Avon Searider 4.0 Repower

[TugCaptain]

Hi everyone...I just found this site & it looks great!!

I have had a 1986 Avon Searider 4.0 for a few years with an origional 40 horse Johnson. I love this boat...use it as a tender for my workboats, take it on all sorts of island camping adventures, use it to make in-water service calls on customer boats, etc

The time has come for a repower and I'm looking for suggestions...speciflcally people with experience running four stroke motors on this boat. A yamaha 2 stroke 50 (no longer produced) weighs 189 pounds while a Yamaha F50 weighs 237 pounds and an etec 50 is about 240. My transom is still pretty good, so let's take that out of the equation for now

What are your thoughts about adding 40-50lbs for a 4stroke? I am still leaning toward finding a used two stroke yamaha 50, but I have a couple F50's on a work barge and they have proven absolutely bulletproof after three thousand hours.

Thanks for reading!!

[chewy]

Originally Posted by TugCaptain

What are your thoughts about adding 40-50lbs for a 4stroke?
Thanks for reading!!

Welcome to the forum.
Regards the above, what are your thoughts on sinking?

[Downhilldai]

I recall reading an article by Hugo Montswannery-whatsisname or his magazine anyway, a couple of years ago, where they tested an SR4 with a Yam F50 and found it stern-heavy. May be worth digging that out for a read.

I've driven Mollers's SR4 with a Honda BF50 (which is a touch lighter than the Yam) and that was fine, with no dnager of any swamping over the stern, although the flooding hull had sensibly been sealed off.

[TugCaptain]

Originally Posted by chewy

Welcome to the forum.
Regards the above, what are your thoughts on sinking?

What are your thoughts on wasting my time with a useless answer? The transom weight rating is 110KG. I am quickly reminded why I never bother with these forums.

[TugCaptain]

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

I recall reading an article by Hugo Montswannery-whatsisname or his magazine anyway, a couple of years ago, where they tested an SR4 with a Yam F50 and found it stern-heavy. May be worth digging that out for a read.

I've driven Mollers's SR4 with a Honda BF50 (which is a touch lighter than the Yam) and that was fine, with no dnager of any swamping over the stern, although the flooding hull had sensibly been sealed off.

Thank you...I'll search for that arcticle. You are certainly right...the BF50 Honda is just a little over 200lbs so that might be worth a look, however I much prefer a Yamaha outboard over a Honda. Thanks for the input. I know these boats were never designed with the weight of a 4 stroke motor in mind.

[Nathan k]

Originally Posted by TugCaptain

What are your thoughts on wasting my time with a useless answer? The transom weight rating is 110KG. I am quickly reminded why I never bother with these forums.

not literally sinking

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by TugCaptain

Thank you...I'll search for that arcticle.

The name of the magazine is 'RIB International'. Twas around 3 years ago.

As always, have a large pinch of salt at hand when reading such 'reviews'

[treerat]

Originally Posted by TugCaptain

What are your thoughts on wasting my time with a useless answer?
I am quickly reminded why I never bother with these forums.

Yet another new forum member who doesn't quite understand humour

Tugcaptain - if you have a read around the forums you'll find a wealth of knowledge and support - but being British humour will keep cropping up, along with irony and sarcasium. I understand the answer given as watch the total weight as the heavier you get at the back the more issues will be found with trim, balance, rear water entry (oe err) and so on. Not a literal sinking!!

It's just the way it is and not directed at any one personnaly - not often anyhow

Welcome and once you get the hang of such answers you'll be fine.

[HUMBER P4VWL]

V true. Chewy is one of the most helpful on here, with over 4k posts.

He'll have meant well I'm sure. His opening gambit was welcome!

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by treerat

Yet another new forum member who doesn't quite understand humour

Tugcaptain - if you have a read around the forums you'll find a wealth of knowledge and support - but being British humour will keep cropping up, along with irony and sarcasium. I understand the answer given as watch the total weight as the heavier you get at the back the more issues will be found with trim, balance, rear water entry (oe err) and so on. Not a literal sinking!!

It's just the way it is and not directed at any one personnaly - not often anyhow

Welcome and once you get the hang of such answers you'll be fine.

Yep.

I've been on one with an early 4 stroke Yam 50 on and it was tail heavy. Wasn't a fan.