Honda 135 outboard on a 25'
- Thread starter johnr
- Start date
srbaum
Member
Johnr,
The 135 & 150 Honda are the same engine. The 135 is just detuned, so it can meet requirements of boats out there, that had a 135 limit.
Bottom line is that it is a tried and true, reliable engine and unless you want to go faster than most of us do, in a C-Dory, it will be more than adiquate.
Take it for a test drive...
The 135 & 150 Honda are the same engine. The 135 is just detuned, so it can meet requirements of boats out there, that had a 135 limit.
Bottom line is that it is a tried and true, reliable engine and unless you want to go faster than most of us do, in a C-Dory, it will be more than adiquate.
Take it for a test drive...
The 135 should be a good engine, but what year is it and how many hours?
I have 150 and wouldn't want anything less when loaded for fishing and cruising as things get heavy.
I think it would perform best with a bare bones, no kicker, radar, extra weight setup, or if you don't mind 25 miles and under. Slow and steady wins the race anyways. https://global.honda/newsroom/news/2003 ... 0-eng.html
I have 150 and wouldn't want anything less when loaded for fishing and cruising as things get heavy.
I think it would perform best with a bare bones, no kicker, radar, extra weight setup, or if you don't mind 25 miles and under. Slow and steady wins the race anyways. https://global.honda/newsroom/news/2003 ... 0-eng.html
The 15 HP is only noticeable at the top end. There are valve train adjustments and injection differences which give that extra HP. The 135 still has plenty of torque, and should perform well.
Some of the boats (My first 25 included) had only the 130. This was the same block as the 115, and was a bit under powered. However the boat would plane all and cruise in the 17 to 19 MPH range even loaded for a month's cruise in AK.
Some of the boats (My first 25 included) had only the 130. This was the same block as the 115, and was a bit under powered. However the boat would plane all and cruise in the 17 to 19 MPH range even loaded for a month's cruise in AK.
T.R. Bauer
New member
tsturm":3okrctol said:johnr":3okrctol said:
My 2003 25 came with a Honda 130, after 1 trip with the terrible under powered POS, I sold the Honda & replaced it with a Suzuki 175 (only because no one had a 200 in stock) the Suzi has been great for the last 2400 hrs!!:thup
Enough power is so subjective. I feel the same as you, more than enough is way better than wishing you had enough. But, for the right price I would not rule out a marginally powered boat.
We had a 135 Honda on Wild Blue, and it performed well. No issue getting on plane and running 20+ knots when loaded for cruising. The only time I wished for more HP was at high elevation, like Lake Tahoe or Yellowstone Lake; a different prop helps at elevation, but most of our use was at sea level.
We found the boat most comfortable at 6 knots or 16 knots, depending on the circumstances and what you wanted for range.
We found the boat most comfortable at 6 knots or 16 knots, depending on the circumstances and what you wanted for range.
tsturm":2b336jb3 said:johnr":2b336jb3 said:
My 2003 25 came with a Honda 130, after 1 trip with the terrible under powered POS, I sold the Honda & replaced it with a Suzuki 175 (only because no one had a 200 in stock) the Suzi has been great for the last 2400 hrs!!
Not to highjack but what year was the 175 bought? Same block as the 200hp? Thinking about my next one
Thanks everyone. The engine is a 2007 with 1100 hours. I'm going to take it for a test run this weekend. I think Bob, as always, has nailed it. The loss of lack of more HP is noticeable at the top end, which is fine by me.
I can't wrap my mind around a Honda being a POS. I've owned only Honda engines (not counting kicker motors), and they have all been a pleasure to operate.
I can't wrap my mind around a Honda being a POS. I've owned only Honda engines (not counting kicker motors), and they have all been a pleasure to operate.
kaelc":znpok3ob said:tsturm":znpok3ob said:johnr":znpok3ob said:
My 2003 25 came with a Honda 130, after 1 trip with the terrible under powered POS, I sold the Honda & replaced it with a Suzuki 175 (only because no one had a 200 in stock) the Suzi has been great for the last 2400 hrs!!
Not to highjack but what year was the 175 bought? Same block as the 200hp? Thinking about my next one
2011 :thup
A follow-up:
First, thank you for your replies and advice...it was all very helpful. I ended up buying the 25' foot C-Dory. Finally. I've been looking for a 25 for several years. I was always either a day late, a dollar short or, often, both!
As far as the 135 engine goes...I did not find it to be underpowered at all. It calm seas, the boat settles in and cruises nicely between 19 - 23 mph. Yesterday, loaded with crab traps and four big grown men, it ran 29 mph at WOT. It's maybe a smidge slower that my old 22 with the Honda 90 at top end speed, but I think the new boat gets up to speed faster.
The only curious thing is that WOT is barely over 5000 rpm, but maybe that's normal?
First, thank you for your replies and advice...it was all very helpful. I ended up buying the 25' foot C-Dory. Finally. I've been looking for a 25 for several years. I was always either a day late, a dollar short or, often, both!
As far as the 135 engine goes...I did not find it to be underpowered at all. It calm seas, the boat settles in and cruises nicely between 19 - 23 mph. Yesterday, loaded with crab traps and four big grown men, it ran 29 mph at WOT. It's maybe a smidge slower that my old 22 with the Honda 90 at top end speed, but I think the new boat gets up to speed faster.
The only curious thing is that WOT is barely over 5000 rpm, but maybe that's normal?
VanIslander
New member
Hi, the 135 Honda is a great motor. It's operating range at WOT is 5000-6000 RPM. I think if you are only getting 5000 you are over-propped which affects not only boat function but longevity of the motor. There are different philosophies around what your target should be. I'd be inclined to prop it for your heaviest loads so that you are in the 5500 RPM or higher range, as long as you don't exceed 6000 when lightly loaded. Best of luck with your new boat!
Charles
Charles
smckean (Tosca)
New member
I agree with VanIslander; you may be putting stress on that 135.
It's all going to depend on your prop pitch. If the pitch is high (perhaps 16", 17", more?), then, yes, the boat may hit 29 MPH, but the engine is straining (as evidenced by 5000 RPM at WOT).
Frankly, I can't believe your CD25 isn't under powered with 135 horses. I now have 200 horses and definitively felt my old 150 was not enough. Now, this is with a fairly heavy boat (but if you had 4 big men on it, then you were loaded heavy by definition!). Maybe a better test is how quickly you get up on plane.
Again.....I think your answer is to be found when your determine your prop pitch. 5000 at WOT is marginal at best.
smckean (Tosca)":3s9d85mq said:
It's definitely not underpowered as far as I'm concerned. It's a bit quicker, in fact, than my C-Dory 22 with a 90. That it was underpowered was certainly a concern when I was considering he purchase of the boat. But, within minutes, the sea trial let me know that I had nothing to worry about.
As far as getting it up to plane...I've owned 2 C-Dorys and ridden in lots of them. I've yet to figure out exactly when they go on plane and when they are not.
journey on
New member
Journey On has a 150 Honda. The factory tried to sell me a 135 Honda. I opted for a 150 because of resale, people would just look at the number 135 and say "oh no I want a --- hp (fill in the blank.)
First of all, the only difference between the 150 and 135 is a change in the camshaft setting at 4000 rpm through hydraulic actuation, that's all. And at 4000 rpm Journey On is going 15 knts, a nice cruising speed. I have got Journey On up to 25 knts on a SMOOTH San Diego Bay, and it was a rough ride. I cruise at 15 knts, with bursts up to 20 if its like glass. And that's with Journey On loaded for cruising by Judy who knows how to stuff everything in.
So that brings me to my feelings regarding hanging 200 hp on the back of a 25 ft C-Dory. First of all it's 50 lbs more than the Honda and the C-Dory doesn't need more weight aft. Second, as stated above, realistic cruising isn't at WOT; you're lucky if you see 17 knts. I've brought Journey On back from Santa Cruz Island, downwind in the Santa Barbara Channel with the wind at 20 knts and I was impressed with the 12 knts we did make.
So, 135 is enough, 150 is for resale and 200 is for show.
Also, please note the above speed is in knts, which sailors use. Mph is a bigger number but I use knts.
Boris
First of all, the only difference between the 150 and 135 is a change in the camshaft setting at 4000 rpm through hydraulic actuation, that's all. And at 4000 rpm Journey On is going 15 knts, a nice cruising speed. I have got Journey On up to 25 knts on a SMOOTH San Diego Bay, and it was a rough ride. I cruise at 15 knts, with bursts up to 20 if its like glass. And that's with Journey On loaded for cruising by Judy who knows how to stuff everything in.
So that brings me to my feelings regarding hanging 200 hp on the back of a 25 ft C-Dory. First of all it's 50 lbs more than the Honda and the C-Dory doesn't need more weight aft. Second, as stated above, realistic cruising isn't at WOT; you're lucky if you see 17 knts. I've brought Journey On back from Santa Cruz Island, downwind in the Santa Barbara Channel with the wind at 20 knts and I was impressed with the 12 knts we did make.
So, 135 is enough, 150 is for resale and 200 is for show.
Also, please note the above speed is in knts, which sailors use. Mph is a bigger number but I use knts.
Boris