Suzuki or Honda?

TruroYankee · Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 12:57 am Post subject: Suzuki or Honda?

First of all, let me say what an excellent resource this site is, and what a fine and helpful group of people. It's good to be here after the implosion of the Owner's Group (RIP). I will be buying a new 22 Cruiser this year and twill be outfitting it with twin engines. I have heard that Suzukis, due to their electronic fuel injection, are preferable to Hondas. I'm interested what the C-Brats think about this.

Second, I launch my 16 Cruiser ("Otter") in a small harbor near a small but fast-moving river. That, together with the tide and a prevailing cross wind, (usually blowing) creates conditions for some truly "educational" retrievals. After powering the boat up onto the two bunkers, and hauling out, it usually needs some sideways adjustment on the trailer. So I've just been putting my shoulder to it and horsing it over. I'm afraid the 22 will be too much to "horse around" with. Any suggestions? Would a good set of rollers solve this?

Thanks in advance.

Peter Burgess

Sea Wolf · Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 1:34 am Post subject:

Peter-

The engine choice usually is made on a number of considerations, not just fuel system type, although that is a major one. You should also consider the engine displacement, alternator output, gear ratio, weight, and dealer network, among other things. We have discussed this at considerable length on this thread:

http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t=2105

You can also go to the Forums heading, to the Library, and to Motor Systems and peruse the topics there. Lots of discussion.

The roller trailer will not help you get on center much more than the bunk trailer, depending on how the rollers are arranged.

What you need is a very good set of guide-ons, which run down the sides of the trailer and the boat and center the boat over the trailer. They are particularly useful in current and winds.

Most importntly, be sure they're long and high enough to hold the boat squarely over the trailer until you pull it out and the boat settles down on the trailer.

Perhaps someone here has a picture of a 16 with a trailer and guide-ons that work very well.

Hope this helps!

Joe.

DaveS · Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 1:50 am Post subject: Re: Suzuki or Honda?

flapbreaker · Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 5:04 pm Post subject:

I went with honda because that's what the dealer used. It was also hard to beat the honda financing. Not sure which motor I'd pick if those weren't factors. So far I like my engine's so I'm not sure if I would notice anything different.

You won't be able to "horse" around the 22 once it's on the trailer and out of the water. Make sure you get a trailer with side guides (Think that's what they are called). You could put some sort temporary bumper/spacer between the boat and the down wind/current side guide and then when you pull the boat out of the water remove them. Not sure if that made any sense or not.

Les Lampman · Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 7:07 pm Post subject:

The choice of motors for your boat is only slightly more traumatic then purchasing a new car! Shocked

Seriously, there's no "right" or "wrong" answer. I'm in the business and there's almost no engine currently available (not including an "old-style" carbureted 2-stroke) that I wouln't happily run and that isn't likely to give years and years of service. So first, dismiss the idea that you have to avoid a "bad" engine. Which means you really get to pick from a whole bunch of good choices.

The first consideration is the dealer you're going to purchase your new boat from. If they have a great reputation and you trust them (and you should if you're spending that kind of money!) then purchase the engines that they feel will give you the best performance (overall, I'm not talking about speed) after they discuss your needs with you and find out how and where you'll use your boat. Also, if you have to travel very from from your home to purchase the C-Dory think about what dealership in your home area has the best reputation and what brand (or brands) they service and support. As good as the new engines are you'll always need access to routine service and/or parts even if it's only oil fiters, plugs, thermostats, gaskets and such.

What's important to one peson is not even a blip on the radar for another. One customer may choose a pair of Suzuki engines strictly because they have fuel injuection, another may choose a pair of Honda engines because of their low weight, another may choose Evinrude E-TEC's for their technology and low maintenance requirements, and yet another may choose a pair of Mecury engines becuase they look good on the boat, and finally someone else might choose a pair Yamaha engines strictly on the basis of a recommendation from the dealer the customer trusts. Those are all 100% legitimate reasons for choosing what each customer did. So really, what are the most important things affecting your choice? Price? Weight? Technology? Service availability? Alternator size? Engine appearance?

I can absolutely guarantee three things about any engine choice...there is someone out there that hates the engine, there is someone out there that loves the engine, and there are a whole bunch of folks that are in the middle (some happier or more dissatisfied than others). It's hard to choose a really poor engine; it can't last in the market. It's equally hard to buy a really superb engine (as in better than everything else); if it existed the others on the market would go away due to lack of sales.

Find out what folks in your area like and why. I'm willing to bet it's usually the result of a good dealership providing outstanding service. That's a bigger factor really then whether Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Evinrude, etc build a "better" engine than each other.

Have fun...buy what "speaks" to you for whatever reason that happens.

P.S. - A C-Dory 22 on a bunk trailer is realtively easy to shove over to center up if the bunks are wet. Some folks are probably stronger than others but typically it's not a really difficult thing. A roller trailer will not center the CD22 better than a bunk trailer (there's just nothing to center on) and shoving it over once out of the water is very difficult if not altogether impossible on the roller trailer. The roller trailer has other attributes that may or may not make it a better choice but not from a centering standpoint.

oldgrowth · Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 12:17 am Post subject:

Les - I know you are probably a very busy person. Just wanted to let you know I really appreciate your input on this site. Hope you are able to give it more of your time.
Thank you

TruroYankee · Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 1:02 pm Post subject: Much Obliged

Thanks to Sea Wolf, Dave S, flapbreaker, Les Lampman and oldgrowth for your taking time to respond and for the excellent information.

I agree there is not a lot of practical difference among the current engine manufacturers, and I agree with Les that the availability of a good dealer should be near the top of the list. Out here, Honda and Suzuki have good representation. Significantly, the boatyard (Ryder's Cove) I use in Chatham - who has featured Suzukis for years - recently became a Honda dealer due to popular demand. As for my experience, I've had some disappointment with hard-starting on my Honda 40; it's usually not a problem (engine soon kicks over) but it sticks in the back of my mind. So, given the EFI factor, I think I'm heading toward twin Suzuki 50s. And that is what the dealer (Yo John Cameron at Y-Landing!) has confidence in. So I think that's pretty much settled.

Dave had a good point re: the off-center weight distribution of my Honda 40 and 5 hp kicker. I hadn't thought of that. It's true the boat generally migrates to the side of the trailer with larger engine, which is contrary to the prevailing wind. Maybe my compensation for windage is better than I thought. I have guide-ons now but they're not worth a damn. I'm going to seriously consider adding some rigid side rails. After all, if I guide the boat into a unyielding conforming space, whether the boat rests on rollers or bunkers might be irrelevant. But, of course, bunkers do give me that added "horse" factor.

Thank you all for your help with this. Many minds help to relieve anxiety. When I get my rig set up, I'll post it.

Peter Burgess

DaveS · Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 5:03 pm Post subject:

Sawdust · Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 5:21 pm Post subject:

Dave, please tell the folks what you do for a living! Shux man, if I could haul a 200# deadweight up a ladder while sipping a brew I wouldn't have any trouble either centering my 22 on its roller bed. Laughing

I can center a wet-bunk 22 okay, but not a roller one. Of course at 86 I can't center much of anything!!

Come visit, old friend!

Dusty

DodgeRam · Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 9:18 pm Post subject:

I too had some problems centering my 22' ,it always was pushing on my guide board to the port side, every time I was loading the boat back on the trailer . Yes a few time I push the boat back, 1 inch or so by myself , but I have bad shoulders, so I had to stop doing that. My trailer has bunks. I finally figure it out , my winch was off center too the port side just a bit , you could not really tell because it was only 3/4 to 1inch off, after relining the winch , it loads the boat almost perfect every time. My winch has a wide web strap. Hope it help.

Gary SEARAM