Marine engine reviews: Suzuki DF250SS

Attention bass fishermen! Suzuki had us in mind when they designed a high-performance four-stroke outboard marine engine. The DF250SS is the first outboard motor of this type designed specifically for bass fishermen.
It compares very favorably with the Mercury OptiMax 250 Pro XS and the Yamaha Vmax 250 HPDI outboard marine engines, both of which are high performance V6 two strokes. The manufacturer of the DF250SS claims that this motor offers less vibration, quieter operation and better fuel economy, with the added bonus of dispensing with the two-stroke oil requirement.
Suzuki has used the 55-degree V6 power head from its DF300 outboard marine engine, which is easily capable of withstanding the extra stress imposed by increased performance. The company could have used their existing DF250 3.6-liter V6 power head and retuned it to give the required increase in performance, but it would have been less able to withstand the imposed stress.
This has resulted in extra weight, which is compensated for by increased reliability and durability, an essential factor for outboard marine engines. At 578 pounds, it is only 70 pounds heavier than the Mercury and 40 pounds heavier than the Yamaha, which makes it only 10-15 percent additional weight. The extra weight is partially compensated for by the innovative drive shaft (the shaft connecting the power head to the gear box). This offset allows the power head to be mounted a few inches further forward, closer to the transom, thus reducing the leverage effect and providing the added bonus of vibration and noise reduction.
A further advantage of the offset drive shaft is that part of the gear reduction is made between the crankshaft and the drive shaft, lowering the reduction ratio required in the gear box. This outboard marine engine has an overall gear ratio of 2.08:1, allowing it to be fitted with a much larger propeller, with more pitch than is usual for outboard marine engines of similar horsepower.
Comprehensive tests by Suzuki show that a 4-blade stainless propeller with a diameter of 14.5 inches works best with the DF250SS outboard marine engine, with a pitch range of 27 to 31 inches.
When tested on both a Blazer 210 Pro V and a Bass Cat Puma, the Suzuki DF250SS put both boats onto the plane within 7 seconds and reached a top speed of 74 mph. Bass fishermen will be interested in the fact that fuel economy achieved by the DF250SS during the tests was 15-20 percent better than comparable two-stroke engines.
If you are about to replace an engine or if you are thinking of buying your first bass outfit, then consider the innovative Suzuki DF250SS. A trial run will convince you to go with this new model.