srdrago

iTrader: (-1)

Hello All
So I have a 1997 Marlago 35 with 1997 Mercury 250EFI. As everyone knows, those motors are hungry for fuel and oil. As these motors are coming up on age and hours (400+ and counting) I am looking to possible re-power while I have some re-sale value left in these motors.
The current weight of these motors are 496lb each. I know that Marlago didn't put 4-stroke engines on these because they were not popular back in 1997. In 2002-ish they redesigned the transom to adjust for the heavy 4-stroke weight by adding floatation on the transom and weight in the bow. In 2005 (first year yamaha made 250 Four Strokes) the engines weighed close to 600lb each, and I totally understand why Marlago needed to beef up the transom. But 10 years later yamaha are making the lightest 4 strokes out there weighing only 562lb.

So here is my questions, has anyone with a pre-2002 Marlago put on bigger/heavier motors than my 250EFI?
I figured that since the weight of four-strokes from 2002 to now have drastically decreased that I should be able to put them onto the transom. But I want to hear from anyone else that have tried. We are look at a 66lb difference per motor, total 132 more on this boat. If I stood in the back (200lb) I don't notice it at all.
Do you think the extra torque of a 300FS would break the transom though?

Any information would be great!
Thank you - Steven

wannabe

Steven- 400 hours is nothing for these motors. If you go to repower the 66 lb difference is nothing. The Evinrude g2 300 hp is 537 lbs and they are a hell of a motor.

Speedracer29

NADA on a 97 250EFI is around $3500. 400hrs is barely broken in, documented reports of them going 1000+ hours. At current usage rate, you could potentially run until 2036 before a repower. $40k for a repower minus $10k market value on current motors is $30k, which is many, many gallons of gas and oil.... But it's your money, and I COMPLETELY understand wanting new power.

dockrocker

Might want to check with the crowd over at www.thehulltruth.com - lots of egg beater types over there...

Nate5.0

Plenty of them over here too.

Good way to keep members and the site up and running ....just tell them to go else where.

srdrago

iTrader: (-1)

I am just browsing to see if people ever had done this. Trying to maximize the speed and cruise a bit faster / more fuel efficient. I am boring almost 150 gallons a weekend and 2.5 gallons of oil a weekend. They smoke like no other, but I know these motors can go for 1000 hours. I want to get into that Set It And Forget It mode with newer motors. It would be nice to jump to 300 4S, so I wanted to see what people are saying. Maybe I can jump on a good deal. Saw 2 2014 Yamaha 300, 75hrs with full rigging for $33K so that caught my eye. I did the math out and yes the fuel savings would not pay for the motors, but resale it always helps, plus its nice to get more speed out of it. My buddy just did his on his newer Marlago (his old motors blew up) and I would like to keep up with him and his speed. Right now I'm hitting 53 on a good day, cruising 40 @4500, I want more!

dockrocker

Or maybe directing a member to a resource that has a wealth of information specifically focused on repowering fishing boats with outboards in the hopes that he can get some valuable information. But hey, you can always just be an *******, that works too I suppose.

srdrago

iTrader: (-1)

Thank you for that. I posted it also in there, as they are helping me. I wanted to post in both because both sites have very knowledgable people. Right now I am just gathering peoples insights.

Philip

I had a 2008 with 275 vorado. Great boat, the 4 strokes make the boat so civilized compared to 2 strokes, you won't be sorry, mine ran 62 mph with the vorado . You might have some problems with the boat sitting lower in the water at the transom, and water coming into the deck floor with two guys standing at the transom , definitely go with the lightest set up of 4 strokes weather they be Suzuki , vorado, etc.