battle of the 50's

[sea raider]

Saurian, fair enough, that didnt even occur to me.

Buy the motor from the dealer with the best reputation then.

[bushbeachboy]

Hey Pete,
The EVO hull was good. It was very stable. At the stern I'd rate it as stable as a punt. I used the thwarts as casting decks, and on the aft thwart I could walk from one edge of the boat to the other and it would hardly move. That was one up too, and I weigh nearly 100kg. You had to be a bit more careful at the front, because of the vee, but that was expected.

If you happen to stay out overnight, the rear seat is wide enough to sleep on. That is, I could lay across the boat on the thwart and sleep, but I'm only 178cm. A tall bloke wouldn't fit.

All of this stuff you can do in smooth water ie a river. In rough water you have to be sensible as usual. The EVO hull rode well, but it was not smoother than any other tinny I've been in. The big reversed chines help it to plane a bit easier, and maybe to hold the plane to a lower speed.

Overall I found it to be a nice, big comfortable tinny.

Cheers
Craig

[mjbpjk]

thanks heaps to all who replyed,
some very helpfull replys indeed,
any further comments or experiences on these motors will still be fantastic be it good or bad.

I know this must seem like a holden vs ford debate, and it may well go on for ever but i have a small choice to choose from and am mainly after performance.
Unlike holdens and fords i dont have the opportunaty to line them up and race them.

I may be getting the complete rig for less than 14k but thats still nearly 14k that i dont want to waste by rushing in and making the wrong decision

thanks again
cheers Pete

[saurian]

MJPPJK , used to own a 4.3 dinghy with a 50 honda , which had gas assist tilt/tiller.
I used to go on 100 km round trips and use 18 lt of fuel, so regular that I stopped looking at the 25 l tub to see how I was going.
The boat used to get 53 km flat out and at about 35 km/hr it was the most economical.
The motor boat combo needed power trim and tilt , so speed and economy would be better.
We fitted a yamaha prop to get best economy ( can't remember pitch etc..)
But it helped with loaded economy for 2 km less speed.
I wouldn't hesitate recommending the honda over the 2 other motors you are contemplating.
I personally prefer efi in 4 strokes( only because I've had one) but if I had to 3
carbs of honda would be fine.
I would definately choose the honda over any merc in a similar size bracket 2 or 4 or for that matter efi..
They havn't changed that little motor from it's inception apart from increase it from 45 hp.
Don't let anyone tell you a 2 stroke is better than 4 stroke.
Read all the posts here from new 4 stroke owners , one word "rapped".
2 totally different motors.
This will get it going , "4 strokes are meant to be bolted onto boats and 2 strokes are meant to be portable" ie; 25 hp or below.....
How often do you see a 4 stroke chainsaw ????
Never... light, smoky , powerful....
Ever filled one up , yep continuously , they just chew the juice to get the power.
What else do they do , noise, screaming little buggers.
Ever flushed a 2 stroke side by side to a 4 stroke ????
It just reminds you of why the 4 strokes have been such a success.
I presently own 2X 90 2 bangers and yep I hate all the 2 stroke characteristics, especially the inability to start first/second time on a regular basis.
I mean it's more than just smell, noise ,efficency, etc....
It's about user comfort, enjoyment, fun boating , family days out etc .....
At least go the merc fourstoke , or better still a company that at least makes the motor that it retails. Honda ....
Ta

[Lovey80]

Any Chance of posting the prices of all three. I rang around today looking at what a repower to a e-tec would cost in a 50Hp. Price from 2 dealers was 8200 and 8500 pluss fitting.


Cheers Chris

[mjbpjk]

Any Chance of posting the prices of all three. I rang around today looking at what a repower to a e-tec would cost in a 50Hp. Price from 2 dealers was 8200 and 8500 pluss fitting.


Cheers Chris

Hi,

Unfortunatly i cannot tell you the exact price im getting these motors for as a friend at a dealer is helping me out a fair bit.

What i can tell you is that price sounds about right for an e-tec based on what ive been quoted,
i have a mate that just bought an 06 merc new 60hp 2st for $7750 fitted which i thought was a great price, and i got quoted $8000 for the 2st merc 50 + $1200 for fitting. .i dont think that was such a crash hot price.

Most people will say to keep shopping around and they are right, but also keep in mind the feel you get from the dealer and his team. Ill oftern pay a little extra just so i feel comfortable with who i buy it from. peace of mind


Sorry I cannot help out anymore then that

cheers Pete

[whatscracken]

Go straight past the honda/merc dealer and get a yamaha

[Spaniard_King]

Go straight past the honda/merc dealer and get a yamaha

Whatscraken, please explain how your post is helpfull to the originator of the thread....

Go back and read the posts

Garry

[Sailing Breeze]

50 two stroke has a large capacity cc for its hp.... a great performer. If you wish to have the quietness of a fourstroke go fo a suzuki....fantastic waranty also.
Despite what the expest say....if you drive a four stoke hard it will use similar amount of fuel to a two stroke. Four strokes are however considerably more efficient and quieter at low speeds.

[bigred77]

just adding to the debate im biased two .i own the boat lippa was talking about.no complaints whatsoever .running standard prop gets about 63kph on gps.extremly quiet motor.hole shot is fine an very efficiant carry 50l of fuel morten island and back bit of running round 25-30l.so go the honda i did very happy.

[roydsy]

Go the Merc 4 stroke 50...

I will probably never touch another honda after having our 90hp 4 stroke overheat in less then 40 hrs of work...... bad bad experience.

[Uggboat]

Yamaha 60 perhaps?

[KGW3]

Always liked Black anchors.. The nice Silver 4st Honda looks nice and is very quiet.. But Honda's are a bit pricey and the higher price does not offer enough to buy one over an ELPTO 2 stroke Merc for me.

[Angry]

Take it from me, you want as much cubic capacity as you can get, that means a 4 cylinder, either a yammie or Merc 4 cylinder.

I had a 435 hornet witha 50hp Merc 4 stroke, (996cc 4 cyl), sold it toi upgrade to a 460 Stacer toureement has a 50hp Suzuki/Johnson 4 stroke, (3 cylinder & 814cc just like the 50hp Honda).

Where my old Hornet would jump onto the plane & two 2 of the kids on two tubes.
The Johnson doesn't have enought grunt & struggles onto the plane & then becuase it has to be propped with less pitch to get onto plane goes slower. & it wont tow 2 tubes.

Go with the Merc it 996cc & 4 clyinder, the manufacturesr need to be publishing the touqurefigures for motor as well as HP.

Angry

[black runner]

The good thing is that you are fitting the maximum rated HP for the boat. So any of the motors mentioned should perform really well.

I have a 60 Yamaha 4st (max HP for the boat) on a Stacer 460 sunmaster. It uses about the same amount of fuel on a run as my old merc 25 on a 13 footer did. Cruises 20 knots at 4000 rpm with two big blokes and our gear. Better for the environment.

Pros:

Honda: Lighter weight (10-15 kg's and an issue if you are going to put on an aux), Warranty, tried and proven

Mercury: EFI, creater cubic capacity and more torque, 20 amp alternator.

Cons:

Honda: 3 carb vs efi, less cubic capacity, 10 amp vs 20 amp alternator (can be an issue if running accessories)

Mercury: 10-15 KG heavier

While I love the Honda there appears to be a few more pros for the Merc. However the 5 yr warranty must be a factor

Cheers