Yamaha 115 vs 150

decoy · 06-30-2007, 05:03 AM

Looking at a new NR 20' Seahawk. I know the 150 Yamaha 4 stroke is the better option. However, economics put me in the 115 Yamaha 4 storke. Opinions ? Suggestions ?

Paddler · 06-30-2007, 06:18 AM

I have the Mercury 115 on my 20' Searunner. It's the same motor as the Yamaha. It's plenty, so don't worry. My boat will do 37mph, but I've only been able to open it up in the harbors. You're more limited by sea state than HP out in the ocean.

Starfish · 06-30-2007, 06:30 AM

IMHO there's no such thing as too much motor... I'd go for the 150 myself. I'd rather have the power available. I think the Seahawk is a lot heavier than the Searunner also.

Steelie Steve · 06-30-2007, 06:56 AM

I have a 20' Seahawk with the 150 on it. Nice power plant for that boat. Cruising at 38 to 42 is easy with top end just over 50 so far. You will never wish you had less motor. If you can afford it go with the 150. If not the 115 will do fine. I test drove one with the 115 on it and it is fine.

Tacklebuster · 06-30-2007, 05:09 PM

The 115 was prone to make oil. Check out some other sites on Yamaha motors. Something to do with the engine never reaching the proper temp. I had a friend with the 115 and he had nothing but issues with her. That doesn't mean yours will be, just check out a few forums with the guys that run the 115's and see for yourself. They are probably good to go.

Paddler · 06-30-2007, 08:28 PM

The Yamaha and Mercury four strokes were a joint development between the two companies, and to my understanding, are extremely similar. My Merc is awesome, I imagine the Yamaha would be as well. I just like the black paint, and the fact that it's made here.

Snowwolfe · 06-30-2007, 09:16 PM

If you never plan on having more than two adults onboard and a moderate amount of gear the 115 is fine.
When you start adding extra passengers, extra fuel, dual batteries, and gear for a long trip and then fish, ice and coolers then you will grow to think saving money to buy the 115 was the biggest boating mistake you ever made.

foxer · 06-30-2007, 11:33 PM

If its not aleady rigged, think about the 140 Suzuki. Shouldnt be much more than the Yamaha 115. Although if you can swing it, go with a 150

RascallyRabbit · 07-01-2007, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foxer

If its not aleady rigged, think about the 140 Suzuki. Shouldnt be much more than the Yamaha 115. Although if you can swing it, go with a 150

and only something like 9 lbs difference in weight between the Yamaha 115 and Suzuki 140.

Steve/RR

Johnny B Bad · 07-02-2007, 09:11 AM

Just equipped an 18 foot seahawk with the 115 and I would recommend the 150, especially if you are getting the offshore bracket. And definitely get the hydraulic steering no matter which motor you go with. You will not be sorry.

OB1 · 07-02-2007, 09:50 AM

Go with the Suzuki, you will be happy!

Jason S · 07-02-2007, 10:11 AM

So recently bought mine and went through the same process.

Someone asked me: "IF you get the 150 are you ever going to wish?want the 115? HOW ABOUT if you get the 115 are you going to wish for the 150?"

Made my mind up. I have a 20 Seahawk LE. That was how I monetarily made the money difference up for the 150. I have no regrets

The thing is you are all ready paying a bunch of money. It is a huge purchase. Get exactly what you want in the boat so you will ultimately be happy with it for a while to come. If you underpower it (115 will only run about 32-35MPH) you are going to be unhappy with it. I get about 44MPH in mine. DO I run it there? Nope. It is nice to be able to cruise at about 30 and that is about 4000 RPM which gives me about 4 MPG cruise. 115 you are going to be running close to all out at that speed.

By the way I agree get the hydraulic steering. I have cable steer and wish I had got hydraulic.

River Bum · 07-02-2007, 10:26 AM

I don't have the same boat you have but IMO you should go with as much motor as you can afford. I have a 20ft Thunder Jet w/115 Suzuki, the boat has excellent power, planes just fine with 4 men and gear in the boat, and will run about 39 mph at WOT. When the time comes, I will re-power with at least a 150 but more than likely a 175 hp. That way I can run at 80-90% throttle at the same speed but have reserve power if needed. The 115 will do great for you but if you can afford to bump to the next level, I definitely would. You won't be sorry.

RB

MattPark · 07-02-2007, 10:46 AM

Anyone have fuel consumption rates with similar boats with these engines? I've got a 150 Merc 2 stroke that I'd love to replace with a 4 stroke. With 4 guys, gear, and a tank of fuel all I can get is about 38. The boat is rated for 200 (which isn't out of the question as a replacement).

I rarely run WOT, but a larger motor can push the boat along at slower speeds at a lower rpm. There's a line to be crossed though, between lower rpm and the fact that it's just a bigger motor that will burn more fuel.

wanafish · 07-02-2007, 11:30 AM

Go to Yamaha.com and check out there specs with alot of different boats.

fishgetter · 07-02-2007, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by River Bum

I don't have the same boat you have but IMO you should go with as much motor as you can afford. I have a 20ft Thunder Jet w/115 Suzuki, the boat has excellent power, planes just fine with 4 men and gear in the boat, and will run about 39 mph at WOT. When the time comes, I will re-power with at least a 150 but more than likely a 175 hp. That way I can run at 80-90% throttle at the same speed but have reserve power if needed. The 115 will do great for you but if you can afford to bump to the next level, I definitely would. You won't be sorry.

RB

Yea That....If you have a doubt.....throw it out.......

Paddler · 07-02-2007, 08:56 PM

Cost really wasn't an issue for me. I just like a balanced package, and so went with the 115HP. I have never regretted not going bigger. I avoided the cost, complexity and weight of a kicker, as I can troll with my main motor. It burns about .4GPH at idle, which is ~2.8MPH. Some say they don't like to run their main motor that much, but I figure it's going to last a long time. I trolled with my main on my last boat for 9 years, and it was still in excellent shape when I sold it.

Also, I'm running ~4500-4700RPM at 29MPH, and get great mileage at that setting. My top speed is 37MPH, but I have never been able to open it up on the ocean, only inside.

You'll get a lot of opinions on this subject. However, if you can only go 20mph, which is often the case in the ocean, your 150HP and 115HP are essentially putting out the same power (60HP?), and it's a lot less than peak. It boils down to paying more and hauling around extra weight, and maybe even an extra motor, for no real benefit. You won't catch more fish with a 150HP than you would a 90HP. I think you're mistaken in assuming that the 150HP is the better option.

No Reservations · 07-03-2007, 10:15 PM

I have a 2005 18 ft seahawk with the yami 115 I run it most of the time at high elevation here in central oregon frankly it's a little under powered at high elevation much better at sea level get the 150 or you will be sorry. I have even pitched it down to a 15 for hole shot and it still is slow out of the hole with four people and gear.

shorthair · 07-04-2007, 10:44 AM

more power is like carring a gun all the time 99.99999% of the time you won't need it but the one time you do & it saves your's or one of your kids life you'llnever regret haveing either one.

NorthStar · 07-18-2007, 03:52 PM

I like the more HP. Whenever I have tried to save a few bucks on a lower HP motor, I always seem to regret it later.. Then it is way too expensive to repower again. My 2 cents.

OB1 · 07-22-2007, 12:30 PM

I take delivery of my new 20 ft Seahawk next week and it will have a 150 Honda with an 8 hp kicker with the offshore bracket.
It's funny there was guy there where I bought mine who just had his 20 ft Seahawk with 115 and off shore bracket with a T 8, out at the rock pile and wished he went with the 150 hp. Suzuki, Honda and Yamaha can't be beat. Matter of fact Yamaha was making Mercury's 4 stroke outboards there for awhile.

timinthegorge · 07-23-2007, 04:03 PM

My boat is rated at a 115hp prop..... I started with a 90 2-stroke. Now I have a 115 4-stroke, and I'm very happy.... Mine is 19', and lighter than your boat choices.

Look at your max CG rating on the boat, and go with that. You won't be sorry in the long run....

Mr. Carp · 07-29-2007, 09:32 PM

Go with the 150. My uncle has a Yamaha 115 on his 18 ft Tiderunner and it is a dog. He has regretted the purchase. It had a 90 2-Stroke that ran much better.

A lot of people bring up the speed the boat runs at as a measure for the size of the motor being correct. I don't think this is the way to go. Saying you can't run 40 in normal conditions, so why buy a motor that will push the boat 40 is silly in my opinion. Depending on what the boat is used for, say the boat hauls 2 people with light gear just fine. What happens if you take a wave over the bow and now have 100 gallons of water in the bottom. Now you can't even plane..... I was in a friend's boat that just about sank down at Astoria because of that very issue. Take a wave in rough water and the thing was just wallowing in a trough on a rough day.

Just my 2 cents.

Ryan

Halfhooked · 08-09-2007, 12:01 AM

Iam in the same boat so to speak.

I am going to buy a 21' Seahawk and am jockying bettween a 150 and a 200 yamaha.

The North river guy told me that their is $3800 difference bettween the 150 and 200 Yami's.

The Yamaha performance bulletins on their website say the 21' will do 43 mph with the 150 and 48mph with the 200.
This however is with two in the boat, half a tank of gas and a flat test lake.

Problem is, the guy at NR told me "I wish Yamaha didnt even make that motor..Ive only seen about 4 in the last 8months come through the door..." So what the Heck am i supposed to do with that comment?

So, then I start thinking ,"ok, how bout a 225? its only $800 more than the 200hp. and the 250 is only $500 beyond that?????????? now we are looking at a 42K $ boat. WITHOUT OPTIONS OR A KICKER!!!

When asked about the price difference with the suzuki, i was told the motor was $400 cheaper, but when you added the price of the controls, they were more money, making it all but a wash.

Has anyone used a 200 yamaha? OR a suzuki? and if so, on what.

OB1 · 08-11-2007, 08:01 AM

My brother has the 21ft seahwak with 200 Suzuki, it is an awesome motor and with 4 guys Halibut fishing it has plenty of power. With this new boat (2005) he went with Suzuki again for its fuel economy and power.
My brand new Seahawk 20 ft has the 150 Honda another great motor, would of went with the 150 Suzuki but I already had a newer honda kicker and wanted matching motors.
Yamha, Honda or Suzuki you wont go wrong unless you go with too small of a motor, get the bigger engine now, it will only cost you more later if you decide to upgrade!

Mr. Carp · 08-11-2007, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halfhooked

Has anyone used a 200 yamaha? OR a suzuki? and if so, on what.

We have two of them. One is a 1991 Yamaha 200 hp on a 20' Glas-Ply. It has been a great old motor. On it's best day with a half talk of fuel, light gear, and 3 fat guys (My brother and I were both over 300 lbs and my dad was at 250 lb

), would do 52-53 mph. Fully loaded and fueled, and we'd average 45-48 mph max speed on the GPS. It was getting about 2 mpg.

The other is a 2001 200 hp Yamaha V-max jet. It's on a 20' open sled with a 7' bottom. It'll push 4 guys with fuel and gear just fine. Runs 43 mph on the GPS. The V-max is a lot better than the old motor as far as grunt and snap. It's on a tiller and you better be hangin' on.

You'll never go wrong when buy a Yamaha. Stay away from the Mercury Opticraps. They are junk.

(Edit: I just realized that you were referring to 4-strokes. My bad....)