I have been sniffing around the net to compare how good these new Suzuki’s really are. Actual tests not testimonials from owners. I found a pretty close comparison between the new Suzuki 140’s and the Evinrude 2 stroke FICHT 150’s on the same boat, a twin vee Xtrememe 26’. Since I own a boat with the twin 150’s and in the troughs of trading up or perhaps re-powering with Suzuki’s I was interested in these tests.
Looking closely at the reports, there are a couple of differences that will make a some differences. The test conditions for the Evinrude included full fuel load 126 gal and total payload weight of 550#. The Suzuki test had half fuel and 450# of payload. That means the Evinrude boat was carrying around 100+358 (gas difference) or 458# more total weight. Other then that it was pretty close apples to apples.
http://twinveeboats.com/DockSide_26CC.html
http://www.suzukimarine.com/boatbuil...twindf140s.php
The Suzuki does get better fuel economy @ cruise (3.8 vs. 2.3 mpg) but it is a lot slower at cruise speed (21.3 vs. 30.3) and it is carrying 458# less weight. Add 458 lbs to the Suzuki and I bet the speed drops to 20.3.
Speed for speed, if you push the Suzuki up to the evinrudes cruise speed of 30.3 knots the mpg drop to a still respectable 2.9…still beating the 2.3 of the ‘rudes.
So, for a 0.6 mpg difference (2.9-2.3) at 30mph cruise, or in gph terms 13.42 for the rudes and 10.9 for the ‘zukis means 2.52 gph savings at 30mph cruise. To make it a fair comparison I think you have to shave a little off of the number due to the added payload weight the ‘rudes are carrying…say .25gph so the net savings would be about 2.25 gph @ 30 mph cruise.
This means a savings of 2.25gph * $2.20/gal or $4.95/hr…say 5.00$/hr.. The purchase price of this engines (2) are about 10K each so $20,000./$5.hr =4000 hours to pay for themselves in the “fuel savings”. (never gonna happen but you may get 1000 hours and pay for ¼ of the engines with fuel savings) BUT, the zukis have a higher up front cost which will dilute these fuel savings a bit.
Top end only differs by 7.4 mph…in favor of evinrudes. (expected given the hp differences)
The dB is only shown for the Suzuki ranging from 62-88. I don’t have the numbers for the Evinrude but almost all the outboards I have seen tested range in the mid 60’s – low 90’s so they appear are somewhat quieter.
Personally, a 20mph cruise is way to slow for me…I prefer 35 but could live with but could live with 31 if the economy was really improved. Based on these tests I would need to run these engines at around 4500rpm. I don’t know if those engines like to run that hard at cruise.
The nice thing about the 140’s is that they are the same weight as the rude 150’s. That is an achievement. Now if they only filled the 140-200 hp gap with a few more models and kept the weight the same (ie Evinrude makes a 175 at 410 lbs.)
It’s a tough call…for me the extended warranty is a big thing and puts it over the edge. I would like more HP and be able to run the engines at 3200rpm cruise and still move along at 30+ mph.
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