Mercury 150 4 stroke

[Capt Matt]

Just put a 2013 150 four stroke mercury on my flat back, I ran it about 60 miles today and am very impressed. After owning 5 brand new opti max's I was ready to try something different and the bottom line is I spend roughly 4K a year on DFI oil.
My first impresson was this motor is so damm quiet, it has a good hole shot and is crazy smooth. I was worried about the performance but bottom line there is not much performance difference between the 175 pro XS I was running. I only lost 2-3mph top end. Since i never run my boats WOT who cares. If your looking for speed your not running a flat back boat anyway
I'm still playing with props but with a 17 enerta 4000rpm is 30mph GPS at 6.1 GPH on my smart craft gauge. Thats only .1 gph more fuel than the opti was using at 30mph.  This is with 52 gal of fuel, 2people and 43 gal of water in the livewell. By the time you factor in the oil I'm saving $.
Seems to me anything over 150hp on these flat bottom boats just does not give u much more top end.
I know this motor is way too new to brag on it yet but it seems like the perfect flat back motor
It's such a simple motor and seems there is very little to break, will post some pictures in the next few days of this sexy motor
Capt Matt

[Blue Agave]

Excellent!

I have a buddy that runs this motor on a porta bracket on his flatback. He loves it!

[gran398]

Good deal Matt, enjoy the new Merc!

The tendency is to overpower these boats, the 22-2's also. They just don't need it.

Both were designed to run with twin 55's. And twin 70's back then...hold on.

Extra horsepower over 150 is unnecessary. Flatback and twelve degree is easy hole shot. If my twin 75 Mercs needed replacement now...would go with the new 2013, 255 pound Yammie four stroke 70's.

But would prefer the Merc equivalent. Merc and Suzuki can't be far behind Yamaha in midrange four stroke weight reduction.

Glad to see you're getting the same performance as before.... yet saving big money on a yearly basis by going with new technology.

[GoneFission]

Good news Matt - That new Merc is impressive - 455 lbs and a 3.0 liter I4.  Those are big pistons for a 4 cylinder which makes for good torque.  Normally you would not be able to twist a motor like that to very high revs, but it's rated to 5800 RPM, so it must have a counterbalanced crankshaft.  I think I would prop it for a 5300-5500 max RPM anyway.  

Mercury is also going after Yamaha with corrosion - Mercury is advertising their aluminum alloy is much less corrosion-prone than Yamaha, Honda, or Suzuki.  

You are one of those guys who uses his boat almost every day - keep us informed of how the new motor does - thanks!!  

[tmyers]

Hey Capt. Matt,   I look forward to keeping up with this post for your results.  Next time I see you at the ramp I'll intuduce myself and pick your brain on the new motor.
Thanks

[Capt Matt]

60hrs already and I'm still a very happy camper
After a few trips with 5 anglers on board  you do diffenatly notice the slower hole shot compared to the opti
This was expected but with trim tabs down a little she still jumps straight up
Stayed with 17p enerta prop wot is 5700 rpm and 42mph dealer said he wanted to see 5800 rpm at wot  close enough!
Motor had me freaked out the other day as water was coming out of what I thought was the oil drain, after some research there is a exhaust port right by the drain.
Capt Matt

[Capt Matt]

Aint she pretty  lol
Not quite so much paint on the skeg today since i took this picture
Did have to redo my hydro lines for the power pole and rigging tube since install as mercury switched the side the rigging tube goes in on these motors. Everything else was plug and play with opti max harness gauges etc
Capt Matt

[Aswaff400]

matt, looks like i may have to come down your way for a visit again, your flattie was impressive with the 175xs and i am definitely curious about performance with the 4s... after running my friends angler 20 bay with a yammy f150 for the last month or so, i have taken to the quietness of the 4 stroke.

i was talking to one of our mercury mechanics/dealers at work yesterday about the new 150 4s, they are impressed with it and havent had anything bad to say about it yet.

[gran398]

Like the power pole bracket. Away from the client's casts

[Necessary Evil]

How much $ did it set you back?

[Capt Matt]

List price with a 25inch shaft is around $12K,

Feel free to come down for a ride, things have slowed down so we should have time to fish this time.
I still can't get over how quiet it is, you can have a conversation while running 30mph and not have to shout. i have a buddy who just put the new 200 4 stroke yamaha on his flatback and loves it.
To me the 150 is plenty of hp
Capt Matt

[Fletch170]

Just sold my AS, looking to power a 1983 Hydra sport 2100 Kevlar. I would love to have the 150 Merc, but I think my boat is just too heavy for it....plus the thing has 24 degrees...

I'm looking at the 200 Verado and the new I4 200 Yami. I've heard horror stories about the verado, and the Yami is 16k without rigging. Ugh............

Anyone else had bad luck with the verados?

[gran398]

Just sold my AS, looking to power a 1983 Hydra sport 2100 Kevlar. I would love to have the 150 Merc, but I think my boat is just too heavy for it....plus the thing has 24 degrees...

I'm looking at the 200 Verado and the new I4 200 Yami. I've heard horror stories about the verado, and the Yami is 16k without rigging. Ugh............

Anyone else had bad luck with the verados?

Fletch, I had a 1980 2100CC Hydrasport with a 175 Evinrude 2 stroke. That boat by far was the softest, best riding boat I've ever owned. You are gonna love it. The entry is phenomenal. It will run 30 mph in a 3 foot head sea all day.

Only downside is its wet in the wind...but understandable given the soft entry.

It's not a high top-end speed hull...a new 175 should be great, or a 200 if you want.

Oops almost forgot. The front fishbox drains to the transom via a 1.5 inch hose. Make sure there is a seacock back there. Mine nearly sunk once ten miles offshore due to the hose breaking. There was no seacock from the factory

PS, check the tank too. My coffin was full of water.

[Capt Matt]

I'd go verado, get the 4cyl 200
These motors are awesome, first yr of production had some issues but we all know better than to buy a new motor in its first year
A 200 or 225 opti would do it too, cheaper and lighter than a verado
Capt Matt

[Fletch170]

Might be the opinion of the people in the northeast....but everyone keeps telling me to stay away form the Mercs, and follows up with a horror story about the verados.

I don't know, I've always been a Yami guy....but the prices are nuts.

I have heard amazing things about zuks, but absolutely NO ONE works on them up here. Sames goes with Honda. Also, I have no interested in spending almost the same money for a brand new 2 stroke.