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Upgrading from a Yamaha 90 2S to a Honda 115 4S. Is it worth it?

E

Eric Jones

New member
Hello all. I have a 18ft RIB with a 90HP Yamaha DFI 2 stroke with 120 hours. I have an opportunity to purchase a 2004 Honda 115HP 4 stroke with only 48 hours on it. Between the purchase price of the Honda, and what I hope to sell the Yamaha for, I estimate that it will be about a $2000 upgrade. My question is, do you think it is worth it? The Honda is significantly heavier, so I don't know it the extra 25 HP would make a huge speed difference. However, I like the notion of polluting less, and not having to deal with 2-stroke oil. Any advice would be much appreciated. Pros vs Cons? Thanks,

Eric
 
Stay with the 90 Yamaha. The Yamaha 90 is probably one of the most reliable and highest power to weight ratio motors ever made. It is virtually bulletproof. At about 260 Lbs your Yamaha also weighs about 200lbs LESS than that Honda 115. That's right.. 200 LBS LESS! You are correct, you aren't going to get any more speed as you'll have hung an extra 200 lbs on the back of an RIB. As far as pollution is concerned, I don't know how long you've had the boat but if you've had it a few years and you only have 120 hours on it, you are polluting far less with that outboard than whoever you sell it to will be polluting with it. Furthermore, I'd bet that outboard would find it's way to a small commercial fisherman's boat eventually where it will be run at high RPM's for thousands of hours. The level of pollution from a 2-stroke increases with RPM. Unless you run the engine all the time at more than 80% throttle, you are actually polluting very little. Yes, 2-strokes smoke more at start up and such but that is the nature of burning an oil and fuel mix. It is at the high RPM's 2-strokes start to experience blow-by in which the some unburned fuel/oil mixture can exit the exhaust port. When operated at normal RPM's the 2-strokes actually pollute very little. With 90HP on an 18' RIB, I'd bet you are seldom cruising with that engine at more than 1/2 throttle. Just my 2 cents... Stick with what ya have.
 
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