Posted earlier...what happened?

[Beach]

OK...painted myself into a corner here and I need some help...

Boat is a 1976 SeaCraft SC20...got her for my son knowing we would have to do some work to her...got her home, no reverse on the motor(original 200 Johnson) ran great but no reverse...$2000+ for a new lower unit...35 year old motor...NOPE...so the wife and I spring for a 2008 Suzuki DF 175, got a great deal from Eds Marine Superstore $9500...transom was a 20" so he advises us to get the 20" motor...made sense...got it home...de-rigged the JOHNSON...BAD TRANSOM...consult Classic SeaCraft and Classic Mako and got some good advice to completely close in the transom and go with a 25" motor...except I've got a 3 day old 20" in the box...call Eds Marine, explain the problem ask about swapping the 20" for a 25" (they were the same price on the website $9500), got a some mumbling and double speak, said he'd call back...called me back an hour later said they'd swap out the 20" for a 25" for an ADDITIONAL $1000.00...I blew up...asked to speak to owner...they refused...said the reason for the difference now was that my motor (still in the crate, still in the back of my truck) was "USED"...then another phone call later renigged and said they have to sell me a 2009 now because they suddenly didnt have anymore 2008's... funny 3 days before they had 5 of them...OK...screwem...have a buddy call the next day(4 days after I bought my motor) from his cell phone (Texas number, we live in Va) asked for a price for a 2008 DF 175 25" they had on thier website...not only did he tell him he had 5 2008's left but now becasue the 2009's were out the price had been dropped to $9000.00...I call back a couple more times...they had placed my motor in service, lied to Suzuki and said they had installed the motor and placed the warranty into effect...they refused to assist me in getting a 25" motor...

So we end up closing in the transom, installing a D&D Marine Bracket (great bracket BTW)...Now the painted into a corner part...with the motor mounted normally on the lowest adjustment holes it sits in the water fine...water lines are great...not to much weight too far back(was concerned but it turned out to be a non issue) however...when finally rigged and seatrialing getting on plane the ass end drops too low in the water for comfort and we couldnt safely get the boat on plane without risking getting water to close to the air intakes, water was literally 1/3 of the way up the cowling to the Suzuki Logo...couldnt get it past 3000rpms this way...

Talk to my Suzuki Dealer Whalens Marine in Chesapeake, who BTW is awesome and bending over backwards even though I didnt buy the motor from him (said he had all sorts of Eds Marine Super Store Horror Stories) anyway he suggested that since when moving the motor 30 inches to the rear we could get way with moving it upwards more than normal we go ahead and move the motor up to the highest motor adjustment holes which we did. Now on the last seatrial the motor does sit higher and I can get on plane by applying good positive throttle however the stern does still dig in considerably util it breaks and gets on plane...however...when coming offplane the stern digs far to deeply for comfort and safety for my taste...I've got to rememeber my 21 year old son is going to be driving this boat...

So now I'm woondering what the next step is...

Would a set of Bennett Trim Tabs help keep the stern up?

Should I consider buying the parts to covert this motor to a 25"?

If I did would I then need to bust the bracket loose adn re-install it to the correct 25" height?

Should I install a thin manual Jack Plate to move it up an additional 2-5 inches? Would this then pass the threshhold and casie other problems due to the motor being too high? Cavitating, Porpoising?

Does anyone know of a 2007-2009 Suzuki DF150-175 thats been sunk or damaged I can get the parts off of?

Should I try to get the Suzuki rep involved? Sure would be nice if he couldm maybe he would know of a parts motor somewhere or get me a deal on parts for the "good will of it" Good PR or Good Customer Service...

I called Suzuki and complained about Eds but it probably just fell on deft ears. Whalens and other Suzuki dealers have been screaming about him to Suzuki for a while for under bidding them and then screwing people over like me...

Any ideas?

[Rich]

what a pain in the ass.. hmmm, how much for getting a 25" leg for the motor?

[dlb511]

I don't know if it will solve your problem, never having experience with a bracket, but you can easily make your motor a 25". Just order the kit from Suzuki. It is a simple install. A 5"extension for the lower leg housing, a 5" longer driveshaft and a 5" extension for the shift linkage. We used to do it all the time. I don't know current prices but I am sure the kits are a lot lower cost than replacing the whole lower unit,even with a used one. Maybe the installing dealer would give you something for the 20" drive shaft you are taking out.

[Beach]

I have checked with my local Suzie dealer and he states there is no such kit...anyone else have experience with this?

Beach

[McGillicuddy]

Sounds like a pita to remove the bracket to go up to accommodate a 25" shaft but if you've got the gumption, do it. But I'm guessing that if you have a flotation bracket, you will lose that quality by raising it. I believe a 25" shaft will require a different bracket. If it's not a flotation bracket that's too bad but it gives you flexability. Your motor is nearly 200 pounds more than the boat was designed for. That being said, I think all of these will help somewhat:

Big sternlifting prop maybe a 4 blade, like Powertech MQS3 or MQS 4
Big broad trim tabs
Hydrofoil
Move batteries forward
Move baitwell forward
Move riders forward
Get a spray dodger

Drag... keep us posted

[eggsuckindog]

Good ideas except the hydrofoil - I think the manual jackplate might be answer - not sure whether the motor is at the correct hieght yet - there is a rule of thumb about the distance back from the transom for compensation for the bracket -just escapes at present. If its not cavatating it can go higher and a manual jack sure would make it easy to set up. Tabs would help a bunch with the heavier motor and don't under estimate the kids ability to grasp the issue.

[gss036]

http://www.baymfg.com/
Try contacting these people. I had one of thier kits on my 1989 Merc 200 HP engine to make it a 30 inch leg.

[Fr. Frank]

Unfortunately, Bay doesn't list any extension kits for Suzuki.

[cSickNick]

Beach,

I wish you luck and no expert but the jackplate option jumped out to me as i read.

But you know as i was looking to repower in the past, ED's was a tempting price option as i visited local dealers.
Nothing against ED's for me, but your quote is why i purchased at a local dealer

Talk to my Suzuki Dealer Whalens Marine in Chesapeake, who BTW is awesome and bending over backwards even though I didnt buy the motor from him

- Nick

[hermco]

Do you have any pics you can post?