Minnesota Classic Glastron Forum
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: David CVX-16 on December 05, 2010, 04:22:35 PM
-
My 1974 115 HP Mercury will someday need replacement. Noticed this 1988 (last year of the in-line 6's) 115 HP Merc on Craigslist and purchased it, with pickup next April. Improvements over my present motor are electronic ignition, power trim motor outside the boat, horse power rating at the prop rather than at the powerhead, and oil injection. Hear that this was the old 140 HP under the old rating system.
It was on a 17' fishing boat and has low hours. The seller was able to get a 115 Evinrude 2003 factory testing motor broken in but not used with 22 hours for about the same money as the selling price of the 1988, otherwise they were going to destroy it.
Comes with 2 aluminum props, control box, control cable, tach, power trim gauge, and water pressure gauge.
Will need the cavitation plate rubber fins taken off and 8 holes filled, paint scratches touched up, and bottom 1" of skeg welded back.
Plans are to build a motor stand to mount it, weld and fill holes, restore paint, and keep in storage until the old motor runs no more, get tired of Doug Campbell always beating my speed, others in our Glastron group faster, or find a suitable boat to mount this on.
Should add a few MPH to the top end.
-
.........tired of Doug Campbell always beating my speed..........
HA! That's what I was thinking this was all about. I was thinking that the entire time I was reading your post Dave!
I think you should swap it out now and use your current motor as the "insurance motor". Now that you bought this new engine, your old one will never die!
Nice find.
-
Dave
I thought that was a secret not to be shared.
Like Jason said mount it now and use the old one as a spare.
Good luck Jeff
-
Good deal David! Nice to have back up power. Why dont you just slide your current one over and slap the new one next to it?! :P
-
CHEATER!!! (Some people'll do anything to win ...) Heh heh heh
Way to go David! Yeah I'm with everybody else: Mount that puppy & lets have at it?
-
If I'm not mistaken that "oil injection" is actually nothing of the sort. It's a device Mercury referred to as "Autoblend" which adds the oil to the fuel in the fuel hose that goes to the engine, there's no real injection or mechanism that takes place in the engine itself. I've never seen one in operation and from what I understand most people just remove it and pre-mix their gas in the tank.
I too will be after Doug's record, I've got something special planned for my boat to boost its power! ;)
-
I intend to disconnect the oil injection system even though the past owner said it the unit performed okay. Heard too many stories of the oil injection system failing and then the engine ruined. Does anyone know at what hole setting the engine can be mounted on the transom? I believe there are 4 holes. How high can the horizonal cavitation plate be above the bottom of the hull? Also will experiment with props with the engine mounted higher on the transom, perhaps a 22" Laser II or a 23" 2-blade bronze.
Used the new GPS to record the car trip to look at the motor today - max speed was 88 MPH.
-
Woohoo Congrats David!
You'll notice a significant improvement in performance with that motor, both from a power standpoint and a control standpoint. The integral trim will be your new best friend. Toss the Autoblend to the curb and use premix like you always have.
I think 15% HP gain at the prop is conservative... moving from my '72 to the '84 115 was a very noticable for me.
I had mine mounted flush with the keel, and if I had the intitiative I would have much prefered 1" above especially with the Laser II and the Ballistic props. Just keep an eye on your water pressure of course.
So excited for you. Hope it works out.
-
David I agree w/other comments that you should use your current motor as a back-up and put that motor on your boat. I know you well enough though to understand that you need to get it up to your standards, both mechanically and comsetically, before it would ever be allowed to hang off the transom of your V-153! ;)
-
Why dont you just slide your current one over and slap the new one next to it?! :P
That's the best idea yet!
-
Does anyone know at what hole setting the engine can be mounted on the transom? I believe there are 4 holes. How high can the horizonal cavitation plate be above the bottom of the hull?
I'd say at least an inch for starters, even 1 1/2". I'm at 2 1/4". But if I run hard when the weather's hot & the water's real warm I do get the occasional high temp alarm. An inch or so oughta be no problem.
PLEASE consider picking up a Bobs 'True Tracker'. Great product! Dollar for dollar the best performance investment I ever made. It works extremely well on this hull.
Here's a graph that might answer some of your motor height questions. In my case at least it's fairly accurate:
-
My beloved True Tracker:
-
Very nice! Your old cowlings will fit right on there! Kind of a sleeper. If ya need help shoot me a call.
-
My present 115 HP mercury still has the hesitation upon acceleration and that should be fixed before a switch of motors.
Steve A, what is your motor height set at? What year is your 115 Mercury? Do you use your Mercury oil injection, or have you disconnected it. What is your GPS speed on the 16' CV? How did a Mercury Laser II work on your setup? What is the pitch of the Laser II?
Doug, thanks for the motor height charts. With the 2-blade bronze props I run now, they can lose bite for periods of time, and get the bite back by trimming the motor in or backing off on the throttle - actually fun to lose bite, like losing traction with a car. I have a water pressure gauge presently, and when elevating the height of the motor, would require a carefull and constant watch of the PSI water gauge. Your audible warning would be nice, but I do not think Mercury has it.
I switched from a 80 HP Mercury to the present 115 HP Mercury back in 1987 and enjoyed doing it, but it took alot of time.
Thanks for all the valuable feedback. I am already putting into place some of the items needed to make a possible switch next year.
The idea about the two motors mounted side by side on the transom - I don't know. With the added horsepower of the newer 115 HP Merc on the 630 pound Glastron V-153, one motor may be all I can handle.
-
I am already putting into place some of the items needed to make a possible switch next year.
YAY!!
-
Dave congrats on the tower purchase , you will be very happy with it , i had a 87 115 on my GT160 with a 21 ballistic on it and the autoblend disconnected . if i didnt sell her this past summer Doug would have been looking at the back end of my boat heh heh heh . im kinda in a gray area now, i have a Cv21 im redoing but when im done i dont know if i'll be allowed to take a wack at Dougs speed lol . i dont know if you saw this video but here is my GT160 with me and my son staying in front of another GT160 with a OMC 140 single rider (no offence Glenn it was a blast ) .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9yLe6F9FfU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmLgnLshkSo
-
Gil, I had a chance to see your videos. Don't those full speed runs send a rush of adrenaline through the head? When I followed your project and your website, I was saddened that you sold the boat and motor. What was your speed and what was the elevation of the motor?
I tested props one afternoon with Gregg on the St. Croix using his GPS. The results were roughly 49 MPH with a 20" Laser II, 51 MPH with a 21" Ballistic stainless steel, and 52.9 MPH with a cupped 2-blade bronze Mercury Quicksilver turning about 5,400. I do not know what the redline is with a 1988 115 HP Mercury, but would guess around 5,500.
My present props may be okay to keep the RPM's within limits with the new motor, but with the motor elevated and with the additional 20 horsepower, I am prepared to go to a 22" or 23" prop. Ballistic makes a 22" and 23" stainless, the Quicksilver 2-blade bronze comes in 23", 2-blade Hi-Performance Mercury bronze in 22" and the Laser II comes in 22". Beyond that Powertech, Turbo, Chopper, and others may have something that will work.
Similiar video as yours with my boat, even the motors sound alike.
http://tinypic.com/player.php?s=4&v=2u70d2d
Right now with the cold weather it seems so far removed from a sunny, warm boating day.
-
i had the cav plate just at one inch above the keel . the best i got on my gps was 54 mph but i know i would have done more if i had the nerve to keep on it . i needed to adjust the rigging, it was pretty sloppy which brought on some serious chine walk . Gil
-
I think 1989 was the last year for the inline 6. Mine is an 1988 and The first thing I did was 86 the auto blend oiling system didn't even think twice about it. I got her sitting right on the transom because I'm looking for all around performance. Run only non oxygenated premium, spinning a 21p rapture and I'm side by side with Brian B. His cvx20 gps out at 57mph. We found smoother water at one time and I just barely just by a little bit pulled on him but not by much. The hole shot is increidable' have not lost to another boat yet. Notice I said yet! Lol. Max Rpm is at 5500 rpms. Run no hydro foil (had one on it when I got the motor and that got 86 to with the auto blend) I would like to try one of those true trackers but I don't want to buy one and find out I don't like it. This coming spring David we will get the oulder tower dialed in. I did try a 20 1/2p lazerII but didn't like it, I'm not a fan of the lazerII except on I/O's the work good.
-
Steve, thanks for the information. I think I will start with the motor 1 - 1 1/2 inches above the transom. Is the transom bolt pattern the same on the 1988 as the 1974? The Laser II is meant for elevated motor heights. With the motor sitting on the transom there is alot of torque pull and the speed is not great (Lazer II on my boat was 49 MPH vs. 53 MPH with the 2-blade bronze.) But several people have had success with the Lazer II when the motor is raised, such as Tom from the Twin Cities running 24" Lazer II on 16' CVX at a little over 60 MPH, Kip had one on his 2004 115 HP Merc ( we were running about the same speed), and, I believe Gray had one on his 16' CVX running pretty fast. I may at least try one out again.
I am still trying to figure out why your Rapture works on your boat but not on mine. I bought a 21" Rapture years ago, tryed it, did not work, and promptly sold it.
-
SWEET Dave !
(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p286/Hyperacme/CGOAmn/88Merc.png)
-
Thanks Gregg for the specs. Another source also listed the 1988 Mercury at 312 vs the 1974 Mercury at 275 pounds. I bet the 1974 weight did not include the power trim rams and motor. The weight gain of 37 pounds has to be the power trim of the 1974 not included in the 275 pounds.
Also 1988 seems to be the last of the in-line sixes.
http://www.maxrules.com/Merc_model_files/115-150.html
Gregg, I have a 1974 115 HP Merc for sale that would make your boat fly.
Remanufactored 115 HP Merc on e-bay, nice but the price is ouch:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MERCURY-115-HP-100-REMAN-6-CYL-OUTBOARD-MOTOR-/260691303931?pt=Boat_Parts_Accessories_Gear&hash=item3cb2699dfb
Questions and answers about this item
Q: Hi, is this motor oil injected? I cant see the tank in the pic's if it is, and what year is this motor? Just curious. Looks great! Thanks Steve
A: The motor can be set up with or without oil injection. The motor is the 1985 thru 1988 model- They were all essentially identical.
Q: can you tell me what the motor weighs thanks.
A: Hello It weighs 312 pounds and is about 65 pounds lighter than any late model 115 hp.
-
I had a manual with specs for my 1983 Merc 115 which listed the weight at 330 pounds. My model had the two trim pistons on the outsides of the mounting bracket but the pump was mounted in the boat.
-
So with the weight of the power trim feature included in both these years, it appears that the 1988 year weighs less.
-
Gregg, could you print off some of these pictures for the site here?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MERCURY-115-HP-100-REMAN-6-CYL-OUTBOARD-MOTOR-/260691303931?pt=Boat_Parts_Accessories_Gear&hash=item3cb2699dfb
Thanks.
-
Hey David
Looks like you got your self a beauty
Bolt it on, use your present one for a back up
Congrats Jeff
-
The bolt pattern is not the same, you will have to drill new holes and plug the old. If you remove the trim pump assy from the 88' the older inline and newer inline weigh the same. I think the 88' with 115hp at the prop makes the differance on how the rapture works, If I where to raise the motor on the cv I think I could hit 60mph but I like the hole shot for water skiing at the same time so something gotta give a little here and there.
-
Jeff, the latest pictures are of a remanufactored 115 HP Mercury from a place called mercRestor in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the price is $4,450. The price of mine was much less than this but I hope to bring it back to its former glory.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MERCURY-115-HP-100-REMAN-6-CYL-OUTBOARD-MOTOR-/260691303931?pt=Boat_Parts_Accessories_Gear&hash=item3cb2699dfb
-
Congratulations David on the new purchase. I've been keeping my eye out for the same thing for the V-166... I like the 84 - 88 models with all the pluses that have been mentioned. I talked to the guy at mercRestor months ago, but don't know if I can bring myself to spend that much on one. Man, I love how clean they are though... and at least I would know what I was getting. If I don't find what I'm looking for before next summer, I may just break down and have mercRestor build me a 115, and have him install when I trailer the V-166 up there for the meet in Red Wing next year (that's the plan anyway). Would I be crazy for spending that much on the motor?
Mark
-
Mark, the purchase of a 115 HP Mercury to match your pristine boat makes alot of sense. Is not your boat rated for a 120 HP motor? With a 115 HP Mercury over the 60 HP Johnson, you should be adding 10 to 15 MPH. That is alot of fun factor added. Your next to new 60 HP Johnson should command a premium price and the price difference between the 60 and 115 will not be that great. My best move was to switch from an 80 HP to 115 HP on the V-153 back in 1987 - added 10 MPH.
I would look for a mint 115 HP Mercury for your boat first. My 1988 115 Merc is about 1/3 the price of the remanufactored Merc. You may have to search around the country for the best. Once in awhile, a new older Merc is for sale, and the price may be less than the $4,450 of the remanufactored one.
Hay, one can justify their hobby for several reasons: one does not have alot of hobbies, one is conservative in their spending habits, one works hard to earn a living, the purchase will hold its value, and the purchase does not need to be financed. Good luck in your search. Use a search engine for national exposure.