24 Laguna Repower Recomendations/Question

Dec 8, 2007
1,139
Dartmouth MA
Boat Info
1997 Sea Ray 400DA
Cat 3116 TA
1994 Sea Ray Laguna CC 250 Tohatsu
Engines
:
I have a 1994 Laguna with original twin 135 Black Max outboards. Time for a repower. I am looking at single outboards 200hp to 200+. Does anyone know what length shaft I should be looking for? I am on the fence about buying a new/2018 leftover or trade in from a repower. Leaning toward leftover. I haven't been actively looking but am going to start this week. Any advice or words of wisdom would be appreciated.
 
Sucks you gotta repower. How bout I buy 2 of these and all of the rigging and we share the boat since I missed a 24 Laguna by a couple hours in the fall.
https://www.mercurymarine.com/en/us/engines/outboard/fourstroke/175-300-hp/

JK, but I would find a way to stick with twins at all cost on the 24. From the looks of the hard work you've done on your 400 including
the cockpit, I wouldn't think you would be happy any other way.
 
Suzuki DF300A or DF350A long shaft.
I see 25" and 30" available. I am sure the dealers could look at the boat and figure that out. If I had that knowledge now it would help me with my preliminary shopping.
 
I see 25" and 30" available. I am sure the dealers could look at the boat and figure that out. If I had that knowledge now it would help me with my preliminary shopping.
With a jack plate you could probably use a 25 but going to the single engine the cavitation plate needs to be level with the bottom of the boat which is now lower than with the twins I suspect the longer shaft. You are right the dealer can easily determine.
 
That Laguna is a nice boat with those twin motors. A friend of mine had one a while back that was a couple of years older than yours.
He went up to a 26’ Regulator.
If the boat is solid, in really nice shape, and you plan to keep it for another ten years or more then I would probably hold out for a sale of some sort and put a pair of new 150 4 strokes on it.
A couple of guys (brothers) around here have repowered their Whalers with Suzuki’s in the last year or so. Both are single engine boats, and both went with Suzuki 200’s and they are very happy with them.
One brother put it on his Whaler last year and it worked out so well that the other brother did it over this last winter.
One of the benefits they mentioned to the Suzuki was that while 4 strokes are generally heavier than their 2 stroke predecessors, the Suzuki’s are relatively light 4 stroke motors.
That’s an important consideration.
We put a new Mercury 150 HP on my Uncle’s 22’ Eastern a couple of years ago and while it is extremely fuel efficient and quiet it is also significantly heavier than the original Mercury 2 stroke that was on the boat.
There was a noticeable weight difference when first coming on plane that had to be addressed.
I solved the problem by relocating the batteries for him from the back of the cockpit to the cabin where he just keeps his fishing stuff anyway. He was happy because it gave him that much more fishing room in the cockpit.
 
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That Laguna is a nice boat with those twin motors. A friend of mine had one a while back that was a couple of years older than yours.
He went up to a 26’ Regulator.
If the boat is solid, in really nice shape, and you plan to keep it for another ten years or more then I would probably hold out for a sale of some sort and put a pair of new 150 4 strokes on it.
A couple of guys (brothers) around here have repowered their Whalers with Suzuki’s in the last year or so. Both are single engine boats, and both went with Suzuki 200’s and they are very happy with them.
One brother put it on his Whaler last year and it worked out so well that the other brother did it over this last winter.
One of the benefits they mentioned to the Suzuki was that while 4 strokes are generally heavier than their 2 stroke predecessors, the Suzuki’s are relatively light 4 stroke motors.
That’s an important consideration.
We put a new Mercury 150 HP on my Uncle’s 22’ Eastern a couple of years ago and while it is extremely fuel efficient and quiet it is also significantly heavier than the original Mercury 2 stroke that was on the boat.
There was a noticeable weight difference when first coming on plane that had to be addressed.
I solved the problem by relocating the batteries for him from the back of the cockpit to the cabin where he just keeps his fishing stuff anyway. He was happy because it gave him that much more fishing room in the cockpit.
Thank you. I am convinced new is the way to go. I started shopping this week.
 
I have restored a couple of these and dual engines is the only way to go. when you move to a single, it changes a lot on the boat. B
 
I ended up buying a 2019 tohatsu 250. Thank you for the response though.
 
hows it ride, I'm currently looking at purchasing a 95 24' Laguna Center Console and it has an 04 honda 225 on it. I'm hoping to get a few years out of the engine before re powering. Waiting on the survey to come back.
 
I couldn’t tell you how it rides with the 250. I didn’t put it in the water last year. I repowerred it so a friend could take his little girl on it. He never put it in. So neither did I. I didn’t even get a prop.
 
I couldn’t tell you how it rides with the 250. I didn’t put it in the water last year. I repowerred it so a friend could take his little girl on it. He never put it in. So neither did I. I didn’t even get a prop.
I have a 1988 Laguna with Twins, how did your single Re-power workout for you??
 
I would concur with TechMitch. Stick with twins. The boat is not only set up for twins, if you have done little work, you have a lot of weight on the bow to get on plane.

I restored a 90 21' Laguna. It caused me some issues on weight: came out of factory with 175 at about 500 lbs; was repowered with a 99 200 EFI which was easily resolved by a 250 Pro XS (2 stroke). The older black max two strokes are heavy, which means you can most likely repower with a couple of 2010 era 150/175 two strokes and be fine.

I would look for a couple of ProXS between 2007 and 2015.
 
Went from twin 135 two stroke to single 250 Tohatsu. Very happy. The boat sits higher in the water due to less weight. The engine is quiet. Starts immediately. Uses very little fuel. The boat was fast as hell and is is now slower. But not slow by any means.
 
I couldn’t tell you how it rides with the 250. I didn’t put it in the water last year. I repowerred it so a friend could take his little girl on it. He never put it in. So neither did I. I didn’t even get a prop.

Its an ugly ride. you need at least 300.
 
Went from twin 135 two stroke to single 250 Tohatsu. Very happy. The boat sits higher in the water due to less weight. The engine is quiet. Starts immediately. Uses very little fuel. The boat was fast as hell and is is now slower. But not slow by any means.
good to hear. I did a lot when I restored the vessel. Been looking for a 24 CC to restore.
 
"
tagline_brand_logo_b5dfa774d1758ade480a631c9c4a5a8e6e5fb1b1.png



"Ahh yes, Tohatsu "Feel the Wind"....
biggrin.gif


The symbol represents the blue wings of the Sea Hawk, a bird that soars over the oceans of the world.

Tohatsu is an interesting company, one being the major producer of motorbikes for the Japanese market back in the 1950's..

They have entered into several agreements with most major outboard motor companies. Evinrude, Nissan, Mercury as well as the latest agreement with Honda.

For the longest time every Merc 2 stroke and 4 stroke under 60 hp was a Tohatsu. Every Nissan branded outboard was a Tohatsu. They were also the first outboard to develop and use direct injection technology.

The latest agreement with Honda was made in 2013; Tohatsu can now sell Honda outboards from 60 to 250 hp.

All I know is when I am ready to replace my aging BF150's, I will be giving a serious look to the Tohatsu 250. 612 lbs each and deals are out there for around $15k...."
Maybe Seattle should keep Wilson and Carrol but change the icon. Glad you avoided a pair of the high tech, high maintenance 2-strokes, one defunct.
 
"
tagline_brand_logo_b5dfa774d1758ade480a631c9c4a5a8e6e5fb1b1.png



"Ahh yes, Tohatsu "Feel the Wind"....
biggrin.gif


The symbol represents the blue wings of the Sea Hawk, a bird that soars over the oceans of the world.

Tohatsu is an interesting company, one being the major producer of motorbikes for the Japanese market back in the 1950's..

They have entered into several agreements with most major outboard motor companies. Evinrude, Nissan, Mercury as well as the latest agreement with Honda.

For the longest time every Merc 2 stroke and 4 stroke under 60 hp was a Tohatsu. Every Nissan branded outboard was a Tohatsu. They were also the first outboard to develop and use direct injection technology.

The latest agreement with Honda was made in 2013; Tohatsu can now sell Honda outboards from 60 to 250 hp.

All I know is when I am ready to replace my aging BF150's, I will be giving a serious look to the Tohatsu 250. 612 lbs each and deals are out there for around $15k...."
Maybe Seattle should keep Wilson and Carrol but change the icon. Glad you avoided a pair of the high tech, high maintenance 2-strokes, one defunct.
Yes I like tohatsu. It is a Honda rebadged. Open up the cowl and it’s painted Honda silver.
I don’t know what the previous poster means by “it’s an ugly ride”. The 250 is fine and makes it a great all around boat for the money. I have ridden in dryer center consoles. Then again I’ve ridden in $650,000 center consoles(this is not). Great bang for the buck and if you are not fishing offshore, there is very little need for twin outboards.
Just my opinion, however, I think it is a very experienced opinion.
 
For net horsepower you have to deduct the double drag and the weight. I think there was a page on this in my flight school text and the P-38 apparently did well diving into the enemy formations in the Pacific with gravity on its side but had to keep on going. Boats have the additional problem of putting all that weight located as far back as possible on the plane and that compels me to agree with you. Not to mention maintenance.
 
I just repowered mine. I have a '95 24' cuddy. I bought it with twin 150 Black Max's. One was blown, so swapped them out for twin 225 Yamaha's. They were used, but a lot of fun to drive. Last weekend, one of them crapped out, so yesterday I picked up a Suzuki 350a with the duo props. The transom was replaced with Coosa board when I bought the boat 5 years ago. I'm a little worried about the weight (740 lbs), but the twins were 800 together. I only fish the great lakes for salmon, so nothing too far from shore, amd I plan to add a kicker for trolling. I'm sure I'll get better gas mileage now and should have enough speed for me. I just like to cruise around 30-35mph, just FYI, it topped out at just over 50mph on Lake Superior before the engine went out. I'm sure you know this by now, but you'll need a 30" shaft if you plan to go to a single. The transom on mine measured right at 28.5" from top to bottom. I thought about using a jack plate amd a 25" motor, but wasn't sure I'd have enough room for steering cables and wiring harnesses without having to redo some of the transom.
 

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