V8 inboard, 4stroke, sportjet?

[Richard AK Res]

I am doing research on boats and motors and am planning on buying one next spring. I just don't know which motor I want to go with?

The kind of places I will use my boat: lakes (trolling), rivers (moose hunting)and occasionally Valdez (Silvers).

My thoughts are:

V8's: I like the V8's for there awesome power to get on step with heavy loads but I don't like the gas consumption or weight. I also don't like that the engine takes up a lot of the interior of the boat. How is the longevity? Running at a higher rpm seems it would put more wear and tear and reduce the life of the engine. What do you guys think?

4 Stoke Outboards: I like that these have descent gas mileage and long life but they loose 25% at the jet and are heavy for the rated Hp. I also like that you can swap jet and prop drives, and with the motor on the outside of the boat will give you more room.

Mercury Sportjet: I have heard nothing but good things about this motor. There are a lot of manufactures putting this engine in there jetboats. This motor is light weight (200hp Optimax 340lbs dry) and is rated 200 horse at the impeller. Even though I hear good things about this engine, I am skeptical because this is a 2 stroke. This engine does take up space in the interior but not as much as the V8.

I would like to hear from everyone that has experience on there own boats or has seen these engines first hand and what your thoughts are.

Thank You!
Richard

 

[Eggy]

Motor choice

Motor choice

Richard, I faced the same dillema 2 years ago and chose the 4-stroke outboard for several reasons. Probably first and foremost was the clear deck space like you mentioned. Other reasons were the ability to switch between prop and jet which I do at least twice per year, and the fact that I don't like through hull type stuff. I would like to have interior heat that would be provided with an inboard and you can't beat that exhaust note on a big block, let alone the power gain over an outboard, but I still tink I made the right decision for what I use my boat for going with the 4-stroke outboard. My fuel consumption while cruising at 4,500-4,700 RPM is 12.58 gal. per hour with the jet unit on and 13.48 gal. per hour with the prop on. The prop is approx. 10 mph faster than the jet unit at the same RPM. Motor is 200 hp Honda and boat is 23' Wooldridge with 7' bottom and 10* deadrise. WOT with prop and light load ~50mph and with the jet ~40mph. The motor weighs a little over 600 lbs. dry. I think a 200 optimax sportjet is less than 400 lbs. I think the outboard and sportjet will run shallower water for you also. Probably mostly due to the fact that you can get tunnel hulls with the sportjet and outboard set up.

Good luck to you.....

 

[kgrant]

I'm running a Sportjet, 200 Opti. My biggest complaint in the noise/vibration. Definatly take a few test drives in one to see how much it bugs you. Go for a ride with the top, sides, and back up. See if you and your family can handle it.
I can cruise anywhere from 5 to 12 GPH, depends on load and how fast I feel like goin. I normally cruise between 6 and 7 GPH.

I have never run a boat with a V8. I do know I LOVE the exhaust note. They do draw more water, and they're heavier when (you will) get it stuck. One plus is just about any fool can work on one. Well, that depends on what motor you get. You can get a basic carb'd one that is pretty simple. You get heat. You can get heat with the sportjet too, but it doesn't put out much of anything when below 3000 RPM I've heard. With a V8 you have several different pump choices, that is a plus.

I used to run an outboard. No heat from the motor. If you stay with the smaller 4-strokes, you get pretty decent fuel milage. They're pretty quiet. One thing I hated was having that motor sticking out the back of the boat. Gets in the way when fishing or swimming. With an inboard you can at least stand on the dog house or on the swim deck.

If I were looking at a new boat, I would take a close look at the new surface drive's.
http://www.prodriveoutboards.com/ (check out the reverse on these guys)
http://www.godevil.com/
http://www.mudbuddy.com/
They're not going to be as fast as the others, or haul as much weight as some. But they have their place. Great fuel milage too (so I hear).

 

[Doug in Alaska]

Richard,

I've had several outboards (been running them most of my life) and a few years back I had a 20' Duckworth with a 351 Redline V8. The Duckworth was my favorite for comfort and sound but I'm now running an 18' Alumaweld Sled with a 115 hp jet. This is probably my favorite boat yet (it will run in about 2" of water) and I don't plan to get rid of it anytime soon eventhough the engine is a two stroke. I recently bought a Honda 8 hp four stroke kicker for trolling and this little engine is amazing. It starts with one pull and is quiet enough that you can actually carry on a conversation while trolling. If I ever have to replace the big engine I will take a hard look at the four strokes. I really prefer outboards to the V8 inboard I had mainly because there is much less maintenance and winterizing is a piece of cake. Just my opinion.

 

[Richard AK Res]

Keep the info coming! Thanks!

Keep the info coming! Thanks!

Guys, this is great info. I hope more of you out there respond to this post!

Thanks again!
Richard

 

[alaskalouie]

Sled

Sled

25 years on river had em all. 20 foot Sea Ark tunnell john with 115 yamaha jet
See ya at the top!!!
Louie

 

[Richard AK Res]

25 years on river had em all. 20 foot Sea Ark tunnell john with 115 yamaha jet
See ya at the top!!!
Louie

I have considered the Sea Ark. It seems like a well built boat. What is the load capacity like?; handling on the river?; how much fuel do you burn with the 115(at cruise and WOT)?; 2 or 4 stroke?; how tough is the hull?;

Sorry about all the questions. I have not spoken with a Sea Ark owner yet.

Thanks!
Richard

 

[alaskalouie]

Hv Duty

Hv Duty

2=6 wheelers and gear up and down river, 4 stroke Yamy bullet proof, tunnell will run in no water. Dewys has the motors, fairbanks Compeaus the hull Buy the trailer any where-ez load or king!