outboard motor decision

[tony L]

Hello to all looking for opinions on Yamaha 175 vs 175 Vmax. it will be going on a south bay 521 tri toon

[Bamaman]

If you're rated for 200 hp or more, I'd go for the F200 Yamaha. It's working out especially well for those with tritoons. And 4 strokes work better as they're better suited for our boats.

[slingshot]

Go with the VMAX. It makes more HP.

VMAX 175 = 183.58 hp @ 6000

F175LA = 174.2 hp @ 6000

Both are the same four stroke engine. The VMAX has a more aggressive tune on it. It also holds more oil for that reason.

PS. The F200 puts out 198 hp

[Strake]

I've got the F200 on our Tritoon....... VERY Happy with my choice. When I was comparing engine choices, I used Yamaha's performance spec sheets to see the different engines on similar boats. It looked like the F200 was the best performing in terms of speed, fuel economy, and cruising speed for the RPM than several other Yamaha engines I compared to (F150, 175, F250).

In the real world, on OUR boat, I am consistently getting tank, after tank of fuel, 2.2 to 2.75 gallons per hour (total run time) and just over 4 MPG. This includes idle time at start up, cruising speed ( usually at 3000 rpm) = 18 mph and some wide open runs each time out for a min to two. Also included some 4500 + rpm runs to out run a thunder storm occasionally. I can always get 40 miles per hour top speed (GPS) with 2 to 4 people, fuel, etc. I have done as well as 42 mph top end (GPS) with just me, and light on fuel. Our boat holds a max of 52 gallons of fuel.

This Yamaha is SOOOOOOO quiet, that one time I was raising it in the covered boat lift, and realized the engine was still on...... thank God the outdrive pickup was still barely in the water.

[rancherlee]

Does Yamaha still have the "Off shore/saltwater" V6 200? that would get my vote over the inline 175/175sho/200 i4 if the pontoon supports 200hp. If not, that 175sho wins by looks alone!