1988 HenryO 17’ Dual Console
Hull wgt. approx. 1000 lbs.
current power = 1995 Johnson 88spl
Current top speed = 32mph @5400 rpm (lots of slip)
She is just adequately powered w/ 90hp.
Starting research for repower
88spl wgt. = approx 310 lbs.
She sips water in the floor drains if you stand at the transom so I don’t want more weight.
Hull tag says max HP = 120. Judging from how she handles 90HP, she could handle more.
"Would like 115hp or bigger.
All options are heavier. -darn it.
Lightest may be the Merc Opti 125 inline 3 cyl. or Etec 130 HO.
Yamaha 115 four stroke is nearly 400 lbs. but would work.
Thoughts?
Reviews of motors you’ve run?
Who around chas handles lose motors? Called a few shops and they’all sell a motor but you gotta take the boat also.
Also, not buying immediately. Hope to rebuild carbs and get another summer out of the old Johnson. Usually do a lot of home work before buying big toys. But, its getting to the point that the old girl requires more and more attention and I’m beginning to shy away from venturing into bigger water. The hull is easily capable of the wrecks, 4ki, etc. Motor has me second guessing these days. So, starting to save my nickles and beginning the research.
I would go with the four stroke. Even though it weighs more, you won’t ever regret it. Buying another 2 stroke is ok too, but I guarantee you’ll be happy with the 4 stroke.
I would look at the ETEC 115 first, and I definitely would not trade a V4 Johnson for an inline 3 anything.
My last consideration would be the Yamaha 115. But not for weight, as the weight difference isn’t terribly much from the 2 strokes. But for cost and low end torque. However, that Yamaha will be very smooth and very quiet.
Does it have to be new? I would think a low hour 2001 Johnson 115, or a rebuilt one would be a great fit for that boat. Unless you plan to keep the boat another 5-10 years, used might be the way to go.
Tigerfin, thanks for the reply. Can you expound on it? Why do you say the 4 stroke is a better choice? As I said above, the best fit I see (after only cursory exploring) is the 3 cyl. Merc 125. Best power to weight I’ve found. Being 2 cycle, it creates better low end torque than a comparable 4 stroke and gets competitive fuel economy.
What would make a 4 stroke a better choice? I’m not arguing. More, looking for the real world advantages/disadvantages to the various options.
Also just saw Mercury “Choose America” sale. You could get a great deal on a Mercury 115 4 stroke right now.
Also not sure what prop you are running, But a lot of times a good prop and trim tabs can do wonders for a motor. Not too mention the other benefits of having tabs. You could spend $250 on a good prop and $750 on tabs before shelling out $9k on a new motor.
that hull/transom was definitely not made for the weight of a 4 stroke. i would go with an optimax for the weight. but you are also talking about an $8k- $10k endeavor for a 25 year old boat. i would be thinking about trying to find a used 115 yamaha 2 stroke or getting whole new boat all together.
1988 HenryO 17’ Dual Console
Hull wgt. approx. 1000 lbs.
current power = 1995 Johnson 88spl
Current top speed = 32mph @5400 rpm (lots of slip)
She is just adequately powered w/ 90hp.
Starting research for repower
88spl wgt. = approx 310 lbs.
She sips water in the floor drains if you stand at the transom so I don’t want more weight.
Hull tag says max HP = 120. Judging from how she handles 90HP, she could handle more.
"Would like 115hp or bigger.
All options are heavier. -darn it.
Lightest may be the Merc Opti 125 inline 3 cyl. or Etec 130 HO.
Yamaha 115 four stroke is nearly 400 lbs. but would work.
Thoughts?
Reviews of motors you’ve run?
Who around chas handles lose motors? Called a few shops and they’all sell a motor but you gotta take the boat also.
Also, not buying immediately. Hope to rebuild carbs and get another summer out of the old Johnson. Usually do a lot of home work before buying big toys. But, its getting to the point that the old girl requires more and more attention and I’m beginning to shy away from venturing into bigger water. The hull is easily capable of the wrecks, 4ki, etc. Motor has me second guessing these days. So, starting to save my nickles and beginning the research.
17’ Henry O Hornet
26’ Palmer Scott
Merc Pro xs 115 or the standard 125 Merc great power and fuel economy these motors are basically a 250 Merc cut down the middle. a 4 stroke will be a dog out of the hole.
Also just saw Mercury “Choose America” sale. You could get a great deal on a Mercury 115 4 stroke right now.
Also not sure what prop you are running, But a lot of times a good prop and trim tabs can do wonders for a motor. Not too mention the other benefits of having tabs. You could spend $250 on a good prop and $750 on tabs before shelling out $9k on a new motor.
“Banana Pants”
Indigo Bay 170
90 Johnson
I have a Merc F115 and love it. I am a yammi guy, but I got a deal on a used boat with 20 hours - happened to have a Merc. For the price difference, I don’t see what buying a yammi gets you. IMHO, Merc got this engine right.
As for pushing the HenryO - neither F115 will have a problem - it will be a 45-50 mph boat. If the weight is OK @ 400#s, I would check the Merc out.
Are you sure your hull isn’t wet? I am not 100% familiar with the Henry O’s but I would think with the age of it, there is a lot of wood that could be wet. That could possibly explain the speed and taking in water when standing in the back.
Personally I would go with the best deal on either the merc opti or evinrude. Both are fantastic engines that make a ton of power through the whole rpm span and with the rude and xd100 oil, you will run all year on 1 or 2 gals oil.
The newest 4 strokes are whisper quiet. If that is top of your priority over performance and weight, look at them. I like the light weight and balls out performance the direct injected 2 strokes offer.
that hull/transom was definitely not made for the weight of a 4 stroke. i would go with an optimax for the weight. but you are also talking about an $8k- $10k endeavor for a 25 year old boat. i would be thinking about trying to find a used 115 yamaha 2 stroke or getting whole new boat all together.
Hey Floater, I’ve gone back and forth on whether to repower or buy new or newer. My problem is that I LOVE the HenryO outer hull. Don’t know if you’ve ever seen one up close, but, they are unique with a deep sharp entry and 2 sets of huge curving reverse chines. I spent 10 years working at DNR Ft. Johnson doing shellfish stuff and was on the water 200+ days a year in a variety of hulls from 14’ to 26’. I remain convinced that nothing has the manners of a HenryO outer hull. The inside is a little dated, but, I can live with that. Further, the McKee HenryOs (don’t know about the Taylor Manufacturing HenryOs) contain no structural wood and are fully foam filled. I had to replace the fuel tank a year or so back and got a really good look at her insides pulled new wiring to everything and reworked the bilge pump setup. She’s still solid as a rock.
I could go a lot larger to get that same ride and dryness, but, that would require buying another tow vehicle. So, if I can get the old hull going again for $8-10K, I think I’ll be in pretty good shape. That said, I’m still in the early stages of thinking through this stuff. So, thanks for the thoughts.
Get the E-Tec, then you won’t have to buy new control unit at the helm which is several hundred dollars. I repowered from a 150 Johnson 2-stroke to a 150hp E-tec and kept the controls and stainless prop too. Love the E-tec, not quite as quiet as a 4-stroke but still very low noise and great maintence schedule. They’ve become a lot more popular over the past few years around Chas.
Tigerfin, thanks for the reply. Can you expound on it? Why do you say the 4 stroke is a better choice? As I said above, the best fit I see (after only cursory exploring) is the 3 cyl. Merc 125. Best power to weight I’ve found. Being 2 cycle, it creates better low end torque than a comparable 4 stroke and gets competitive fuel economy.
What would make a 4 stroke a better choice? I’m not arguing. More, looking for the real world advantages/disadvantages to the various options.
17’ Henry O Hornet
26’ Palmer Scott
The way I see it, the older I get, the more things like reliability, fuel economy and quiet comfort are more appealing than raw power. I am a huge fan of the newer four strokes because of those reasons. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with the other options, just that I don’t know of anyone who has one that has said “I wish I had bought that 2 stroke instead.”
I would stay away from carbureted engines no matter which way you go. Plus the F115 is battle tested and proven to be very reliable.
quote:Get the E-Tec, then you won't have to buy new control unit at the helm which is several hundred dollars. I repowered from a 150 Johnson 2-stroke to a 150hp E-tec and kept the controls and stainless prop too. Love the E-tec, not quite as quiet as a 4-stroke but still very low noise and great maintence schedule. They've become a lot more popular over the past few years around Chas.
After 1996 OMC switched to the modular wiring system that uses deutsch connectors and is still used. This makes repowering with an E-tec really easy and cost effective since all you need to do is bolt on, hook up battery, fuel, and make the three harness connections under the cowl. Since you have a '88 model, you will need a new harness and guages included in system check tachometer for fault annunciation. I believe that there may be an adapter kit to go form the old to new, but given the age of the harness and then adding another connection (failure point) I would go with a new harness.
A 90 e-tec should push it to around 36 mph mark if the propping is right and there is no significant water in the hull. It will likely require a new prop. a 15 P is common with the 90. A 115 should have no problem getting you to 40 MPH. The prop would likely be a 17P.
If you do chose an E-tec, call Cape Romain Marine as they deal new and a lot of preowned (w/ factory warranty). They are a little out of the way, but will turn a warranty issue around in days rather than waiting weeks just to get a tech to look at it at some of the other Charleston area dealers.