Home › Forums › Bass Cat Boats › Well, SHO owners lets hear it…
schodackbassman.
All motors will have problems from time to time but my SHO has been great thus far. Strong and runs better than the 2 stroke HPDIs I have had. My dealer has close to 30 SHO motors in service and not one problem. Nothing. Flyswatter has had over 70 trouble free hours on his 200 SHO since July. I am a big fan of Yamaha products due to the service they have given me over the years. Would Merc and Evinrude been as good if I owned them over the years? Maybe. All I can do is comment on my experience with Yamaha and the SHO has surpassed all my expectations. I pushed my P2 beyond 77 MPH with a 200 4 Stroke! Never thought I would see a 4 stroke perform like that.
I have had my 250 SHO for over a year and it has performed beyond all of my expectations. Quiet but with a nice throaty rumble when you punch it. The hole shot and mid-range are fantastic and I am beginning to play around with the top-end as much as the smaller lakes in Kansas allow but prefer fishing to running all over the place. My motor is serial #90 and outside a couple of Yamaha updates that were done when I took it in for the first service no issues at all. Larry Brumley
no problems with mine..
Let me add my performance experiences with my 200SHO on a 20 Eyra. So far my SHO has been nothing short of impressive. With some current on, dual console, heavy bow weighted Minn Kota Fortrexx I have hit 76 mph. Best slack water no current is 75mph. Hole shot: there is nothing stock on the planet that can compare to the SHO in any motor class with stock props and lower units. I suspect that may be consistent throughout the whole SHO lineup and the gas mileage will hold it s own at 5000 rpms with respectable 4.3 mpg. I had a service recall to correct a thermostat issue early on but NEVER any on the water problems since I have owned this motor. I have yet to read a personal experience posting negatives or blown engine experiences with the SHO. I am sure they are out there but if so extremely rare by any standards. So far the motor has been out for 1 year 3 months and the track record to date is very impressive nationally.Last edited by Flyswatter on March 30th, 2011, 7:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
I have owned a SHO. I loved the motor. Mine was on a 2010 Puma FTD with a 250 SHO. Ill tell ya how i feel if your in the market for a 4 stroke its a no brainer the SHO is the choice. If you want to keep running a 2 stroke the Pro XS is the best. I now have a 2009 Puma FTD with a 250 Pro XS. If brand nmaes dont matter to you and if price is flexible id buy a SHO. I was told the SHO wouldnt get as good a fuel mileage as a pro xs but I have owned both on identical boats and the SHO gets better fuel mileage especially loaded down. The SHO will carry a full load and not loose as much as the Pro Xs. Both are good motors and neither is a bad choice. I put about 40 hours on the SHO I had and it was flawless. Not to mention its nice to just gas it and go and not worry about $30 per gallon oil.
I have heard the comment before about the SHOs “making oil”, could someone explain this?
Mine never made one drop of oil from day one and 70 hours later motor still ran perfect. Also, never known one to blow up because of it. Potentially that could happen if left unattended for over extended period of time like 50 plus hours. That hasnt happened to my knowledge. As for making oil there were some very very early models all caught and corrected. Also, I dont think there was ever any on the water break down issues because of in house recalls with thermostat fixes. It was caught very early.Some will share their experiences making oil but I dont think they ever had any on the water breakdowns relating to making oil.
I guess I dont understand. How does a motor make oil? If you put a gallon in you should get a gallon out, unless it is burning it? I have never had extra oil in my truck when I changed the oil, so how in a 4 stroke boat motor? “Also, never known one to blow up because of it. Potentially that could happen if left unattended for over extended period of time like 50 plus hours.” How would you know if it was making oil or know to check?
My understanding is the motor was running to rich (due to temp issues, hence the recalls) and not able to burn all the fuel and some of the excess unburned fuel was getting into the oil, therefore the name “making oil”. It ended up having more oil in the motor than you put in it, but it was just unburned fuel. I am not a gear head so I dont know how else to explain it. I have had my SHO since April 15, last year. I did have the oil making issue. It was corrected by the TSBulletins. I have no complaints. I would buy another one right now if I had to. I came out of small block 2 stroke 200HP Yamaha, so I am not a good person to ask about fuel consumption. I am with Fly, I am yet to read anywhere of an actual person posting “My SHO broke, blew up or whatever.” I have read several post of “a guy I fish with” or “a guy in our club knows a pro” that has blown one up. I am sure they will blow, everything will blow. I love mine and I SHO aint looking back!britt
BassCat,Do you all have any bench marks to share with us on these motors? It would be interesting to compare those numbers with two strokes and the SHO? Ive read positive durability reports but again I have never seen one up close on the water where I live. I by no means am doubting performance however performance data would be valued? I think its great we have another option to consider for our bass boating endeavors. Have you all built a BassCat with a Suzuki recently? I welcome another four stroke option. Its the future!!!
dbasketman wrote:http://bwbmag.com/output.cfm?id=1282555Ask BCB ? I think they ran outta prop. 6300 rs ?DB, Thanks. I read the article and Suzuki seems to have game. Not bad at all. However, I didnt see any numbers or comments on hole shot. Overall it looks pretty good though.
Bama96 wrote:dbasketman wrote:http://bwbmag.com/output.cfm?id=1282555Ask BCB ? I think they ran outta prop. 6300 rs ?Tiny dealer network, parts supply issues, warranty issues. One of my fishing partners has twin Zukes on his offshore rig. Has had issues and received poor factory support. They are a good engine when running just dont let one fail. The article says it pushed a Puma to 76.1. It has been documented that the 250 SHO will exceed 80 easily on a Puma. That Zuke 250 wont even run with my 200 SHO on a P2. Again good engine but not in the same league as the SHO.What I like to know is why an OEM like BassCat demonstrates an agenda to let everyone know on the planet that the SHO has and added $3,000 surchage for its 200HP SHO but never comments thats not the case for the 225s and 250s. Its never balanced in my opinion. My only concern is when Basscat is making statements that the SHO cost more in irrelevant threads greared toward MPG on BBC forum it leads to misinformation for prospective buyers for dealers who carry SHO. What up with that? I think it be more appropriate for that to come from dealers and not a boat builder. Im good with that. Other then that Im glad I have options to get the game changer for my BassCat.Last edited by Flyswatter on April 1st, 2011, 12:29 am, edited 1 time in total.
Especially when I am being told there is little difference between the three motor brands on Rangers. Why the difference on Cats? Yes, you answered them. Thanks Fly!
Steel Sabre wrote:Especially when I am being told there is little difference between the three motor brands on Rangers. Why the difference on Cats? Yes, you answered them. Thanks Fly!Steel Sabre Ive been asking that question all along. I know with my dealer he will make all efforts to eat most of that cost difference to sell his BassCats and SHOs to be competitively close or below vs. other competing motor platforms. Its a tuff business but I guess thats what it takes. Buyer disclaimer: Email dealers, compare prices, read comments and decide whats real and whats not. Thats what I did and how I purchased my BassCat. There was an ex. BassCat dealer (now) very close to me but in no way was I going to take my business and pay list price for premium boat. I happily drove 90 miles south and havent regretted it not one bit for my the last three BassCat boats. Good luck!Last edited by Flyswatter on April 1st, 2011, 12:47 am, edited 1 time in total.
nope, There are no rose colored glasses on any brands here. There are problems with all brands. Yes the SHO is a very nice product, as is the Mercury. The Suzuki has an excellent reputation in the areas that the engines are running, and most all of the SS engines are in saltwater and not bass markets. The number in bass markets is very, very limited. BCB
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