195CC - 115 or 150 Yamaha?

[Katsuo]

I have a 2006 195CC on order, and my dealer feels the 115 Yamaha 4-stroke motor is more than sufficient, and the 150 would be overkill for this boat. Yet almost every 195CC I've seen on the internet has the 150. I understand the 150 is about $3k more and weighs about 86lbs more. This will be my first boat, so I have no experience to draw on. I need to make a decision very soon, and want to make the right one.

I intend to fish the local inshore areas (kelp beds), go offshore up to 25-40 miles (Channel islands), local reservoir lakes (Castaic, Casitas), and occasional trips to the Sierras (Crowley, Convict). This will also be a family boat and may see occasional tubing and wakeboarding. We don't really waterski anymore.

Thanks!

Rob B.
Simi Valley, CA
2006 195CC "Katsuo"

[jergofish]

I am also planning on a 195. I've checked both engines and believe it or not, the 150 gets better gas mileage than the 115 (4mpg vs. 3.2mpg) at cruising speed and cruises about nine miles faster (34MPH) and at less RPM. I'm definitely getting the Yamaha injected 150.

Note: I can't reference the sites but both tests were on a Triumph 195.

[mason]

I have a 115 with three blade stainless 19 pitch. As soon as I get it to local boat ramp and dump it in ill post some performance data. Boattest.com does a test on the 195 it shows a 150 on it but when you watch the video the narrator speaks of it being equipped with a 115 and gives the perfromance data. If you can afford it I probabaly would opt for the 150 although I think you then add 80-90 more pounds.

[so_cal_island_fisher]

Another Idea is getting a Suzuki 140 or 150. Suzuki has the 6 Year warranty thing going on right now also. We have a Suzuki 140 and it is a great, lightweight engine. If you go Yamaha, definately go for the 150.

[Katsuo]

I called a few other dealers just to get their opinions, and they all said the 115 was more than enough motor for the 195CC. They say they have customers running the 115 on their 210CC boats. I also spoke to the guy that runs the Baja Pirates charter service out of La Paz. They have a fleet of Triumphs (190 Bays and 210 CC's) and almost all have 115's on them. He said that motor does the job for his boats (even the 210 CC's) and would be perfect for my 195CC boat. I know the Suzukis are lighter, but I've heard that getting service is a lot easier for Yamaha's.

[mason]

Today was my 195 maiden voyage. The launch was a bit hairy with no floats but it went off without a hitch. I must say I was pleasently surprised at the 115 yami with a 3 blade stainless prop with a 19 pitch. The bay was like glass and the top speed of this motor according to factory speedo was 38 mph. Gps showed 41. I didn't expeirment to much with trimming it up for optimum speed being that I was bound for an off shore ledge for Cod. The motor is ample enough power and for the money I saved I was able to put on a top shelf gps and fish finder combo with a top shelf vhf radio with the distress system that is linked to the coast guard. I bought this boat for off shore fishing and I am very confident in the motor. In looking at specs of the 115 to 150 the most notable would be a quicker hole shot but I didn't buy the boat to race so I could care less. So in conclusion the 115 is more than adaquete and I have no regrets in my decision. I will be getting another prop in a 17 pitch just to see what the difference will be on acceleration to plane. Its my understanding that it is a tad bit quicker but less top end. Note the boat was full of fuel with two men and fishing gear and stilled purred around 40 mph. Oh also the silicone bunk spray from boaters world makes the boat winch up like butter.

[NCangler]

Congratulations on what sounds like a sweet day on the water mason. I really like the design of the 195 and had a hard time deciding between it and the Chaos.

[Katsuo]

Thanks for sharing that info Mason. Sounds like the 115 is going to work fine for me. I could definitely find other places to put the $3k. Mind if I ask what your electronics setup is? I still have to decide what I'm going to for that.

[mason]

The electectronics were a garmin 198c gps and fish combo. It was around 800 bucks. I had a lowrance lms 337cdf before which was also 800 bucks but i had to buy the nav card for 100 more smackers. The Garmin much to my delight is easier to use and much more sensitive than the Lowrance. While jigging for cod with a 10.5 ounce jig spooled with 50 lb test powerpro the display caught every twitch and jig at depths of well over 150 ft. I never had that clearity on my Lowrance. The radio is a quest im not sure what the model is but its flush mounted in the console next to the cd player. It is equipped with the distress button. Once I registered it by calling 800 number and giving them details on my boat who I am with should something bad occur the switch is flipped and the Coast Guard is immediatley talking. Should you not be able to talk that initial distress has already given them your lat and long because the unit is interfaced with gps. I opted for the eight foot shakespear antenna for optimum range and another 4 ft shakespear gps antenna pole mount for the other side. Another worthy note on the Garmin no card is required and the unit is preloaded with all the data youll need. The unit fits nice in the console and still leaves ample space for storing goodies that you need out of the elements but at the ready.

[Katsuo]

Just took my new 195CC with 115 Yamaha out yesterday and today for its first trips on the water. The 115 seems to lack hole shot power, but I'm used to smaller bass boats with much higher HP motors. We did open it up for a brief period and saw about 36-37 MPH on the speedo (with no trim adjustments) at around 6k RPM's.

I also got the Garmin 198C. Very nice.