Repower 265 Express

Saltyone

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2018
Messages
292
Reaction score
85
Points
28
Location
St Helens, OR
Model
Express 265
I was able to reuse my ram when I went from OX66 250's to the zuke 200's. I sold my OX66's to a guy in Alaska that was building a gold dredging barge. He thought I was selling them for cheap, said everything up there is more expensive. Though I did have to haul them up to Seattle to get put on a barge so they should be shipped to him in Nome, AK. but he also paid me extra for doing that. If you are going to list them on craigslist, I'd recommend putting them on an Alaska craigslist as well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Diad

Diad

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2022
Messages
180
Reaction score
52
Points
28
Model
Express 265
You should be able to reuse the helm and ram that you have. If you look at skunkboats posts of his re-power he was able to change some of the steering components to get the engines to fully tilt out of the water. If you are going with garmin AP, then get the smart pump. I put one in in 2020 and it has been the best AP I have owned, it will steer at any speed and sea condition I have been in. There should be a market for your old motors provided they are running. When I got re-power quotes included where trade in value of the motors. You can also list them for sale here, other boating sites and marketplace.

The other costs that will come up will vary from boat to boat and how crazy you want to get. Since your engines are off, what does the bang plate look like? does it need to be replaced? or do you plan on glassing over the top of the transom? Since the engines are off, what do the motorwell drains look like. If they are original, you may want to think about doing those as it will be much easier without the engines and rigging in the way. You are going to have your 20-year-old boat apart, and good access to a lot of systems, you are going to find other problems that will need to be addressed. It's just the nature of boat ownership. looks like you already did the fuel lines and the tanks so those are good.
Thanks for the thoughts! I spoke with a dealer today. He will reuse the helm and ram as you suggested so that means the AP that I have in the box will still work. I know it’s north smart pump but it’s brand new and already paid for. Personally, I don’t need the motors to tilt out because I’m lift kept without bottom paint. I would still like it to work though, so I’ll keep it in mind.
Funny you mentioned the splash well drains….they are going to be replaced because they are the source of water intrusion because they completely gone in spots! I had another thread on that. I have the parts in the garage (with the autopilot). Not sure on the bang plate so will have to check that out.
 

Diad

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2022
Messages
180
Reaction score
52
Points
28
Model
Express 265
I spoke to a dealer today. $44k plus tax for 250’s, props, smg’s, controls, and testing with various props. Seems very reasonable to me. Even offered to hang on to the old F225’s until I can sell them. He made a great suggestion on going out and videoing the motors running while still on the boat, take pictures and stuff. they Really are running great!

i have a friend who owns another marina. He has a pair of new Merc 250’s that need a home and will do me a phenomenal deal to give his guys some work over the winter. I should have a number from him soon. I doubt that he’ll be in the 40’s though. Who knows???
 

SkunkBoat

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2017
Messages
4,524
Reaction score
1,620
Points
113
Location
Manasquan Inlet NJ
Website
www.youtube.com
Model
Express 265
I sold my ox66s on facebook. The dealer boxed the controls/cables/gauges and put the yammies on the Zuke motor shipping frames and forklifted them onto the guy's trailer...no charge...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Diad

drbatts

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2008
Messages
895
Reaction score
192
Points
43
Location
CT
Model
Express 305
Just remember that if you are switching engine manufactures and/or controls that there will be a need to do some dash reconfiguration +/- fiberglass work for the installation and mounting of the new controls and gauges. Make sure that is included in the estimate unless of course you plan to do that work yourself.
 

Diad

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2022
Messages
180
Reaction score
52
Points
28
Model
Express 265
Good call Drbatts! I just had new wire marine do my new gauge panel so that will probably need to be done again. I did not consider that the controls and key start would be different sizes. I guess I need to do some measurements and compare specs.
 

Diad

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2022
Messages
180
Reaction score
52
Points
28
Model
Express 265
Hey Skunk, any chance that your new suzuki controls and key Pad matched the existing Yamaha footprint?
 

Diad

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2022
Messages
180
Reaction score
52
Points
28
Model
Express 265
Whelp. I took the big step and I am no longer dating my 265. WE are getting married! I put a deposit down today for Zuki 250’s. They will be here the end of next week. I’m weak! I started doing research and figured this is going to happen at some point so why wait.

going to be listing my 2005 Yami 225’s with 900 hours if anyone is interested.
 

Diad

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2022
Messages
180
Reaction score
52
Points
28
Model
Express 265
Motors are in. Took less than a week. Gotta figure out when he wants to do the install. I’ll post some pics along the way
 

Saltyone

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2018
Messages
292
Reaction score
85
Points
28
Location
St Helens, OR
Model
Express 265
Finally installed. I won’t have a chance to run her myself for a little while but she looks sexy!
Looks great. Couple questions, though its hard to tell from the pic. It looks like the bang cap where I circled is tweaked a little bit? Also is that a crack on the SB side, also where I circled?

Also I didnt circle it, but looks like a crack around the trim tab pocked on the SB side as well, on the upper left, or again, is it just the picture?
 

Attachments

  • IMG_5868.jpeg
    IMG_5868.jpeg
    1.2 MB · Views: 32
  • Like
Reactions: vocz

Diad

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2022
Messages
180
Reaction score
52
Points
28
Model
Express 265
Looks great. Couple questions, though its hard to tell from the pic. It looks like the bang cap where I circled is tweaked a little bit? Also is that a crack on the SB side, also where I circled?

Also I didnt circle it, but looks like a crack around the trim tab pocked on the SB side as well, on the upper left, or again, is it just the picture?
Whelp. Looks like I gotta take a ride to the boat tomorrow. The two spider cracks have been there. The surveyor verified no issues with those….yet. No moisture in the transom.
the bang cap does look different in that picture. the bang cap was not deformed. I’ll investigate and update the thread. Great catch!
 

Fixit

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2022
Messages
94
Reaction score
30
Points
18
Age
43
Model
Islander
really should have addressed that bang cap when the motors were off., and the cracks are telltale of rot or delamination... but id love to hear your performance numbers. mpg wot etc
 

Diad

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2022
Messages
180
Reaction score
52
Points
28
Model
Express 265
Crisis averted. That bang plate must be a reflection or something. There is no issue with the plate. will post performance numbers when I can.
 

Diad

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2022
Messages
180
Reaction score
52
Points
28
Model
Express 265
According to Skunks education, I need to put the steering ram on top versus dealer installed below. I didn’t try to raise the motors all the way up. I keep on a lift but I still want it right. I plan to replace all the hydraulic lines to install the Garmin AP in March. I’ll handle all of the steering stuff then.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_5876.jpeg
    IMG_5876.jpeg
    1.5 MB · Views: 17

SkunkBoat

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2017
Messages
4,524
Reaction score
1,620
Points
113
Location
Manasquan Inlet NJ
Website
www.youtube.com
Model
Express 265
According to Skunks education, I need to put the steering ram on top versus dealer installed below. I didn’t try to raise the motors all the way up. I keep on a lift but I still want it right. I plan to replace all the hydraulic lines to install the Garmin AP in March. I’ll handle all of the steering stuff then.
You have the other seastar cylinder HC5358 that sits under. You can’t move that one over the top
 
Last edited:

Diad

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2022
Messages
180
Reaction score
52
Points
28
Model
Express 265
You have the other seastar cylinder HC5358 that sits under. You can’t move that one over the top
So you think i need HC5345 then? Hate to buy another part but everything else is new so it's probably smart. Who knows how long before the seals go, i guess. Just trying to justify :)
 

SkunkBoat

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2017
Messages
4,524
Reaction score
1,620
Points
113
Location
Manasquan Inlet NJ
Website
www.youtube.com
Model
Express 265
So you think i need HC5345 then? Hate to buy another part but everything else is new so it's probably smart. Who knows how long before the seals go, i guess. Just trying to justify :)
no, it'll probably sit right where you want it. See how it works. Remember, there is an adjustment to stop the tilt before it hits something. My problem was that the cylinder hit the top of the transom before the LU got out of the water

HC5345 is designed to flip over the top and the tiller pokes thru the middle. the HC5358 flips under the tiller.
My problem was that they installed my HC5345 on the bottom(because my original tie bar had to mount on top)

I think it is possible to convert them by removing bolts and flipping the pivot plate over and re-bolting it. The parts are the same, just flipped.