An incredibly versatile power option for fishing boats of all kinds, small runabouts, small pontoons and almost any boat under 19вЂ™ really. Polaris, Ski-Doo, Yamaha, and vintage snowmobiles, Camoplast tracks, snowmobile skis from.Because of the popularity of our comparison articles, I thought it would be fun to do one for the best 115 HP outboards. A Kohler Snowmobile Engine Magneto/Flywheel Fan. The engine it employed was the 998cc liquid-cooled 4-stroke, DOHC, in-line 4-cylinder, 5-valve mill developed specifically for that project. The RX-1 launched in 2002 as Yamaha's first 4-stroke snowmobile was in fact, an offspring of Yamaha's fourth development project undertaken in 1999.

Both engines come in 20вЂќ or 25вЂќ mid sections. Where Mercury leads is in options, you can get an optional вЂњCommand ThrustвЂќ gearcase with the Merc a larger diameter case with lower gears for pushing bigger boats. Far more than simply a design landmark with its aggressive styling, fluid lines and awesome ergonomics, the SXViper is an incredible trail machine with its potent triple-cylinder single-pipe engine, light-but-rigid chassis and superb handling.The last item that really impresses me is that not only has Yamaha pumped 18 additional horsepower into the new Viper engine, it used 1/2 the oil and gets 15.When it comes to comparing the Yamaha and the Merc it is no surprise that they are so close in almost every detail. For our purposes I want to look at the Mercury 115 Pro XS and the Yamaha 115 Vmax SHO version, the semi performance versions of these diminutive 4 cylinder four strokes.2002 SX Viper Proof of the SXViper's appeal, it was the industry's largest-selling model in 2002.

Vs 377 Lbs for the Vmax SHO. Both are light, with the Pro XS being slightly lighter, 360 Lbs. The Mercury command thrust has 2.33:1 gears which are housed in the larger 4.9вЂќ case from the 150 HP.LetвЂ™s take a look at some tests knowing that this is about as close as it gets in an incredibly competitive engine class. I would give the advantage to Mercury here, potentially more torque with taller gears is going to equate to more speed when everything else is equal. Standard gearcases are similar, with the 115 ProXS offering the taller 2.07:1 ratio over the YamahaвЂ™s 2.15:1. Of course, both probably make very similar HP, definitely more than 115 HP technically, and both are allowed to rev 300 more RPM than the regular versions.

At 18вЂ™1вЂќ and a 6вЂ™7вЂќ beam, the boat was tested at 1,100 lbs. Yamaha 115 Vmax SHO, HellвЂ™s Bay MarquesaThe HellвЂ™s Bay Marquesa is a really cool technical skiff / flats boat. Fishing boats tend to be a heavier and going fast isnвЂ™t the focus. These boats will be slow compared to performance boats like an old Hydrostream, Action, any Allison or any other light V pad performance hulls. We will look at a Nitro bass boat vs a HellвЂ™s Bay flats boat and a Crestliner aluminum bass boat vs an Xpress aluminum bass boat. Unfortunately, it was difficult to find proper bass boat tests with the Yamaha.

If you were going for a top speed, removing the trolling motor, power pole and some gear you could see a little better. Test weight includes Power Pole, 2 Lithium Ion batteries, 2 people, 5 gallons of fuel, safety and test gear. Amazingly, the HellвЂ™s Bay only drafts 7вЂќ of water.With a 115 SHO, from the Yamaha bulletins, the little HellвЂ™s Bay runs 51.2 MPH at 6,000 RPM, turning a 20вЂќ 13-в…›вЂќ Talon SS prop. The focus is shallow water capability and being able to get to fishing areas other boats canвЂ™t. However, they are fishing machines and very well built.

The Nitro is very heavy for its size and like the Marquesa is loaded with extra stuff, trolling motor, extra battery etc.The Nitro has a faster hull design, the HellвЂ™s Bay uses more advanced construction to be lighter but doesnвЂ™t get the same lift, so viola, you get similar performance, illustrating the importance of the hull design. As you can see, completely different boats, similar engines with slightly different gearing and they achieve almost the exact same speed. At 3,500 RPM it ran 26 MPH getting 7.5 MPG. Although heavier and tested at 2,317 lbs, the Nitro has a more sophisticated hull, 16 degree deadrise and gets more lift from itвЂ™s design, with a pad bottom.With the standard 2.07 gearcase, the 115 ProXS turning a small diameter, 12.7вЂќ, Spitfire 19вЂќ at 6,000 RPM, the Z17 went 51.3. For cruising, the Yamaha ran best at 3,500 RPM at 30 MPH, getting 8.87 MPG, which is great.How does the Nitro compare to the HellвЂ™s Bay from purely a design perspective? ItвЂ™s very different, here are the details a 17' 4'' length, beam of 8' 4'' and a dry weight of 1,450 lbs. ThatвЂ™s not bad though for this boat.I couldnвЂ™t find actual tests but anecdotally owners of MarquesaвЂ™s the with the Mercury 115 ProXS report 52 MPH, which is where you could get this Yamaha to run with a few adjustments, showing how close these two match up.

With a Mercury 115 ProXS and standard case itвЂ™s running 50.3 MPH at 6,150 RPM. A Crestliner TC 18, measures 18вЂ™3вЂќ and has a 1,220 Lbs dry weight. You could get them to run really well.A closer comparison might be these two aluminum bass boats. Now imagine these engines on a small and light Hydrostream or little Checkmate Predictor. Both should strive for running closer to the 6,300 range. Either way, the engines swapped out would probably achieve about the same overall performance.

Spinning a Talon SS, 20вЂќ pitch, the Xpress hits 50 MPH at 6,300 RPM. This is about as head to head as it gets for two different hulls. The Spitfire 19вЂќ was also used on this boat.For a good comparison, the Xpress H18 measures in at 17' 10', a 7' 9' beam and a dry weight of 1,215 lbs. These numbers are pretty good for a basic aluminum boat that isnвЂ™t light and doesnвЂ™t have much of a hull design. This is from the Mercury Bulletin.

With some tinkering and some weight reduction, there is probably 1 or 2 MPH in each boat.One takeaway is the heaviest boat is tied for the fastest with the lightest boat. Also, these are different drivers, conditions and tests all together so there is no telling how they were driven and other factors. Cruise was also 27 MPH at 3,500 RPM and just under 7 MPG.

You can find lightly used ones for good deals too.I really like both of these outboards, you canвЂ™t go wrong with either one. If you donвЂ™t need to go really fast, then these can be great options, never mind the incredible fuel mileage they would get. ThatвЂ™s why I really like them, great affordable repower engines for small boats and these engines are light. These four stokes, because of the torque and RPM range will most likely outperform many older 115 HPs. Any of the small Hydrostreams would rip with one of these setup right. If you strapped one of these engines on an Allison Grand Sport or XB it would run 75+ MPH.

Yamaha Viper Horsepower