An open letter to the Dean of Boating

[glen e]

Kern -

we are great friends...and I expect you down here when John gets his SH!!!..but you CANNOT take the F208's over there...after all you've done over here??? you must now repower with at least F250's...and if it was me, Zuke 300's.....not V's from what you've told me of their service network over there...but good god man....you're 2 years older than me....do it right!

I expect to see new motors when I see you next year.... and 208's are not you....

[Kern O]

OK, bud. You've hit a nerve here......You must have seen me searching everywhere for engines.

You obviously know how much I'd like to see something else hanging on the transom. I think it is really evident from my end, since I have the windlass done, the top is being changed, the upholstery is all new, the electronics are new, the trailer is 90 percent and yet the new Hynautic steering cylinder, Teleflex power steering setup and TR-1 autopilot are still in their boxes. Those are the parts that once I install, I have committed myself to the 208's. In reality, I have fallen victim to dealer territories and apathy on the part of sellers.

I asked several times about getting the boat re-powered prior to its delivery to me, but Henley was very busy with the Bahamas and did not have the time to chase down a set of engines for me. Now that the boat is in Los Angeles, unless I take it to the local Yamaha store and pay what ever they want to deliver it back to me rigged and done to their standards, whatever that may be, I cannot buy new Yami 250's. Suzukis? There was one source on the east coast who was selling the Zuke 300's at a great price, but I put in 4 calls and got not a single call back. I don't now if he thought I was just a tire kicker, but I was ready to buy - even though he was apparently not ready to sell. I did find 1 set of used Yami 250's used with 25 inch shafts, but the price was $26k for 3 years old, no warranty and 1200 hours. The 1200 hours does not bother me as much as the $26K, with new ones going about 15 to 20 percent more. My first choice would be the Verado 300's with the vessel view, but I face the problem of the powerheads being setback 8 more inches than most 4 strokes. They are also the most expensive package out there.

There are other options. I have run and loved Honda 225's. But for the price of swapping 208 hp for 225 hp, it just does not make sense. I'm better off short propping the 208's and living with them until something else comes out. I did find a set of three Honda 225's for sale in Florida and I was ready to move on it, but I was not comfortable dealing with the seller. He would not link me with the actual seller. The price was right, but others have reported problems with the seller.

The E-tecs work and work well. They are also lighter than any of the four strokes out there. They are competitively priced, but they have a fatal flaw. The local dealer carries and services Merc and Honda. He was surprised when I told him that Suzuki shows him as a dealer. He is a nice guy and is not going to raise a stink, no matter what the boat shows up with. But he does not sell or service the E-tecs. I just did a dealer search and King Power is shown as a dealer for BRP on Maui. I don't know a lot about them, but they do stock Cummins.

You can be sure I am not going to be happy to drop the boat off for shipment to Maui with the 208's on it. But I have not found a good way to avoid it. But I am open to suggestions. If you know of a deal on something that wil work, let me know.

[Bullshipper]

The best deals and motor availability will come from the OEM hull producers as year end over stock is always a problem.

[Kern O]

So I started looking around again today. The Suzuki source that was previously mentioned (Danny's) has never called back and is apparently closed for the holidays. Andy at SIM would be happy to help out, but I'm not sure it is worth the ducats involved to go from 208 to 250, when I can go from 208 to 300 for about the same. My 208's are not command link, so new tachs and harnesses are required. I'll get a price and deliver on a pair of Suzi 300's in the morning.

[glen e]

way to get off your duff and start making some command decsions....the boat MUST go to the islands with new power...it is decreed.....

[Angler Systems]

Glen, are you planning a trip? Hector Mesa and I talked yesterday and want to make some sort of run to the Bahamas. In addition we are planning a Fort trip in the Spring/Early Summer.

[darbikrash]

Keep me in mind if you guys plan any trips this spring, I'd love to tag along. My boat should be done end of Jan, and I'll be keeping it in the Miami area for a while and flying out to use it.

Sorry for the newb question, is the fort the one in the Dry Tortugas?

John

[glen e]

yeah no more veradoclub trips...it's getting too big and too "corporate" - but thinking of getting the core group together in April or so for a run to Bimini...I'll discuss with Dottie....

[Kern O]

So, as before, it does not look good. I called two other Suzuki suppliers and got the same answer. They have to install them and cannot ship them. I can track down a pair of Yami F250's, but the high cost for the comparatively small change in power and technology makes it not cost effective. The F250's do put out more power than the F208's, but they are still several year old technology. If I'm going to do it, I want at least 300 HP and something that is designed fuel economy in mind. That pretty well cuts it down to Verado 300's (which may be to heavy) and the Suzuki 300's. There have been favorable reports on the power and economy of the current Optimax and E-tecs, but the market in Hawaii is solidly four stroke. The Hawaii thing brings up the next problem. The local Merc dealer has everything required to work on the F208's because Mercury painted a lot of them black and sold them. The same is not true for Suzuki and the F250 Yamaha.

My last resort is going to be checking in with Lester's friend at Tradewinds when I get back to the mainland.

[darbikrash]

You might also try Maurer Marine here in Costa Mesa. (949) 645-7673 Suzuki, Yamaha, and Merc authorized dealer.

Probably the best outboard place around here, but they probably only sell 4 or 5 sets of outboards a year, most of their business is service.

The best deals are on the East coast. How about Nicks Creative?

(561) 844-4555