Repowering - OB Dealer Recommendations in PNW?

M

MikeR

New member
Looking to repower our 16' Angler this year with a 4-stroke, to replace the original Johnson 40 & 8 hp 2-strokes. Really like the Yamaha 40 or 50, but from previous experiences with other boats, I'm not sure I'd trust either of the nearest Yamaha dealers (3Rivers or Bayside) to do a proper install on a balsa-cored transom, and their pricing and labor are relatively high. I do have a 6 hp Suzuki that could be used as a kicker, so also contemplating the DF50 as an option.

Has anyone had an outboard installed by Master Marine in Mt. Vernon, which is both a C-dory dealer and Yamaha/Suzuki dealer?

For those who have re-powered, did you let the dealer remove the old OB, or did you do it yourself?

Thinking about removing it myself, not only to keep or sell the Johnsons (as opposed to trading them in), but mainly so I could properly overdrill and fill the holes with thickened epoxy as has been recommened in many other threads.

But then again the original Johsons were installed in 1990, only sealed with 5200 (or maybe 4200), as would probably be done by any current OB dealer, and the balsa is still bone dry around the bolts, so maybe I'm just being overly concerned about all this.

Any advice on Yamaha or Suzuki dealers in the area, or on repowering in general, would be much appreciated!
 
I know it is a ways from Mill Creek, but check with Matt at Kitsap Marine in Port Orchard. Did me a good job at what I felt was a fair price. Was 4-9 hundred dollars cheaper for a 115 Yamaha than the other places I checked. Cost to rig was about the same also. Would use them again.
 
for Yamaha, I like Tom & Jerry's boats on the Swinomish Channel at Twin Bridges near Mount Vernon. Good people.

Master Marine - not so much.

jd
 
MikeR":2zg7whx4 said:
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Thinking about removing it myself ... mainly so I could properly overdrill and fill the holes with thickened epoxy as has been recommended in many other threads.

...!
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I think you're right that you will probably have to do this part yourself. I don't know if you can find a dealer who does this. You're more likely to encounter shrugging, eye-rolling, or scoffing at the suggestion there is a better way than a gob of 5200 to seal holes through cored material - especially below the waterline! I would love to hear from someone about a dealer who regularly does this kind of work and is competent at it.


I don't know what all you need in the way of steering, throttle, wiring or gauge changes, but I think you can probably find competent people from the suggestions here. Look the guy in the eye and talk to him at some length about "What if I have to bring it back in because ..."

If you're thinking of using the boat more than just locally, consider what dealers may be available wherever it is you're likely to go.
 
I just had sportcraft in portland repower my motor yacht. they removed the old engines and slammed on some new ones. It went well, no complaints. If you're looking to upgrade to four strokes, they have my 1999 honda 40's for sale on consignment, they're good low hour engines with controls and gauges, installed for about $3,795. Naturally you would want to fill out the proper WA state forms to pay the tax on such an item so the tax savings wouldn't be an added bonus. I upgraded because I had a pocket full of money and wanted to upgrade before I retire down the road ( and just because Don did)

I shopped several other boatyards and found some had good deals on engines but charged a premium for the rigging. Be sure to price out the whole package as you'll need a control box and gauges
 
I agree with the comments above regarding Sportcraft in Portland. Ryan and all of the support staff are helpful, easy to work with, know what they're doing (important these days), and are very competitive on pricing. All good!
 
I'd recommend EQ Marine (Les on the site). They're on the N. end of Whidbey Island and are a Honda and Tohatsu dealer. They'll do what you want and will do it how you ask them to do it. They'll also tell you when you're ideas are bad (which is something I particularly appreciate). Both the Tohatsu's and the Hondas are quite reliable and are worth considering. EQ won't be the cheapest but they won't be the most expensive either. Service on my Hondas there costs about 1/2 of what Three Rivers charges and I trust EQ more.
 
Wandering Sagebrush":2vmnf4s5 said:
Ever thought about reporting in Oregon? No sales tax. Sportcraft has Honda, Suzuki and years of experience. We're happy with them.
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I just realized my iPad helped my spelling out. That was supposed to be 'repowering', not 'reporting'... Ooops
 
Thanks for the great suggestions!

Roger - Les at EQ installed an E-tec on my last boat (back when they were a BRP dealer), they did great work and had the least expensive labor rates. So maybe I will reconsider my desire for a Yamaha or Suzuki (which admittedly were based on my eventual choice of kicker - I don't like the current selection of Honda kickers). I can probably live with having a Honda main with non-honda kicker. Not sure about the Tohatsu 40/50... while the E-tec 90 was awesome, I missed the lower-RPM smoothness of the 4-stroke it replaced.

But I will also check out all of the other suggestions. Did not think about looking in Oregon, that is a good idea!
 
I'm with Roger on this one. We have bought two boats (5 engines) from EQ and had a third one re-powered there. All of them subsequently serviced and maintained by EQ.

My favorite story concerns an ECU Module failure in Canada where it would have been cheaper to fly EQ to Canada to fix it and give Carl a couple of days free fishing than it cost me to have it mis-diagnosed, trailer it back and have Carl find the problem (and fix it under warranty) in 20 minutes.

Good honest service with good advice (like it or not).

Merv
 
EQ gets our business. They are really honest and easy to work with. As small as the shop is, you never feel like your put on a waiting list or theyre too busy to talk.


When I lived in Olympia, I trusted Tom's Outboard. Tom runs an amazing outboard shop snd is very trustworthy and fair. I also recommend them. When Les and Kathy retire I will probably trailer to Olympia.

They both are honda dealers, so youll have to look elsewhere for Yamaha. Good luck!
 
Grumpy":2y37ph4h said:
<stuff clipped>
My favorite story concerns an ECU Module failure in Canada where it would have been cheaper to fly EQ to Canada to fix it and give Carl a couple of days free fishing <emphasis added> than it cost me to have it mis-diagnosed, trailer it back and have Carl find the problem (and fix it under warranty) in 20 minutes.

Good honest service with good advice (like it or not).

Merv
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Now there's a good idea - mobile Carl.
 
also if your at all mechanical, I would do the rigging myself, its not that hard and well I at least enjoy it. and it saves $$ we have done a few of them including the now newer e-tech on our dory.
 
When I repowered my 16 Angler I chose the Honda 50 EFI. A gem of an engine, with excellent charging power, lightest in its class (at that time and maybe still is) and very high build quality. I have also purchased a C-Dory new from EQ Marine. My suggestion would be the Honda main and Tohatsu kicker, all from EQ. Prices will be very reasonable and all work will be superb. Best, Mike.
 
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