How much horse power can you have???

A

aquaman

New member
I saw a dealer online offering a 22' cruiser with a 115hp outboard. How can they do this if it is only rated for 100hp? Can you put duel 60's on there if you wanted? How can you get insurance on your boat if it is over powered?
 
I'm not sure but I seem to recall that the factory changed the maximum HP on the 22 from 100 to 115 last year. The factory site should have that info. I'd want something official saying so before I went over 100, keep the coasties and ins. co's happy.
 
Just ordered a 22' with a suzuki 115 hp at the seattle boat show. The factory told me that boats over 20' in length do not have to have a plaque and that the Yamaha and Suzuki 115s weight is the same or less as the 90s. Weight was more of the issue. My boat was ordered without a plaque this takes care of the problem with the insurance companies and law inforcement in Utah. The reason I went to the 115 was to compensate for the loss of hp at altitude.
 
Suzi 90 & 115s are listed at the same weight. Not sure on Yama...don't have their brochure. If you are going to have the same weight...why not go with the higher hp? I feel sure the transoms sufficiently built for it, and would simply have lower RPM ranges when cruising about the areas. I do wonder why they have the many of the same parts and number of parts, and all the same parts fit into the same "box" or motor cover.....so... why do they cost more? I guess cause we have for years continued to pay more.

This is a lot of hp for a flat bottom boat, and would be interesting to see some performance numbers on the same boat/prop/motor set up at sea level, and the higher elevation water levels.

Have also seen these boats powered with a single 50hp for inland water uses too. Guess it is all in how we intend to use our boats.
 
I believe the higher hp of the same model is due to rejetting and only affects the high end (upper 1/4) and may even raise the max rpm range to demonstrate the effect. Low and mid-range have nearly identical torque and hp. That's my understanding.
 
I went through the same discussion a few months ago in regard to engine size and weight when I was going to purchase my CD22.

According to the factory, the max recommended is now 115 for horsepower. But unless you need the additional, the 90 is plenty for the hull design. My Honda 90 at WOT has pushed me into the mid 30's miles per hour (depending on load and water surface).

But I think the CD 22 is best at crusing around 14 - 20 in most water smoothly (and that is what I got the boat for). Above that exposes the flat part of the hull to the chop and is not as good a ride unless the water is flat and you need to go faster.

I went with Honda for the proven reliability and the availability of its widespead service network. I think most of the new 4 strokes are excellent choices, howerver.

Chris Hardy
 
Here is my two cents worth. I have used both 90 Honda and 115 Mercury EFI on two 22 ft cruisers. I loved the Honda, but found that it couldn't get out of the hole with four adults and gear aboard (until several crawled into the forward berth) on Yellowstone Lake one summer. Now Yellowstone Lake is almost 8,000 ft above sea level. How many folks boat at that elevation? The new Honda 90 is EFI, and that should help some. The older four carburator model was almost bullet proof, unless one gets lazy and lets gas gel gunk up the insides. Then it is an expensive trip to the boat mechanic. The Yellowstone experience led to putting on Bennett trim tabs, which really annoyed Mark, and for reasons I do understand. Tabs do affect the 22 Cruiser in tight turns, but the advantages to having tabs outweigh the disadvantages.

My second 22 ft cruiser has a 2006 Mercury 115 EFI, and it is pushing the limit in my judgment. Why the limit? That extra power has to be used judiciously, but I like having it should the need require, like being caught in strong ocean currents in a narrow channel and staying away from whirlpools. Been there, done that. Am doing most of my boating now between 3000 and 8000 feet. The 22 cruiser is of course weight sensitive as are all boats. The 115 EFI gives a couple more mph at WOT and more push out of the hole. And it weighs about the same as the Honda 90. In terms of fuel efficiency, I can't really tell the difference. Run either engine in the sweet spot of 4200-4400 rpm and it is efficient. Or run it at 1,000 rpm and get insanely high miles per gallon.

A tip for new 22 ft owners. Unless absolutely necessary keep your water
tank close to empty. That extra 160 lbs is bad news from a performance level. The insurance thing is really greatly exaggerated. Another tip for 22 ft users. Extending the tabs down really creates enough drag to help
slow down the boat when docking. Virtually all my gel nicks have come via docking. Coming in too fast.
 
when we bought the 1999 22cruiser (duck ) it had a 50 honda on it so i thought maybe 2 50's or maybe a 90 or 115 hp eng . I did not want to have ins. or coastie problems so i settled for a 90 Suzuki and I've been very pleased with the 90 the rpm diff is 500rpm so the only time you really notice the diff would be at full throttle
90suzi 5000-5500rpm
115suzi 5500-6000rpm

I run a 14in.diam 18in. pitch this tachs out at 5800 rpm my dealer set it up this way he said I had a strong 90 hp probably more like a 100hp The suzi have a larger gearcase so they can run bigger propellers =better performance around the marina and hole shots and cruising just my 2cents worth
 
I thought that fuel injection was supposed to do away with any of those problems of altitude ??? It does that in fuel injected cars...I assume boat motors should be the same.
I would love to ride in a 22' with 115 hp.... I would think it should get excellent fuel mileage at cruise... as it is hardly working...
I have twin 40hp Yamaha's and hate the carburetors ...the following year they went to fuel injection...too late to help me. I also wish I had twin 50's

Joel
SEA3PO
 
OK, fuel injection keeps the engine from running rich as the altitude increases. But the air is thinner, the engine doesn't pump as much oxygen, can't burn as much fuel; ergo net cogito sum: less horse power. If you're running at Bonneville, also less air resistance. (Just saw the world's Fastest Indian.)

Boris
 
Any naturally aspirated engine will continue to lose power as altitude increases. If you want to maintain a given power rating for an engine, you need to give it forced induction like a turbo or supercharger.
 
dave":kyimewjo said:
Any naturally aspirated engine will continue to lose power as altitude increases. If you want to maintain a given power rating for an engine, you need to give it forced induction like a turbo or supercharger.
Click to expand...

Dave-

Have you ever heard how well the supercharged Mercury Verado engines do at altitude?

Joe.
 
Yellowstone":2ncwub0n said:
Extending the tabs down really creates enough drag to help
slow down the boat when docking. Virtually all my gel nicks have come via docking. Coming in too fast.
Click to expand...

Also, spend most of your time approaching in neutral, and give a squirt of
power when you need to change direction.

Mike
 
mikeporterinmd":yiw9184z said:
Yellowstone":yiw9184z said:
Extending the tabs down really creates enough drag to help
slow down the boat when docking. Virtually all my gel nicks have come via docking. Coming in too fast.
Click to expand...

Also, spend most of your time approaching in neutral, and give a squirt of
power when you need to change direction.

Mike
Click to expand...

Kinda tryda do it like that. Works for me, somewhat most of the time. While in Alaska watched the fishing boats next to and around us. Saw the difference between a novice like me, some who were darned good and the truly pros. Some of those boats came in at speed where the slightest mistake whould have taken out us or the dock but indeed ended up exactly where they wanted them to. I could only cringe watching them come in and then stare with my mouth hanging open in amazment, when they ended up, where they did, just like they planned.

Jay
 
Joe,

I do all my boating in the bay, rivers, and ICW. I haven't talked to anyone with the new Merc motors. Since they should have some type of waste gate to limit the maximum pressure, my guess is they will perform as well at altitude as sea level.

Dave
 
Back
Top