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Random Quote: GET THE TREBLE OUT LATE.......R, (Mates first green wahoo)
Standard power is a Mercury Saltwater Series 200 2 stroke (carbs). Sea trialed the boat with this power and it ran beautifully, topping out at 46 mph on my portable GPS. This boat is in stock.
I am finalizing the deal and am seriously considering ordering a boat from the factory with either a 200 or 225 Honda. Looking at the performance tests at Pro-Line's site the 200 Honda looks like a good bet. Pro-Line's numbers show a top speed of 40 for the 200 Honda and 42 for the 225 Honda and this would be ok with me.
I have considered this from all angles and a good case can be made for the Merc or the Honda(s). I will mostly cruise the Bannana and Indian River Lagoon in East Central Florida with occasional trips out Port Canaveral to the ocean.
I like the simplicity,reputation for reliability, light weight, relative low cost and relatively high performance of the Mercury.
I like the fuel economy, not having to use 2 stroke oil, quiet operation and resale value of the Honda. I also like Honda's reputation for quality.
I kept my last boat for 14 years so I would like to get it right the first time. I am leaning towards the Honda 200 and waiting for the dealer to get back to me with additional cost of the Honda.
Any suggestions or comments appreciated. This is a great forum BTW. I just found it as I started intense research on my new boat.
If you really thought you'd own this boat as long as the other, I'd probably be inclined to put the 4-stroke on the back. I really don't like the fact that it's a 40-42 MPH top speed boat, though. Sometimes in boats that size, you'll travel quite a few miles to get to where the fish are and the 3-4 MPH slower adds up.
Some folks might want to throw me overboard for saying this, but if you wanted 2-stroke power, lower noise, no smoke, etc, etc and Merc and Honda were your only choices you might want to consider the ..... Optimax . Somebody say they're better than they used to be
If you wanted a little better fuel economy and still wanted that 2-stroke power, you could step up to the EFI Merc.
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Fishin-Fanatic
Get In! Sit Down! Shut Up! Hold On!
Sounds like a good rig. I have a 200 Honda on a Hydra sports 212 WA-2003 model 70 plus hrs since I got it in january. Top end 45 light on GPS.
As noted by others you get more zip with the Merc 2 stroke. Also more smell and noise.
Positives:Honda is a very nice engine , starts like a car turn the key and she goes. Trolls beautifully (huns along no vibrfation), last sunday ran and trolled 155 miles on the GPS and burned 38 gal of gas.
Believe the honda valvetrain,block etc is much more tested than others and relaibiulity should be good- thats the rep.(knock on wood)
Negatives: have signs of rust on the alternator shaft- cleaned and CRC'd and gone but Honda seems to have some weaknesses in rustproofing hardware.
Acceleration very good but not up to the merc.
Make sure the proline can take the extra weight, my Hydra runs great but the weight is noticable. (Actually the dealer and I think ithelps the HYdra ride by balancing the WA . On the other it definately pulls the transom down and changes the attitude of the boat.
Fewer service dealers- but you know that
Hope this helps in your thinking process
Goodluck- any questions let me know
PS: I'd probably get the 225-
If you plan to own the baot for a extended perod of time choose the Honda, the Warrenty is the best in the industry, the speed of 42 is only a "best guess" i think you will see a bit more from the bf225,, resale value will be higher with the honda as well. The only thing to be concerned about with the Honda is are thier enough dealers to service your honda.. Anyone will work on a Mercury. If you choose Merc. go with the optimax. The Honda is the long term choice. I'm betting the Mercury is also a bit less expensive.
The 200 Merc only burns like 8-10 gph at a 3800-4000 RPM cruise, so it's a very economical engine, probable almost identical to the 225 Honda. You can't go wrong with proven, reliable power. Plus, if you ever did break down, if you are some what mechanically inclined you could fix it and get yourself home. If the Honda broke down, you would open the cowling, see a bunch of plastic covering everything, scratch your head, put it back on, and call Sea-Tow. In this case the extra money you spend on the 4-stroke won't do anything for you. It'll leave you scratching your head saying "why did I pay 3 grand extra for this?" Like mentioned above, Honda dealers are far more scarce then merc dealers and resale value will be better. The pros of the 4-stroke are quietness, the lack of an oil tank to fill every now and then, and bragging rights about how you spent 3 grand more for it but still can't keep up with Bob down the canal who bought the boat with the 200 2-stroke.
The dealer advised me that ordering a boat with the Honda 200 will cost me $5500 more than the same boat with the Merc 200 2 stroke in stock.
I am going with the Mercury. While I like some of the Honda's features I don't like them enough to pay that much more. I can buy a lot of gas and oil for $5500 and the Merc has a good track record.
Any boat dealer will always try to move what he has in stock. I bet if you say...I am not buying that boat....I either order with a Honda or walk...your price on the Honda will drop quick.
Merc 200 2 Stroke or Honda 200/225 
. Somebody say they're better than they used to be 
