Suzuki DF60AV or DF90A ?

[rsvpasap]

Suzuki df60av

[kadet]

If you don't need or want to go fast then any of the 60 high thrust would be the better option. I just went through that conundrum lucky I had an EMM log from a few months before my old motor died. Over the last 9 years I had spent 90% of my time under 2000rmp and less than 1% at WOT

Personally I went for a Yamaha T60 High Thrust but I was equally considering the Suzuki 60 Volume and a Mercury 60 Command Trust it came down to dealer location and discount

I had always dreamed of a 90 but to be honest my old E-tec 60 swinging a 14x11 pontoon prop did everything I wanted of it. Except on those very rare occasions when the water was like a mirror and the fish were on and I wanted to get there 10mins quicker Once in 9 years from memory

[dlandersson]

It's your call. Like the previous poster, I use WOT about 1% of the time.

The 50 HP Merc can be pull started if necessary - I've looked into it - I have all the parts - hope I never need to use it. Does the 60 HP Suzuki have the same capability? Just a thought. You hope you'll never need it - but if you do, you'll be really glad.

My 26x and I recently relocated to the PNW-Seattle, with a slip on Puget Sound. Previously, I've sailed mostly in lakes, including Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. My boat is heavy when I pull away from the dock and that's probably never going to change. The original Honda 50 must be replaced. I was intending to re-power with a Suzuki DF90A, but repeatedly have been told I should consider a Suzuki DF60AV with a 14-inch prop. (They say: 90 lbs lighter, noticeably quieter, equal or better boat control at slow and medium speeds, more fuel efficient so greater range amplified by the fact that I have two 18 gallon tanks.) Essentially, the argument is that the main advantages of the 90 HP are (1) a few additional few knots on windless days and (2) a larger alternator, 27A v. 19A. I'm never going to pull a skier, I don't care about winning power-boat races, I would have a dealer install either and I'm not worried about the price or resale value. Also I plan to boat year-round and tend to spend at least 15-20 hours per week on the water.

What I'm looking for is maximum boat control even in challenging conditions (current and weather), cruising range and the ability to get to shore promptly when the weather get to be too much for this type of boat.

I've read the archives for hours, which I would summarize as:

- Macgregor and their dealers would have all said you must get the "high thrust" 60 with the big prop. It's all you'll ever really need and you won't crack your hull plowing through waves where you have no business being.

- But many owners have put on 90s (or larger) and, ignoring service issues with their particular brand, no one seems to regret it.

So, should I get the Suzuki DF60AV or the DF90A?

[kurz]

handstarting is a real cool thing. Like it with my merc60.
Cand you handstart the yamaha 70hp?
or whats the biggest handstart AB?

[Seapup]

What I'm looking for is maximum boat control even in challenging conditions (current and weather), cruising range and the ability to get to shore promptly when the weather get to be too much for this type of boat.

I had the honda bf50, suzuki df90, and suzuiki df20A on my

It sounds like either motor would treat you right.

My experience would tell me that you won't notice a control difference between the two since they will both be turning the same diameter prop. The slightly higher pitch on the 90 should yield slightly less slip and more weight low at the stern gives slightly more stability/control when motoring, less while sailing. Both should yield almost identical fuel burn at macgregor speeds. It would be different on a runabout boat where most time is spent at higher rpms. On a heavy boat as you describe yours I would bet on 1-2mph topspeed gain with the 60 and 5-7 mph with the 90 over what your honda bf50 does.

handstarting is a real cool thing. Like it with my merc60.
?

Are you joking or serious? That seems akin to driving a manual transmission car because it can be push started.

[K9Kampers]

handstarting is a real cool thing. Like it with my merc60.
?

Are you joking or serious? That seems akin to driving a manual transmission car because it can be push started.

Handstarting is cool because when the battery fails, there is still an efficient option.

[Tomfoolery]

Which reminds me - I should put together a rope with handle and familiarize myself with pull-starting, on the off-chance I need it.

[yukonbob]

Last year on our Northern roundup Reastmure and myself directly compared my Suz 70 to his suz 50? (I believe?) and the fuel savings with the smaller engine was pretty amazing even running higher rpm to keep up with me. The only time speed was an issue was pushing up an 8 kt outgoing tide but even then he was only slightly delayed. I would strongly consider the smaller engines. Plenty of power still, better fuel economy and more room in the transom. If you're looking to explore you'll only be doing 6-8 knots cruising anyways.

[dlandersson]

Yup, kinda like when you buy a car - make sure you know what's need to change a tire and where they're at - the time to be thinking about it for the first time is not when you need it.

Which reminds me - I should put together a rope with handle and familiarize myself with pull-starting, on the off-chance I need it.

[Tomfoolery]

Yup, kinda like when you buy a car - make sure you know what's need to change a tire and where they're at - the time to be thinking about it for the first time is not when you need it.

Which reminds me - I should put together a rope with handle and familiarize myself with pull-starting, on the off-chance I need it.

Yeah, I always keep a collection of small lines for things like a messenger to change head sails, and enough tools to use as a handle (even a winch handle would work), but you're right that the time to figure out how to do it, including removing some of the flywheel cowling, is not when it's getting dark and the passengers are getting hinky. I don't even know if my shoulders are up to it at this point, though adrenaline can make me work like Superman in a real pinch.

[mallardjusted]

Welcome to the PNW. You might also consider the Yamaha 70. I repowered my X from a Suzie 50 to the Yammie 70 .... huge improvement! Swings a bigger prop, plenty of power and economy, and it weighs close to the Suzei 60 and is over 80 lbs lighter than the Suzie 90. Has the physical size of a 50.

[OverEasy]

Hi Rsvpasap!

Wondering if you could help with a question we have about re-engining our Mac26X.
Our current 20 yr old Tohatsu 50 is showing its age. Not from any abuse, it’s just getting tired ( like the difference between me in my teens to me now several decades later ).

We aren’t terribly interested in speed as even our old engine 50 hp at 2800 rpm moves us along at what we consider a reasonable pace of approximately 5 to 6 mph with a light load and 3 adults (along with a 60 lb Standard Poodle and a side kick 15 lb Miniature Poodle).

We are considering the Suzuki DF50AV, DF60AV, DF50A, DF60a (and possibly the DF70a) series of engines.

Our intention is to start incrementally (extensively) traveling on the Atlantic Intra-Coastal Waterway north and south in 2022. Our interests are primarily in reliability, durability, serviceability and fuel economy. (Given the weight, cost and engine envelope we are a bit shy of the larger displacements) We recognize that we will be spending the majority of our time at hull speed and given the structure of the ICW that we will be motoring much of the canals and rivers within it.

We understand that you were considering the DF60AV for similar interests.
If possible, We would like to know :
> What you finally decided to do?
> What has your experience been with your decision?
> Has your selection met or exceeded your expectations?
> With your experience would you do the same selection again or increase power?
> Are you happy so far with the performance, durability, reliability, serviceability and fuel consumption?

We appreciate that this is a lot to be asked by complete strangers but we value an individual’s personal perspectives. Especially given the thoughtfulness of your comments on this forum.

Thank you for your time and considerations.
Best Regards,
Over Easy

[OverEasy]

Thank you for getting back to us via personal message!
We appreciate your sharing your experiences and recommendations with the SUZUKI DF60AV.
This has helped us in our own decision making.

Thank you Rsvpasap!

Best Regards,
Over Easy

[Starscream]

If I was going to repower for the kind of use you are planning, I'd want to make sure the motor could get the laden boat up on a plane with full ballast. A 50 won't do that, and I'm not convinced that a 60 would for every boat, either. Maybe for some/most boats, but not all, and a boat equipped for long range travelling is probably heavier than most.

For the 26X there's a zone of instability between 8 and 12 knots,where the boat is climbing it's own bow wave, and it's not easy to drive in that range. Once over 12kn the boat leans into turns like a powerboat. But it takes significant power to get there with the ballast in.

70Hp seems like the smallest motor that could definitely plane an X, no matter what, but at that point the 90 is probably only a couple boat-bucks more expensive. The size and weight penalty for a 90 over a 70 aren't huge, usually.

If you're gonna do it, my logic says max out the size, but if the fun of a 90 holds zero interest for you then my vote is a 70.

(Imagine if you invest in a new 60hp and then can't plane with the ballast in!)

[rsvpasap]

I have a 2002 26x. My boat is used almost exclusively for extended coastal cruising in the PNW and is heavy ... 600 ah (330 lbs) lead acid batteries, 50 gallons of water, 35 gallons of gasoline, 10 gallons of diesel for the heater, multiple anchors including a 35 lb anchor with chain and rode, etc, plus I tend to carry a 12 ft kayak on deck and tow a West Marine inflatable dinghy.

I purchased the Suzuki DF60AV about 3 years ago and have used it for about 800 hrs. It has run impeccably. It's strongest points are ...

1. Compared to other outboards, it's incredibly quiet. You can have a conversation at normal volume sitting 3 feet away from it running at 2500 RPMs.

2. I have a 14x11 prop. Low speed handling is excellent. I have no trouble with single-handing the vast majority of docking situations. Unlike what some owners say about Macgregors, I can readily do a tight 180 turn and back into a side tie.

3. Ninety five percent or more of my motoring is done at 2500 -2700 rpm, which moves me along at hull speed, 6-6.5 knots (assuming no current), averaging about 8.5 nautical miles per gallon.

4. The 19 amp alternator is a rather high charge rate for this size outboard. I do sometimes run the outboard on high idle at anchor for 10 minutes first thing in the morning to get the amps up high enough to reliably start the Wallas heater.

5. I sail year-round, typically between 20-75 degrees. I think the Suzuki likes cold weather.

6. Based on experience, I have confidence in the Suzuki's ability to get me out of situations where the weather and waves take a sudden turn for the worse. My top speed is about 14 knots fully loaded with ballast in, about 17.5 knots lightly loaded with ballast empty.

I gave serious consideration to purchasing a 90 hp outboard, but let the folks at Blue Water Yachts talk me out of it. In retrospect, they were completely correct. The DF60AV gets excellent gas mileage at hull speed, is super quiet and is more than enough power for dealing with the substantial tidal currents in the PNW.

I currently have a Mercury 4.5 hp two-stroke kicker. I intend to replace it with a Suzuki 2.5 hp four stroke.

Best of luck and I hope you enjoy your cruising.