Johnson 90/115 outboard question

[Down to Earth]

Went to the Minneapolis Boat Show last week and almost came away with Crestliner FishHawk 1750. Lack of a solid down payment kept me from getting the monthly payment to a workable level for me. So I plan to put extra aside this year and head back next year with intent to buy.

Anyways my main question is motor size. The dealership I worked on the deal with outfitted their Crestliners with Johnson Outboards. The information the salesman told me on them was the 90 and the 115 model are pretty much the same motor. How can they be the same motor, yet be rated so different? I checked the specs on the Johnson HSOforum and sure enough everything is the same except the Full Throttle RPMs. What is the change being done in the 115 that the 90 doesn't have? If they are for the most part the same motor what advantage would have there been in moving up to the 115, other than full throttle horsepower, given the extra cost I'm sure that would have been associated with it?

On a side note I am amazed that some of the salesmen at this show can make a living what they do. I asked the same initial question to each salesman I came in contact with; "What do you have for a boat that is big enough to handle large MN waters for muskie fishing, yet flexible enough fish small electric motor only resivour around SE MN and also be able to pull family members behind the boat on skis or a tube?" The difference was amazing. SOme would give a little info on boats and only gave up more info if I asked questions, some completely were sold on the product that matched my needs and devoted all their time and effort in making me a customer, and in one instance the guy simply showed me to their used boat bulletin board and pointed out used boats and how much they cost. He did not share anything on his 2005 models and I think he was pretty much only trying to push his used boat inventory out the door.

This year...........fact finding info and finding the right boat.

Next year..........on a mission to find the best deal and buy.

Thanks.

Andy

[SuddenlySummer]

The difference is carburetion and fuel injection.

I have a 75hp Yamaha 4 stroke thats carburated. The same size block with fuel injection bumps it to a 90 or 115.

MY 75 Yam is a tiller and I pull skiers and tubers just fine. It tops out at 32 mph on my 17' Lund Angler. The Angler isn't as deep of a V that I would like but I had it on Lake Michigan @ 20 times last year.

Get the most HP you can afford. MAX IT OUT!

[Down to Earth]

Ok here is where my severe lack of knowledge is going to show. What do you mean by carburetion and fuel injection. Thnaks.

Andy

[mechanictim]

A carburator uses engine vacuum to siphon fuel from a bowl through a jet to get the fuel air mix the engine needs to run. On most small engines this system is strictly mechanical and inexpensive.

Electronic Fuel injection uses a pressurized fuel system to supply fuel to an injetor assembly that is basicaly a nozzle with a solenoid valve that controls fuel flow to the air going in to the engine. The longer the solenoid is held open the more fuel flows to the engine, the computer controls the length of time the injector stays open. The Electronics and sensors required for fuel injection add to the cost.

Some older fuel injectin systems are all mechanical. these are more common on diesel engines but were also used on some vettes over 40 years ago.

A carburator is not as efficient as electronic fuel injection> you get much more fuel economy and lowered emisions with fuel injection In 2006 the Enviromental protection agency will require all 2 stroke outboards to be fuel injected to meet pollution standards. This is why you see a lot of the smaller outboards are now four strokes.

[SuddenlySummer]

Bottom line:

Carburation is cheaper and less efficient. Works well, I have it and I have no complaints.

Fuel injection is computer controlled, high effiency.

I don't know what kind of car you drive but if you slapped a turbo or a supercharger to your motor you will signifcantly up the hp.

Max hp for my boat is 80. I got the 75 because it was the best motor and the closest to my max hp that Yamaha made. Go with the absolute highest hp you can afford. 90 hp may do it for you most of the time but if you have 5 people in your boat with a full tank and a full load pulling a tube you'll wish you had the 115 or more.

[SuddenlySummer]

D.T.E.

Were you pricing out 4 strokes or 2 strokes? A 2 stroke 115 will be less expensive than a 4 stroke 115. The lower price of a two stroke may get you back in the ball game for this year. Also ask if they have brand new '03 or 04' motors. That will bring the price down even more and you still get the warranty!

Pick the boat and hp you want, figure out your max as far as payment and/or overall price and make the dealer an offer. The worst they can do is say no. Also do it on the last day of the month. Salesmen have quotas and if they are short they may be more willing to deal. Just be prepared to purchase it that day.

[Down to Earth]

I was pricing 4 strokes exclusively as I really don't want to go with a 2. I did give a monthly payment price point I was comfortable with at this time to one of the dealers and they were unable to get there. No big deal. To be honest I didn't intend to go to the show to make a deal, but to get ideas to purchase next year. As I talked in depth with one of the dealers I liked a lot of things and thought checking into the price now would be at least worth it. Thanks for all the feedback.

Andy

[18 inch Crappie]

I bought a 17' Smokercraft last year and wanted the Johnson 90 4 stroke but they did not have any in stock so they upgraded me to the 115 for $400 The johnson 115 4 stroke is the best motor out there. You can not tell the thing is running, and it planes my boat out in 2 sec, the thing has balls...and did I tell you the gas mpg,I ran all last summer/fall on one tank. 45mph gps ,17'full windsheild boat. You will not go wrong spending a little mor for the 115. My 2 cents..

[Ole #1]

I have the 140 horse version of this motor and I wouldn't buy any other motor. You do want to max out the hp if you can afford it. If you like I could put you in touch with a great dealer who will help you with your purchase.

[SuddenlySummer]

Is the Johnson 115 still a Suzuki or are they doing their own now?

[marine_man]

What the salesman should have said is that they use the same block, and mostly the same components...

The 115 likely has a slighty less restrictive exhaust, and is probably "juiced" up a little bit more than the 90. The other obvious difference you pointed out, being the max RPM...

You will notice the difference between the two that's for sure...

Just as an FYI... this is actually a suzuki in a Johnson paint scheme (Suzuki has been making Evinrude / Johnson's outboards for a while now...)

Good luck with your decision... if you can swing it I'd go for the 115.. a good rule of thumb is to not put a motor on your boat that is less that 75% of the max hp on the rating plate.

For what it's worth I've heard nothing but good things about suzuki's 4 strokes... they seem to be extremely reliable and have good performance.

If you have any other questions let us know!

marine_man