22 cruiser powered with a Honda 50

[Jazzmanic]

Love my suzi's. After 5 years and 500 hours, the engine runs flawlessly and always has. Always starts right up no matter how long between starts and it still feels like new!

[Montana Kev]

Are there many 22's running Honda 115hp on them? I know the Honda is the heavier of the 115s, a friend has one available.

Thanks,
Kevin

[breausaw]

If I were to re-power today it would be with a MD115 Tohatsu TLDI, lighter than Etec and way lighter than any other 115 with the added bones of costing 10 to 20% less than other 115s.

There are a lot of boats in Alaska with Tohatsu TLDI outboards, not many complaints.

Some nice features:

High output Alternator: 37amps at 1,000 rpm, 40amps at WOT
Idle Noise Reduction System
Three Step Trolling Speed Control
MSRP $10,901

[hauptmaus]

In Dec 06 I purchased a 2003 22 ft cruiser from Cutter in excellent condition with a 2003 Honda 50. Because of the 50 it was very hard to sell and there was a substantial price reduction. Depending on water conditions on the Chesapeake it would run at 12 to 14 K at almost full throttle around 4500 to 5000 rpm with a max of 5200 when lightly loaded. We liked the boat but it was a little too slow and in 2010 the engine was replaced with a 90 E-Tec and is like a different boat. I try to cruise around 18 K at about 4300 rpm which is usually the maxiumum comfortable speed for a choppy bay with a max of about 24.5 K at 5400 rpm but the bay has not been calm enough to trim it out for max speed. The Evenrude dealer Intercostal Marine in Middle River MD sold the Honda on Ebay for me which made the deal workable. It was well worth the investment and certainly will be much easier to sell if we ever want to.

Jim

[Wefings]

Nissan/Tohatsu is the sleeper of all the brands . I have sold them in some capacity for 18 or 19 years . Best value in the Outboard world .Oldest outboard maker in Japan.115 is the biggest they make , it's gargantuan in physical size [not weight]but a really good motor and quite efficient and powerful .TLDI fuel injection has been working well since day one of its introduction. They have a newly designed 75 HP that I suspect would be a great C Dory 19 or 22 motor and every bit as efficient as a 4 stroke . Warranty is 3 +1 , the +1 is on the fuel injection.
They also come with the controls[your choice of side or binnacle],tach , aluminum prop, all included .So when you consider price ,you have to consider that in the mix .
Marc

[jefff]

Okay, I got to get out today and try this boat out.

It is indeed a boat bought new from Cutter in MD. Hence the 50. It does go, it does plane, and it does cruise. But yes, at a decent planing cruise speed it would wear this motor out over time. Against the insane 47 knot tide we had it would get up to about 13.5 knots at about 5k RPM. With the tide it could do about 16 at 5k RPM. It was most comfortable at about 4k and 12-ish knots.

That said, the engine has been maintained professionally annually with records, the boat has mostly been driven slowly, and in general is in good shape. Dirty from owners lack of mobility, but in good shape and well maintained. With trailer and most options for $20k.

I guess another question is: what is a typical cruising speed and RPM for a 90 on a 22? Most newer outboards I've been around tend to be happiest and quietest around 3500 to 4000 RPM for cruising.

I'm leaning toward buying this for the price but am definitely leaning toward repowering. I could easily use this as-is for this year and repower over the winter.

Thanks again for everyone's comments. I mostly hate to let a decent boat slip away, but I do have some reservations.

JF

[Levitation]

Make a deal for a replacement... The used 50 will sell like hotcakes... I would, sit, shake, roll over, and beg, for a low time H-50 at a fair price (for my 1966 runabout)...

[Jazzmanic]

jefff,

I hate to say it but the 50hp is just not going to cut it. We have a Suzuki 90hp and it's a great motor. Plenty of power when we need it, handles heavy loads. We usually like to cruise in (in relatively flat conditions) between 16-20 knots at RPMs up to 4000-4600. At WOT, we can usually go around 26-27 knots (around 30 mph), in flat conditions of course. The operating range at WOT is specfied at 5200-5600 (I believe) and we get to about 5300 RPM.

As you can see, your numbers with the 50hp just don't compare. As others have said, buy another 50hp or trade it in for a 90hp +.

Just my $.02

Peter