Outboard advice!

Recently started boat shopping and was wondering what everyone thought of Honda, Merc, Yamaha and Evinrude 4- strokes. Looking at something in the 90-150HP range and am interested in any issues anyone has had with these brands, good or bad. Thanks a lot!

yammy 150 4 stroke here . I just love it has been bullit proof so far one of there strongest motors. good luck

I have had them all! I am going to run a 150 Yammie 4 stroke like Crosby Stick above on the same kind of boat. I will let you know how she goes in about a month!
Tuck

Thanks for the replies guys! Chris, let me know how your experience goes. I am definitely gonna look into the Yamaha.

I run a Yamaha 115 4 stroker on my Mr Pike 17. I have been extremely happy with it. No problems, quiet and fuel efficient!

Don’t forget Suzuki. I have a 2003 DF140 that has performed perfect for 300+ hours. Another brand to consider.

Hey Sandbar,
I’m adding it to my list! Thanks again all for the help!

Really now a days there are not any bad motors IMO.

More importantly then what brand you buy will be where you buy it after sale warranty and repair skills if you do have problems will be the key.

Good Luck.

i would talk to an outboard mechanic about motors (how they are to work on) as far as 4-stroke they will be a thing of the past real soon. check on the high bred 2-strokes

Check out the Evinrude E-TEC. More power then a four-stroke, less maintenance, faster, in most cases lighter, less pollution and less maintenance. The motors come with a seven year non-deductible warranty and for those boats you like but are Merc, etc equippped Evinrude will install the necessary gauges, etc at no cost.

The others are all good, but the E-TEC two stroke will set the future standard in outboard quality.

Avoid Merc!!!!! real bad luck first two years . …
although it runs great now???? anyway, its my last mercury …. and I agree. 4-strokes are a flash in the pan.
barry

I agree on the E Tec if I was buying a new boat that would be my 1st choice, second would be the Merc Opti Max.

My buddy jumped on the 4 stroke wagon last year now hes talking about going back to a 2 stroke, 4 strokes are IMO to heavy, and what few boats I have been in with them I wasnt impressed with the power.

I agree on the 2 strokes. Don’t forget to look at the new opti’s and e-tec’s. More efficient, much more power, lighter, and the etec might be just as quiet as a four stroke. And down the road, I believe the 2 stroke will have better re-sale as, like stated before, the 4 strokes are losing some huge ground.

Rude’s are still American made also. Merc went to China.

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Rude’s are still American made also. Merc went to China.

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Opti’s are not made in China.

I thought Opti’s were made at the Merc Plant in Fond Du Lac, WI. If anyone knows for sure let us know.

Thanks

Optimax gets my vote. Mine (2002 135 hp)has been rock solid with 248 hours on it.

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I thought Opti’s were made at the Merc Plant in Fond Du Lac, WI. If anyone knows for sure let us know.

Thanks

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Currently the 40-60hp 4-strokes and a couple kickers are made in China. But who is to say more and more of Merc’s product line won’t be built China if it becomes more profitable?

So what?

I could almost bet that their are parts in every single motor made that comes from overseas. Computer chips, processors, bolts, wiring etc. I can not believe that all these things are produced or assmebled in the US? I have not Hhard scientific proof and I could be wrong, but I’m willing to bet that there are parts in every motor that are “foreign” to some degree or another.

I do not intend to bash anyones favortite brand of motor here. Just my experience both salt water and fresh. I spent three years in florida. I fished with ALOT of other guys who like me(at that time), had large center console fiberglass boats. Many of them had optimax’s. They became effectionately called “opti-bombs” as several of them blew the power heads.

If your gonna want “made in America” only, then you might want to go with an inboard deisel such as a cat or cummins. Otherwise, some parts of every motor will be made somewhere besides the good ole US of A.

My personal prefference will be Evenrude. I honestly believe the e-tech is just a glimps into the future and that Evenrude(Bobardier) will soon uncrate either an even better version, or a 4 stroke that will top everything.

You don’t want to go there with the Opti’s do ya Fish? I think we all know the history of Evinrude’s too. So starting something like that is kind of lame. They are all great engines now. The E-Tec’s and Opti’s are leading the way with effiecincy though. And according to the stats, the Opti is all as efficient as the E-Tec.
I know you are correct on, if you want American, you need to buy one of the diesels.
I dissagree about the 4 stroke part though. I think that the E-Tec/Opti technology has caught the 4 strokes and they are also exceeding the 4 strokes. I believe the trend will slowly get away from the 4 strokes. Unless they can bring their weights down, bring up their performance a notch, and get rid of some of the more sceduled maintenence, etc.

thanks for info!!