OB now, not KAD DPE

simonfraser

simonfraser

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So the lovely 1999 mobo with KAD44 is sold
MF 695 2019 with Honda OB now

the old mobo was an interesting challenge to run, I ran out of patience and enthusiasm
looking at the threads on this forum there is a significant proportion on VP trouble, perhaps not many have an OB on this forum ?

there was the worry of an EDC module breaking, a corroded wire busting and taking forever to find, what’s the next bit in the KAD / DPE to fail, alloy fuel tank, near impossible access to various parts, I could go on
 
In theory the outboard you have now is much simpler than the kad in your old boat, there is less to go wrong, so should be more reliable, the new engine has no turbo charger or supercharger, lower fuel pressures, no heat exchangers etc, also the drive to the prop has to go through less changes in direction, does not pivot,turn or tilt while the engine stays fixed,and is also out of the water when not in use.

So I reckon you're right, your new outboard should fare better at 20 years old compared to the kad at the same age.

but my experience is that regardless of the type of engine as they age ,things start to fail, it's just the nature of a mechanical thing. Given you new boat is only a couple of years old I reckon you've got a good 10 years of no major issues ahead.

You see a lot of issues with vp engines because theyre very popular in smallish leisure boats that use diesel engines in europe, more numbers sold =more issues reported.

I've also gone from VP diesel to petrol outboard, it wasn't so much the lack of reliability of the vp setup (because it was pretty reliable for me), but the parts prices were eye watering , felt like VP were taking the P.

If you frequent some of the American forums where boats with outboards are more prevalent you'd get the impression that outboards were also unreliable.
 
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simonfraser said:
So the lovely 1999 mobo with KAD44 is sold
MF 695 2019 with Honda OB now

the old mobo was an interesting challenge to run, I ran out of patience and enthusiasm
looking at the threads on this forum there is a significant diss proportion on VP trouble, perhaps not many have an OB on this forum ?

there was the worry of an EDC module breaking, a corroded wire busting and taking forever to find, what’s the next bit in the KAD / DPE to fail, alloy fuel tank, near impossible access to various parts, I could go on
Click to expand...
Fixed it for you .:)

It isn’t just a numbers game .
 
In the case of repowering you'd find the work to remove bolts and swap an outboard is sooooo much easier than engine(s) burried in the belly of the boat.

And as the outboard is a self contained unit, the gearbox/driveline/sterndrive puzzle doesn't exist at all, not even if changing make and model.
 
Swings and roundabouts ?
How many marinas keep petrol and how many will in the near future.
Filling your remote O/B tank at a local ASDA is one thing.
Feeding an AXOPAR with a 300hp engine is different kettle of fish.
Only a single source of petrol on the lower Medway, Gillingham Marina. next is either 20 miles away in the non tidal marina above Allington lock or 60 odd miles in the other direction at Ramsgate.
Not be long before a £2.00 a litre decal will be on a pump somewhere ?
As the price increases, demand will fall and possibly simply not economic to keep and supply petrol in any marina.
 
As always availability will dictate and true TCO be a man math objective :)

Looking at recent offerings still more large(ish) boats come with outboards, even in Europe (the US always had them).

Availability of diesel base engines and the cost/complexity in a market where car manufacturers go EV might be a driving factor in the boat industry.
 
Modern outboards are just incredible I think. Especially the merc I find myself with now, on the sensible boat. Pushes a 20ft cuddy along at 45 mph gps if needed and cruises at early 20’s doing 1.5-1.7 miles per litre of fuel. Just amazing.
mine doesn’t have a timing belt…but I think the Honda might. Suppose that’s the only thing you’ll need to keep an eye on.
but honestly, I’ve been dumbstruck at how good mine is. Having always been against 4 stroke outboard previously and a huge 2 stroke fan, all the more incredible for me to say this. The 115 merc 2.1l I have are known to put out more like 130+hp and is as light as the 2 stroke equivalent too. Just incredible really.
 
Hondas ( and other makes) can rack up 5000 hours in a commercial setting so I don't think longevity is an issue.

Fuel cost/ availability has to be measured against a diesel inboard and stern drive maintenance costs

As mentioned, outboards spend most of their lives out of the water so corrosion isn't an issue

For me a 23 ft/ 200 HP combo is the sweet spot. Twin 300s would be extremely difficult to fuel from cans and £££ if taken from waterside.

Mind you, splashing £150k on an Axopar or similar on a dry stack means one could afford a 10k fuel bill!!

Horses etc.
 
A couple of 50hp Suzuki 5 years old I know of, started to corrode in the head. Junk stuff.

I would vouch for Mercury as I had a 25hp which lasted for 25 years without problems, and I sold it more then I bought it for.
 
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Level of TLC probably? I heard of but never saw Suzi's that mixed water and oil, one of them severely neglected and kept in use for years after by constantly adding engine oil. Owner now trying to sell it :oops:

When getting a used motor there's always some risk due to history and maintenance.

My first OB was a 2-cyl Merc 35 hp that was 10-12 years old when I got in 1978. After a few years the reed valve failed and it had to be scrapped.
Next was a Merc 50 4-cyl that went on and on for years, flawlessly until sold.
Then an ancient Evinrude 18 hp Twin came by. Not good at all so sold on.

Several boats later I got a Suzuki 140 hp 4-stroke on a Salpa 20.5.
A completely different experience due to next gen technology and I loved it. Had it for 5 years and it never missed a beat. Sold it on 10 years ago, still with same owner and still running perfectly today.
 
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