Repowering my '72 Aquasport 196

[Gaston196]

Hey everyone Im new to the forum and to the aquasport world. Ive been fishing south florida on friend and family boats my whole life but this is my first boat, always wanted a 196 or 22.2. The boat has a 1990 evinrude 90 thinking of going to a yam 115 4 stroke or 150 looking to make this  a economical yet fishable boat. May run in some small tourneys but mainly just recreational boat Any feed back will be greatly appreciated.

[Capt Matt]

Go with a 150 mercury opti max for the best performance and fuel economy or my second choice if you have to have a 4 stroke would be the new 150 4 stroke mercury.
Capt Matt

[gran398]

Gaston, welcome aboard!

Matt is a professional guide and gives great advice.

Should you opt for less horsepower, a 90 to 140 on your hull will deliver plenty of performance, decent cruise, and save money on the fuel end. I ran a 19-6 with a 150 Johnson V-6 two stroke. It was squirrelly/weird at top end.

Have also enjoyed the ride of a 140 Suzi four stroke on your hull. It was a honey through the RPM range, got up and ran strong on the top end.

Think the quick torque of the 150 V6 two stroke at the upper HP range for this hull was detrimental/borderline dangerous in the wrong hands.

Skoot's 3 cyl. 90 Tohatsu on his 19-6 is a great engine, runs in the upper 30's with a three big boy load (700 pounds of stallion muscle)

You have a TON of options here.

If were me...for a new engine....would go with a 130 or 135 Merc, Opti or 4 stroke. Or the Suzi 140  four stroke. Not much weight difference.

Used engine, great price, still matched to the hull....that 90 Tohatsu, or Yammie 90. Both 3 cyl. two strokes, both bulletproof.

[Gaston196]

Thank you both for the advice my biggest thing is the pocketbook im looking at used motors i cant afford a brandnew one. The whole reason for saying 115 was strictly fuel economy. Ive seen 1 or 2 of my exact hull with 115 fourstrokes getting up to 40+ wot cruising comfortable at 30 but like i said mainly looking for bang for buck right now i have a 1990 omc 90hp which is pushing my at 25 cruising in midrange i must say the 2 stroke is great for popping up on plane out of a shallow hole in Pine Island

[Gaston196]

Matt do you get charters from the baitbox on sanibel??

[Aswaff400]

i run a 200 hp evinrude on my boat, i love the higher top speed, but she is THIRSTY!!! i currently run low 50's. i originally had a 112 johnson, she ran upper 30's, low 40's. i currently get about 2.5 mpg at cruise running 30 mph.

im considering repowering my boat with a new 175 optimax towards the end of the year.

[Gaston196]

Yea im runnin a 90 eith the vro bypasses ad im doing worse  than you on fuel  

[GoneFission]

I agree with the Optimax - but you can save some weight with the 3 or 4 cylinder versions vs. the V-6.  You will get more oooompth from the V-6, obviously, but for a 19-6 - you may find 115 or 125 is enough with the right prop and setup.  Sometimes it more about the prop and transom height than it is horsepower.  

[Capt Matt]

A 115 4 stroke would do it, I have ran a 22ft seapro with a 115 yamaha 4 stroke and it does ok but has no top end, It would get better fuel economy with a 150 opti though as the motor does not have to work as hard. Running 3k-3500rpm with the opti the fuel economy is untouchable. To run that kind of speed with the 115 you will be running 4800rpm plus.  What are you looking to spend on a used motor?
I have known Robin the manager of the Bait box for years but have never asked to get on his list of fishing guides although I know most of them
Most of my work is repeat along with referrals from my repeats, I do get some new clients every month from the weekly fishing report I write for the Island Sun on Sanibel along with a few walk ups at the Monroe canal marina in St James City where I keep my boat.
Capt Matt

[MarshMarlowe196]

I'm very happy with my 140hp Suzuki on my 19-6.  I bought the motor new in 2008, and haven't had any issues with it whatsoever.  It's the most reliable piece of machinery I've ever had the pleasure of owning.

@ 4900RPM's, I can cruise 35mph, and 6000RPM's it will do 42 mph.  The Suzuki's are geared as such that they will swing a higher pitched prop; I run a 21" S/S.  Seems the engine will run a bit fewer RPM's while achieving the same speed as most of the other new 4 strokers because of this.  Also, the offset driveshaft puts a little more of the weight of the engine "inside" the boat.  The Suzuki is also surprisingly torquey for a 4 stroke.

I get almost 6 miles per gallon when I'm light on the throttle.  I can't say enough good things about this engine.

[Gaston196]

Thanks for the tip Marsh ive heard good things about that moter ar well. Matt Im looking to keep it under 4k the reason ive been leaning so hard toward that yammy 115 is because i found a great deal on a 2004 115 with 165 hours on the motor with great comp on all cylinders for 3000 should i bite on it or wait off? I cant find a opti 150 at that price

[Gaston196]

BTW Matt the reason I asked is because your name sounded familur to me I worked for ralph and robin for a while.... And i looked at your site that 22-2 is Amazing all that wrench time deffinately paid off for you bud.

[gran398]

Thanks for the tip Marsh ive heard good things about that moter ar well. Matt Im looking to keep it under 4k the reason ive been leaning so hard toward that yammy 115 is because i found a great deal on a 2004 115 with 165 hours on the motor with great comp on all cylinders for 3000 should i bite on it or wait off? I cant find a opti 150 at that price

You won't regret buying that Yamaha.

[Gaston196]

Hey matt do you know any thing about the 06 etecs lookin at a 90 which is what is on my boat now.... im all over the board with motors IDK what to do I cant find an optimax at the price im working with all advice from everyone will be appriciated.......

[Skoot]

Thanks for the tip Marsh ive heard good things about that moter ar well. Matt Im looking to keep it under 4k the reason ive been leaning so hard toward that yammy 115 is because i found a great deal on a 2004 115 with 165 hours on the motor with great comp on all cylinders for 3000 should i bite on it or wait off? I cant find a opti 150 at that price

Id pass on that yammy, but please PM me the sellers number.    In all seriousness it comes down to what you want/need.  Yamaha use to be the motor to have around here (tampa/st.pete)  There was never any question when the subject came up, the answer was always "Get a Yamaha"!  Now, its changed a bit and its either "1st choice a Suzuki and 2nd choice a Yamaha." and depending on who you talk to its just the opposite Yam then Suzu.

If the price is right, and the motor is in good condition, you cant go wrong with that motor