neil24

I researched boats for about 2 years before I bought my reata. listened to everything, test rode in many and also have a pretty good network of friends who have all sorts of different boats. I'm also not one of those people who says his boat/motor is the best out there even if I think it is. I absolutely love the boat and motor and don't regret any of it.

The 2 stroke is for sure going to be better getting out of the hole. They have better low end and mid range torque for sure. But you can prop the Yamaha as I stated in one of the posts with a lower pitch 4 blade (maybe 17 pitch) and it will be just fine out of the hole. The only issue is you'll have too little prop to run WOT without over-revving. But when you're doing water sports this won't matter. Then have the standard 3 blade for everything else. That's what I plan on doing in the near future. I'm currently running a 4 blade 19 pitch Trophy Plus and while it's a great all around prop I'm considering doing the same thing with the 17 pitch 4 blade for water sports and trolling and a 19 pitch 3 blade for everything else.

The 175 ProXS is the baddest motor you can put on that boat. I believe they are actually in the 192 HP range. If you think for a minute you'll regret not getting it, do yourself a favor and get it now. I got the 150 because A) they're noticeably better on fuel B) I don't care about the 2 mph difference in the two.

I would assume you have a Merc dealer near you. They are everywhere and being in bass boat country that is one of the top 2 motors for bass boats so you should be fine in that regard. Yes, the dealer you buy the boat from will ultimately take care of you better, but find the right place near you and you won't have any issues. Merc is a great company and they stand behind their product.

The Yamaha is also a great motor and a very strong 150, but doesn't really compare to the 175 ProXS. They have a proven track record and I will say this, the ProXS's aren't quiet. The Yamaha, you will barely know it is running. All this hoopla about 2 strokes needing oil is crap. Yes, they use oil, but the 4 strokes need oil changes.

To throw another wrench into your decision... Verado is the best motor out there. Quiet, powerful and reliable. The 175 V-Rod will rival the ProXS in just about every category. If you're going to be running at any elevation, that's the way to go. They are a lot more expensive however. But with the supercharger you get the hole shot and because they are a 4 stroke they run higher RPMs which gives you similar speed to the ProXS.

Sorry this is long winded, but I think it's better to be fully informed before you go out and purchase something you'll regret. Let me know if you have any other questions, I'll be happy to answer them. No matter which of those motors you choose, you'll have one **** of a rig. I absolutely love mine.