about filling her up.
Nigel the guy that builds Ocean Whalers prefers Suzukis and I think he runs a 115 on his boat,so that gives you an indication of what works best for that hull.
These days engines are all pretty good just depends on budget, if I had my time again I probably would have gone max power (115)but thats not saying the 90 dosnt push her along with ease and power.
Just my 2 cents
Scott

ruski · #13 05-01-2011, 08:23 PM

Always max out the HP when you can!

Opti's are great on fuel as well. Filled up once before my trip up north and fished the Macleay river and lake Macquarie for 6 days and came back with about 20L still left. (200 Opti pushing a Skeeter, with 4 people at times) and only used roughly 100L in that time.

175hrs in 16months, trouble free, apart from a faulty trim sender. My next one will be black again

*edit* I have both Smart Craft gauges on the boat so I can constantly monitor trim, engine temperature, voltage and water pressure. Highly recommended!

Will probably look at the engine -> HDS connections to display all necessary data on one screen in the next few months. Very doable with a Merc + HDS.

Aust Angling · #14 15-01-2011, 05:34 AM

Suzuki DF140, DF115, DF100 all weigh the same, use the same block and most components I believe, so if going Suzuki get the 140 as we did for our 4.8m TABS. Go the max hp rating for vessel, you can always pull the throttle back will be more fuel efficient no running so hard as well.

Mandurah Marine · #15 17-01-2011, 01:16 AM

In 2008, Tohatsu direct injected 2 stroke (TLDI) 115 had a larger piston displacement, better fuel efficiency (it beat anything on the market 2 or 4 stroke) and ran quieter than the etec or optimax. They are now 3 star emmissions rated and 20% more fuel efficient - 36 litres/hr.

They are also self diagnostic - no computer needed so can be diagnosed instantly over the phone for free!

I have fitted plenty of these onto different boats in the last few months and are seriously smooth but what has me is the HUGE amount of torque these things spew out!!!

Tohatsu are the world's second largest outboard manufacturer (Yamaha being number one), Japan's first and they only make outboards so it's worthwhile looking into.