New Yamaha 115 4 stroke

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anonymous
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I've just been looking at this engine. At 377#, it's only 8 pounds heavier than my 80! I have one question in to Yamaha which I don't yet have an answer for (and I have not been able to get a look at one in person yet): I see they went to a single trim ram as one of their weight-saving design measures. My Yamaha 80 has a single ram (as does the 90), and between that and the design of the bracket, it is annoyingly difficult to find a good way to support the engine when trailering (so far all of the usual methods have failed eventually if not sooner*). I ruled out the 90 because it has the same design (plus it just seems overdue for a newer, lighter design more in line with the 70/115), but the former 115 had two rams, and Yamaha makes some nifty little things that clip over the rams and away you go (they make nothing for the single ram engines that I know of). This was about half the reason I wanted one! (But the previous 115 was heavier.)

So my question to Yamaha was: Tell me about engine support options for the new, single trim ram 115. I have not heard back yet.

So far the Yamaha 70 or the 115 (I know, opposite ends of the spectrum!) are my two top contenders. Really, a re-designed 90 weighing in at 310# would be perfect (and right in between the 70 and the 115), but I couldn't get any information from Yamaha about when/whether that might happen (darnit).

The Suzuki 90 also looks attractive, from a specs perspective, but I'm more inclined to stay with Yamaha.

So yeah, that 115 looks sweet :thup

Sunbeam

*I've tried various shapes of wood, dowels, and (two so far) M-Y Wedges. Funny, because on the Yamaha 40, Honda 40/90 (and, I imagine, other engines) the design makes it so easy to just put a block of wood in there for support. I've been meaning to start a thread to ask how other Yamaha 75/80/90 folks go about it.
 
I know I've raised this subject before, elsewhere, so please excuse the repetition, but just in case it might help anyone's thinking:

If you are considering going from, say, twin Yamaha F40's, or F50-60's, to the F115, it may be worth noting that the trim/tilt range on the new F115 appears to be 4 degrees less than on the F40, 50, or 60. (-4 to +16, as opposed to -4 to +20.) On the other hand, the F115 is the same as the F90. This difference probably only matters if you are concerned about keeping the prop and skeg completely out of the water during extended time while moored or at a dock. The F70 and the F115 are relatively very light motors, so, that helps.

When I repowered with F70's (from F50's), I also raised the engine height on the transom a notch - not specifically over concern about the new engines tilt, but more because I had long felt the engines were mounted a little low. The net result is that with a very heavily loaded boat, I can just get the F70's out of the water. I can't be sure, but I think they would not clear the water had I not changed the mounting height.

I haven't got a clue about cross-species comparisons, so if you currently have Hondas, or Suzukis, or E-Tec's, or whatever, I have nothing to say (don't all cheer at once.) :lol:
 
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