New outboard

[NickT]

Hi Dennis,

The max I can put on is a 130 hp and the only engine close to that is a 135 Honda I believe. So if I go to that or a 140 Suzuki I can't get boat insurance!

I tried to get a quote on a boat last week which has a max recommended of 115. It has been fitted with a 150hp and 2 mainstream brokers wouldn't touch it with a barge pole!

A lesson for anyone breaching the recommended HP on a boat I think.

The Honda and Yamaha come in very close on price but big cc normally = big torque so I would go with the Honda.

You going to the rally in Brixham?

If so book up accommodation early as there is a festival on and I am struggling to get 4 nights accommodation!!

[Bigplumbs]

Crikey. I see loads of boats with engines above the plated power I assume they are getting insured somehow. See what Craft insure do they have a very simple website.

I just worry that you might be disappointed with the power of a 115 and if you are spending all that money you don't want to be disappointed.

Yes was planning to go to the rally and you are right about the accommodation not good I just tried to book

Dennis

[Bigplumbs]

Just submitted my registration for the Rally. Will wait for my email before I get accommodation

Dennis

[NickT]

Hi Chaps,

I have committed to a new Honda BF 135 and will be getting it fitted in the next few weeks.

https://marine.honda.com/outboards/motor-detail/BF135-150

Any suggestions on prop size please?

The standard prop it is supplied with is a 13.5 d x 15" pitch.

Having used the Honda prop calculator it comes out with 14.5 d x 21" pitch!!

https://marine.honda.com/parts/propeller-calculator

Boat is 850kg, 80 litres fuel tank and normally have 2 on board.

I'm looking for cruise speed rather than hole-shot for skiing...

I also looked at a Yam F130 which was £100 less but was a used demo engine & 500cc less capacity.

What I liked about the Honda is the 6 year warranty which does not take account of wear and tear - i.e. if the ECU blows up after 5 years and 364 days they will replace it. I can also service the engine myself as long as I have the "competence and tools" to do it - the warranty will still be valid.

When Honda had a problem with early 130 engines blocks splitting they did a recall and replaced all the blocks and then apparently offered a 10 yr warranty on those engines..

Your comments would be appreciated.

[Ianfs]

Hi Nick

Sounds like a good buy to me, especially with the warranty. Surely that warranty will only cover you using genuine Honda parts or recommended consumables.

That's a hell of a difference in prop sizing, don't you think? Is there any room in the negotiations with the dealer to change the prop in the deal seeing as its a Honda recommendation?

[NickT]

Hi Ian,

Yes a big difference! I'm going to enter the current set up for my boat on the calculator and see what that recommends as well.

I can specify the prop size hence the question to the forum - I would rather get it nearly correct rather than completely wrong at the outset.

Having had a stainless prop before I'm not sure it's really worth it this time round. Sure, I may get a bit higher speed but with a nearly 100% increase in power compared to existing I think I should be happy...

The insurance company asked for max speed of boat with new engine - I have no idea so said 35kts (currently 27kts with 75hp with mill pond conditions).

The Solent chop will limit things either way - it's just when it does flatten out I can then have some fun..

[Ianfs]

That standard prop (13.5 x 15) is an interesting one and nowhere near the sizes given for the types of boats listed until I clicked on the offshore Fishing boat for the tenth time and entered 5000 lbs weight, 400lbs crew etc and 200 gals with the performance goal of Hole Shot (a ridiculous combination), then it came up with 13.5 and 15.

What is also interesting is that the 19GTS can take up to 225hp if its the 4.3 stern drive. Given that the 3.0l is 135hp I think a comparison with Dennis's boat or Anna's boat wouldn't be too far out with prop size, albeit the Honda revs are higher at WOT and lighter. However I've looked up its gear ratio and at 2.14 it is similar to the Alpha One Gen 11 ratio for the 3.0l at 1.98. The prop speeds at WOT would not be that far out, maybe 300 revs ish.

Although I am only guessing, but given the information and the Honda full throttle revs to 5,000-6,000 revs, quite a range and the Mercruiser is 4400 - 4800 and most Merc props are 14.75 dia, I would say that the 14.5 x 21 makes sense for your boat as an all round prop for good cruising and top end.

I would be interested to hear from others what they think?

[Bigplumbs]

Nick

Many congratulations on purchasing that new engine. That will certainly give her some authority in the water and grunt, While of course mine is the inboard version with the 3 ltr (How I wish it had a 4.3) I will look at the prop size when I am next at the boat.

Looking at the performance of your boat with the 75 hp I am sure the GTO version is so much lighter that it will be way faster than mine with the 135 hp inboard

I am going to offload unnecessary weight this season

Dennis

[NickT]

Hi Ian,

Thanks for all your calculations, its really tricky getting it close to the optimum. Yes the GTS can handle more power than the GTO - I suspect its a transom strength thing really. Lots of twisting and turning on the back of the boat so it makes sense to limit the weight and power sitting there.

The GTO is a lighter boat and I am expecting around 35kts WOT, any more that that is a bonus although looking through the photos of the Brixham rally Ed had a picture of his GPS recording 67.5 mph!!!

I think the 14.25 x 21 seems a reasonable starting point - if it doesn't suit my boating profile I can then change it - perhaps to a stainless one as I understand the effect is greater the higher power the engine.

I was concerned about the insurance aspect of fitting an engine bigger than recommended. The Fletcher brochure in 2000 states the max HP is 130.

I was digging out some pics of the cockpit gauges for my brother and spotted one of the metal serial number plate at the back - its actually rated on there for 135 so a perfect match in the end!

When I was at the boat show I obtained prices for other brands of outboard, one of the dealers emailed me this week following up and I said I had committed to the Honda. He then offered a very similar engine which was a used demo but it was only £100 cheaper.

New or secondhand for £100 difference - what you you have chosen?


Dennis, the only way I can offload extra weight is to get out!!!

Did you manage to find accommodation in the end? We are up in the town a bit so will have to drive down to top up the fuel tanks.

[_Ed_]

This all sounds very good. I'd imagine a 19 inch or a 21 will be what you need. I think I have a very good 21 inch stainless prop if interested? I'm fairly sure they are all compatible.