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70HP Engine on a 22 Cruiser
- Thread starter gsmagnani
- Start date
Ya know, lots of threads on this same subject. I am perfectly satisfied with my Yamaha 75hp 4 stroke EFI on the Jenny B. Just three days ago I was on the San Diego Bay celebrating the calm waters and did a WOT run with my usual load and about 35 gallons of fuel. GPS speed 30.7 mph. Full water tank, trim tabs fully up, Permatrim set for highest speed.
I usually keep the fresh water tank full because my 240 lbs and two batteries in the lazarette sort'a keep me with a starboard list if I don't.
Would I get the 90? Probably, though I seriously doubt it would make a worthy difference in top end speed. Then why spend the extra money? Because buyers have a mindset that horsepower has value :roll: and eventually one either repowers or trades up and it's easier to sell with a 90 or 100hp outboard.
Don
I usually keep the fresh water tank full because my 240 lbs and two batteries in the lazarette sort'a keep me with a starboard list if I don't.
Would I get the 90? Probably, though I seriously doubt it would make a worthy difference in top end speed. Then why spend the extra money? Because buyers have a mindset that horsepower has value :roll: and eventually one either repowers or trades up and it's easier to sell with a 90 or 100hp outboard.
Don
If you're talking about a 70hp Suzuki, it is sufficient and would work just fine but the way we load the boat and for our use, I'd go for a 90 hp or 115 hp Suzuki.
Our first year (2005), not knowing much about boats or boating, we went with the factory recommendation for the 70hp Suzuki. It's a nice engine but we were underpropped. Instead of taking the bull by the horns, we waited for the factory to give us a replacement. It took most of the summer boating season. Hence, we couldn't get up to the recommended rpms and the boat lugged something terrible. It felt very underpowered and we could barely break 18 knots WOT. When we finally replaced the prop, it was like night and day. The boat ran great, like the new boat as it should have all boating season. We were able to make the maximum rpms and hit around 24 knots at WOT. I kick myself now for not changing the prop sooner.
However, despite all that, we decided we wanted that extra power and piece of mind knowing we have the power to get out of trouble if needed and went up to the 90hp Suzuki. We haven't looked back since, we love it and it's a great motor. If we were to do it all over again, we'd choose the 90 hp over the 70 hp. Like I said, there's nothing at all wrong with the 70, as long as you've got it propped correctly. The 70hp Suzuki is a smaller engine, the 90hp is the detuned version of the 115hp Suzi. It is heavier, but with trim tabs and a Permatrim, the boat handles better than just fine. It works out great.
I know that the Honda 75hp and 90hp are the same engines, the 75hp being detuned. Many people opt for the Honda 75hp and it works out just fine for them. It all depends on how you want to use your boat. For us, we wanted the bigger engine with greater torque. Good luck in your search for info.
Peter
C-Dancer
Our first year (2005), not knowing much about boats or boating, we went with the factory recommendation for the 70hp Suzuki. It's a nice engine but we were underpropped. Instead of taking the bull by the horns, we waited for the factory to give us a replacement. It took most of the summer boating season. Hence, we couldn't get up to the recommended rpms and the boat lugged something terrible. It felt very underpowered and we could barely break 18 knots WOT. When we finally replaced the prop, it was like night and day. The boat ran great, like the new boat as it should have all boating season. We were able to make the maximum rpms and hit around 24 knots at WOT. I kick myself now for not changing the prop sooner.
However, despite all that, we decided we wanted that extra power and piece of mind knowing we have the power to get out of trouble if needed and went up to the 90hp Suzuki. We haven't looked back since, we love it and it's a great motor. If we were to do it all over again, we'd choose the 90 hp over the 70 hp. Like I said, there's nothing at all wrong with the 70, as long as you've got it propped correctly. The 70hp Suzuki is a smaller engine, the 90hp is the detuned version of the 115hp Suzi. It is heavier, but with trim tabs and a Permatrim, the boat handles better than just fine. It works out great.
I know that the Honda 75hp and 90hp are the same engines, the 75hp being detuned. Many people opt for the Honda 75hp and it works out just fine for them. It all depends on how you want to use your boat. For us, we wanted the bigger engine with greater torque. Good luck in your search for info.
Peter
C-Dancer
gsmagnani-
You'll find this discussed several times in the "Outboards and Systems" section of the Library Forums, but here's a synopsis:
50 hp- barely planes light boat, overworks small engine, poor resale value
60 hp- more adequate than 50 hp, but somewhat the same
70/75 hp- adequate for most uses, but will struggle under very heavy loads.
90/100 hp- handles heavy loading (4 adults or 2 with lots of gear) within reason. Nice reserve.
115 hp- brute force overcomes futile resistance- Don't open 'er up with only a light load aboard- "a bit squirley", they say!
ALSO: More Considerations:
1.) More hp = faster top end, acceleration, quicker to plane, better resale value.
2.) Although the boat was designed for 70 hp, that was for a light 2-cycle engine.(~250 lbs.) Todays' four cycle engines weigh 100-170 lbs more (~ 350 420 lbs.) You need more hp to compensate for their own weight.
3. It takes the same amount of gas to drive the boat at any speed regardless of the hp rating of the engine. A 60, 75, 90, or 115 hp motor takes the same amount of gas to develop the hp to go 20 mph or any speed, the smaller engine just works harder and wears out sooner.
So there's no real gas economy in buying the smaller engine, it just costs less up front and wears out sooner!
Others will comment! YMMV!
Joe. :teeth :thup
You'll find this discussed several times in the "Outboards and Systems" section of the Library Forums, but here's a synopsis:
50 hp- barely planes light boat, overworks small engine, poor resale value
60 hp- more adequate than 50 hp, but somewhat the same
70/75 hp- adequate for most uses, but will struggle under very heavy loads.
90/100 hp- handles heavy loading (4 adults or 2 with lots of gear) within reason. Nice reserve.
115 hp- brute force overcomes futile resistance- Don't open 'er up with only a light load aboard- "a bit squirley", they say!
ALSO: More Considerations:
1.) More hp = faster top end, acceleration, quicker to plane, better resale value.
2.) Although the boat was designed for 70 hp, that was for a light 2-cycle engine.(~250 lbs.) Todays' four cycle engines weigh 100-170 lbs more (~ 350 420 lbs.) You need more hp to compensate for their own weight.
3. It takes the same amount of gas to drive the boat at any speed regardless of the hp rating of the engine. A 60, 75, 90, or 115 hp motor takes the same amount of gas to develop the hp to go 20 mph or any speed, the smaller engine just works harder and wears out sooner.
So there's no real gas economy in buying the smaller engine, it just costs less up front and wears out sooner!
Others will comment! YMMV!
Joe. :teeth :thup
Kent Richmond
New member
I have a Honda 75 4-stroke on my 22 and get along just fine with great fuel economy here in Lake Superior.