Johnson 9.9/15
About a year ago, my 10 year old Evinrude 9.9 longshaft, electric start crapped out, primarily due to my non-maintenance. As I was about 3 weeks before our club's major event of the year, I didn't have a lot of time to contemplate a replacement. I bought the current version of the same engine, a Johnson 2-stroke 15 (a 9.9 is just a 15 with a de-tuned carb and timing). About $2300 incl CA sales tax for a longshaft electric start w/4-blade hi-thrust prop. And now that Bombardier owns OMC, service and parts should not be a concern, like it was for a few months. Installation required VERY MINOR surgery-I had to cutout about an 8" square area of the lazarette hatch cover to allow the new motor to swing fully up into the existing stock transom cutout. NO CUTS IN THE HULL! Covered the lazarette top cutout with the "starboard" plastic that Boat US (or TAP plastics if you're in CA) sells. I'm 95% happy with the motor. Only complaint is that it's thirsty. I burn about 1.2 GPH at 5.2-5.5 knots, about 35% more than I did with the 9.9. But with the 15 I have more than enough power to push me at 5+ knots into a 25 knot headwind. Just make sure you can carry enough fuel for where you need to go!