Outboard Comparison

[Bill]

Looking for a new 75-115 outboard.. Lets hear what you think ( price, install, warranty, problems weight etc)..

Yamaha vs Johnson vs Honda vs Suzuki vs Mercury etc

I am thinking that I am going to go with an Etec if I can find one unless I hear a lot of bad reviews.. also found a decent left over 75 yamaha 4 stroke that has a nice price tag on it..

 

[Keels Rock]

Buy the yamaha period, best motor period, e tec would be last on my list, not heard favorable things about their powerheads and who wants to deal with buying and using two stroke. Just an opinion!

 

[Eastporter]

Suzuki (four-strokes) was running a free six year warranty deal this summer. Very quiet and fuel efficient. Look for a new motor and don't look back. Turn key and go- just like your car. Very light weight- 341 lbs. for 80 hp. The motor goes up higher than most models so it can accommodate a pontoon boat design (no electrolysis).

 

[cobia23]

I've always run Yamaha's and have never had any major complaints, wouldn't hesitate to buy another one either. With that said the next time I buy another outboard I am going to seriously consider a Honda, there supposed to be rock solid engines. The thing with Honda is that there just aren't as many around as the other brands, which I think makes people leary of them. I'm not a fan of Mercury, just a personal thing I guess. I like the Suzuki's but have heard horror stories about warranty issues and getting parts. Johnson is no longer making engines so there out, and I probably wouldn't go Etec just because its a 2 stroke. Sorry for the long winded answer, but in my case I would go Honda or Yamaha.

 

[Bill]

Thanks,, Ya I have always been a yamaha fan. my father has 2 of them..the 99 250 2 stroke is still a "turn key" motor with no throttle advancement etc.. the 100 4 stroke he has is a POS... always being held hostage at monahans in weymouth for carb rebuilds/fuel pumps etc..thing really sucks and is out of the water most of the summer..the suzukis same thing.. you bring it to a "certified" suzuki place and they take forever and in a family friends case they had to fly someone in from whereever to fix his and a bunch of others they couldnt figure out..needless to say he lost the entire summer..honda I dont think one way or the other..etecs I have heard good things about but no first hand experience...I wound up finding the same motor as mine.. same year and hp..freshwater used.. just sitting in a garage...cosmetically great etc.. took it home and its got 120 psi on all cylinders..RIPPED the VRO pump off and did the pulse pump conversion .. changed water pump and fired it up.
im saving for a larger boat so im not dropping 6-8k on a new motor.. I use it to striper fish and catch bait thats it so Im not doing it and for some reason I just dont like the idea of some shiny new asian motor hanging off the back of my new england built boat..

Cobia whats your last name? i got out in 04

 

[joman]

I have a 2002 honda 200 hp.with @ 600hrs. It has ran great for me without any major problems.

 

[samson23]

joman,

just a heads up i run a 2002 honda 225, basicaly the same as yours . last year at 650 hours i had to replace the entire midsection because of the vertical shaft bushing getting ate up over time.If the engine is starting to get a little louder at idle it could be going. Make sure you drop lower unit at least once a year and grease the heck out of the drive shaft and bushing. other than that , the honda's been great.

ps. they changed the midcase design in 06 to prevent this.

 

[VPC]

hona

my skiff has a honda 3400 hrs runs great

 

[jawz]

outboards:
everyone has their preference - here's mine,based upon my experience

yamaha - these engines have proven to be very trouble free - a large portion of my clients have these - very few problems...

the problem you can run into,when repowering,is the weight of the 4 stroke engines - keep this in mind
some really good deals are out there on used engines - due to the fact - the public has become "brainwashed" regarding 4 stroke engines - 2 stroke engines are not desired,and the market price has dropped - alot !

 

[GoodChance]

Bill -

I've got a 2008 Yamaha 115 4stk sitting in my barn that I'd like to sell. Comes complete with everything from the binnacle control to the key switch to the (2) digital Yamaha guages. SS prop too. Has under 160 hrs. Looks brand new minus a few small scratches on the cowling taht you need to be within 5ft of the motor to see. It's an $11,500 to 12,000 package new.

I'll even give you a 90-day guarantee on the motor. $6500

 

[RKrough]

Bill, You have a pretty heavy boat with the two fuel tanks and a bait well, I would go for the Yamaha 90. At 261 lbs is a good 100lbs or more lighter than a 4 stroke of the same size. You can still can find them new.

BTW The sweet 2001 70hp Johnson I bought got wrecked during shipping from Florida (I'm still grieving) , so I'm back looking for another JohnnyRude 70 hp 1991-2001 years only. If anyone sees a good clean one give me a hollar.