Tournament 223 Repower

[Grady223]

Hi all! Happy to have found this forum.
I am contemplating repowering my 2001 Tournament, it currently has a 2001 Yamaha SX250Z. I live on an island on Lake Winnipesaukee, NH and the Tournament is used for our primary means of transportation, our island SUV. We also us it for crusing, water skiing, tubing and fishing.
I am trying to decide between the new big bore Yamaha F250 and the G2 Evinrude 250 HP ETEC. Wanted to know if anyone has powered their boat with one of them and if there are any recommendations between the 2. Advantages / disadvantages?
Thanks!

 

[suzukidave]

sorry, no suggestions, but as a 223 owner i am interested on how it currently performs with the 250sx and what prop you use.

 

[Grady223]

Performs well, plenty of power. Not sure which prop I have, it is the same one since I purchased it. I do have issues with the rpms remaining consistent in the 2800 t0 m3400 range, they will drop or increase without provocation.

 

[Parthery]

The fluctuating RPM issue may be related to the VST, or low pressure fuel pumps.

A big bore F250 is a lot of weight on a 223....GW rigged the 223 with an F225 in it's last year of production (2002) but not sure if they moved the tanks forward to accommodate the extra weight.

Have you considered the new 4 cylinder F200?

 

[Grady223]

Thanks, I am concerned that a f200 would not provide enough power. The sx250 is adequate now. I only have a 90 gallon tank not sure if that helps with the weight issue. I have a friend with a F200 on a 2004 20' tournament, and the power is just enough. I would question how it would cope on a 22'. One of the reasons I am considering the G2 E-TECH is the torque to weight advantage. Wonder how the F200 weight compares to the weight of my SX250?

 

[Parthery]

I've owned 223s and 225s of the same vintage with both 200 (SWS Carb) and 225 OX66. The 225 provided a bit more low end torque but top end was within a mile of each other (around 42.5)

One thought to consider is to look at the performance specs for that boat rigged with an F225. The F225, while miserly on fuel, only put out around 210 or so at the prop. A new F200 4 cyl puts out 210 at the prop as well, and weighs 150 lbs less. The performance numbers should, at worst, be similar.

 

[suzukidave]

your existing yamaha 250 is a big block that weighs about 530lbs. if it trims ok for you then i am sure you can handle a 560lb g2.

not sure if you need it though. you don't sound like a speed demon chasing every mph. grady rated the 223 for up to 225hp max until 1999 and many like mine came with a 200. the chances are you are running on the original 17" pitch yamaha stainless prop and the engine is mounted as low as it can go in the four adjustment holes on the bracket. if so, a 225hp with a newer prop and with the engine raised a bolt hole or two would be very close in performance. if i was to repower my '94 tomorrow new it would be with the regular etec 225 which is 420 lbs. i'd get a better price, a weight better suited to the transom.

also not sure what changed in 1999 to get the 250hp rating. the hull design and interior layout did not. i think either they moved the 90 gallon tank forward or they decided the trim impact from weight was personal preference.

 

[onoahimahi]

Performs well, plenty of power. Not sure which prop I have, it is the same one since I purchased it. I do have issues with the rpms remaining consistent in the 2800 t0 m3400 range, they will drop or increase without provocation.

Your RPM variation in the 2800-3400 range isn't just the boat falling off or jumping on plane, is it? If so that might be normal (sort of). My Sailfish was falling off plane at low speeds when I first got and I "fixed it" by changing to a different style prop. I changed from a smaller diameter 19" inch (Viper-model) prop to a larger diameter 17" (Rebel-model) prop. The larger diameter prop operates with less slip and I achieved much better low speed planing performance with it.