15 hp 4 stroke questions

so with the price of gas im seriously considering, going to a smaller set up, currently running a 16 ft with a 1990 60 hp 2 stoke, which i can easily burn 5+ gallons of gas in a day of fishing, have even burned 10 gallons before...so wondering if anybody has a 15 hp 4 stroke on a 14 ft aluminum, what kinda gas mileage are you getting, and ball park what is your top speed? that will be my biggest issue going to a smaller motor is the slower speed. also how ofton do you change the oil and filter on them?

thanks

On my 1448 Lund I go through roughly 20 gal a season. Went about maybe a dozen times.

Top speed with just me empty is around 41km with my wife around 38. Really need a 20-25 if you fish with 3 people regularly.

My dad has a Yamaha 9.9 4stroke on a light 16' he burns about two litres in a full day of trolling. Dont know what the top speed is because were generally only wide open for a minute or two before lines go out.

My 15 gets about 21-22 mph on a light 14ft with alone on a good day. I change the oil and filter once a year. They are fantastic, but they troll too fast for walleye... but that's just me. They sip gas, just amazing. I also have a Yamaha 30 tiller Fourstroke. It's on a bigger Lowe.
The thing is so amazing on gas. Big fan of the fourstroke. But trolling is an issue for me. Get a good tiller electric. I have a 55 Endura Max (minnkota).

I just put my new (to me) 14' Sylvan D&W on the water last week. I found the 15hp Honda 4 stroke fantastic for trolling lake trout and walleye. We went through just about 2.5L for a day of trolling. My only concern is the Sylvan is rated for 35hp, and I was left wishing I had a bit more power heading out in the morning to our favorite bass location, or running around the lake with the family. Sort of made me wish I had a 25 or 30hp. For being relatively new to boat ownership, could anyone suggest a fair trade in value/price on a BF15 Honda in very good shape, tiller with electric start?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fishy steve

also how ofton do you change the oil and filter on them?
thanks

---

Unless you're fishing 5 days a week, once a year oil change with filter is sufficient. I doit in the fall to keep new oil in the engine over the winter. Done at the same time the lower unit is changed.

Since this is an older post I imagine that you've bought a motor already . --- If not , alllow me to suggest an alternative to the 4-stroke . --- An Evinrude E-TEC ! --- NO , I don't own one either but would buy one right away if my 15 HP Suzuki would have to be replaced . I've researched them thoroughly and found plenty favorable feed-back . They are the most advanced outboards available . Fuel-injected 2-strokes which are even cheaper to operate than 4-strokes . More torque , lighter , smoother running and less emissions than even a 4 . --- Compared to a 4-stroke they are relatively easy to maintain , don't need a break-in-period etc. --- BOMBARDIER is building them . Don't confuse them with older 2-strokes , not even with the Ficht-system . They seem to be absolutely bullet-proof . --- Research them ; you may like what you find out . --- My Suzy is A-1 but if I could sell it for a reasonable price I'd ''spring'' for the E-TEC right away !!!

yrs they r a sound motor have researched them... havent done nothing yet... still deciding what i want to do lol

Well I dumped the 9.9 two stroke on my 14 foot aluminium in favour of a 20 hp 4 stroke Tohatsu motor 2 years ago and what a world of difference. It purrs while trolling and can have a conversation with my buddy now as it is so quiet. No oil fumes in the face chocking me when downwind and when I want to cross the lake she will take the boat up on plane above 40 KPH. The 15 and 20 HP motors are essentially the same with the 20 having about 1,000 more rpm's in the top end. These motors sip gas and the 3 gallon tank will last all weekend. Tohatsu is the manufacturer for Nissan, Mercury, Suzuki....etc. so save yourself $1,000 over the other branded names and buy directly from a dealer who sells them.

http://www.onlineoutboards.ca/tohatsu.html?p=6