I have a '94 176DC with a Mercury 115. I was recently out on the lake and when I restarted the motor it started knocking for a few seconds and then stopped and wouldn't start. After getting it back home, I pulled the plugs and found that the bottom cylinder had no compression. It is an old carbureted motor that was a pain to start and felt under powered. I could find a re manufactured power head and have it replaced but I don't really know how long before the lower unit might give problems and I would still be left with carbs that are a pain not to mention the oil tank is on the motor and is a poor design that leaks if you fill it and tilt the motor.
My son-in-law happens to work for Tohatsu and he can get me a new Tohatsu 140 4 stroke for around $9200. It's going to be about 100 pounds heavier but much more dependable and fuel efficient. My first question is, if I do this should I bother putting a jack plate on? I few years ago I found that my transom was rotted. I removed the old transom and poured a new one in. It feels solid as a rock and I have never been concerned about it's strength even when I had a talon hanging on it also but now things are running thru my mind wondering about how it will handle a 4 stroke back there. If a jack plate is recommended, anyone have a suggestion on which one to go with?
I figure after taxes, installation, new controls, some gauges and a prop I will be around 12k or less into it. I have found a nice 19' Champ and a 20' Skeeter in that same price range and really am leaning towards going with a bigger boat but my wife is opposed because they are older and you don't know about the engines where the Tohatsu will have a 5 year warranty so she wants to repower. I think that I would prefer rolling the dice and go larger.