Trade-A-Boat — February 2018

seatrials

EnginestestedonLakeMacquarie,NSW,incalmwater,swinging8.8inpitchalloypropson

bothboats.Averageoftwo-wayrunsusinghandheldGPS,inlinefuelflowgearand

portable tachometer

375 DOLPHIN

RPM SPEED (KT) FUEL BURN (L/H) RANGE (L/NM)

800 1.6 0.8 0.5

3500 (plane) 10.1 – –

4000 13.5 4.1 0.3

5500 20.3 7.6 0.37

SMARTWAVE 3500

RPM SPEED (KT) FUEL BURN (L/H) RANGE (L/NM)

800 1.5 0.8 0.53

3500 (plane) 10 – –

4000 12.5 4.1 0.33

5500 19.4 7.6 0.39

quickspecs

Mercury Super 15

TYPELoopcharged twin

cylinder premix two-stroke

outboard

RATED BHP/MHP

14.7/15.0 at 5125rpm

REC. RPM RANGE4750 to

5500

DISPLACEMENT294cc

BOREXSTROKE

60mmx52mm

GEAR RATIO1.85:1

WEIGHT41/42kg dry

PRICEASTESTED

$2100 (short shaft)

OEDA STARS 1

as good as the Dolphin but
the engine was pushing a
totalof350kg.Themain
drawback of this hull was
the short-shaft transom that
allowed water to flood aboard
whenever I quickly closed
the throttle, giving me a wet
bum every time.
These engines were
tested before I acquired
my portable decibel meter

butIdorememberthey

became fairly raucous

above4000rpm–areal

contribution to my tinnitus!

THE WRAP

With the thunderclouds of

a sales ban looming over

carbie two-strokes in Oz,

I’d act sooner than later if

consideringbuyinganew

engine. Sure, the Super 15 is

basiccomparedtosome

ofitsdirectJapanese

competition but it’s an

honest motor that with

alittleTLCwilllasta

lifetime.

Thanks to Lifestyle

Marine,Toronto,NSW

(02) 4959 1444 and Tomos

Marine, Marks Point, NSW

(02) 4945 3202 for supplying

thedemoengines.

“With a sales ban looming over carbie

two-strokes I’d buy a replacement

sooner rather than later”

tradeboats.com.au 149