Dear All,
Need some advice. Should I go for a Yammy or Mercury?
Reliability is most important for me. How is the break in for these two brands? And how important is it to do a good break in? THe dealer says that it is necessary to seat the rings. But 10 hours is way too long.
Not sure about those 2. But my uncle just bought a Suzuki 140hp 4 stroke.
What a motor! Break in was simple and the power is there!! I sometimes have to check if it is running. A plus with this motor is fuel consumption. It is very easy on gas even at high RPM’s. Might be something to look into if your shopping.
Me personaly, I would never buy a Merc. I do know that Merc. parts make great decoy weights. 
I am sure I will get scolded for saying that but, that is just me.
I owned the Yamaha 115 for 4 years, just upgraded to a 150. Get the Yam…it is an awesome motor. It was quiet, fuel efficient and always gave me instant starts. The only thing it cost me as far as maintenance was oil and filter changes. It could idle for hours and still be perfectly smooth and quiet. You’ll not only like it you’ll love it.
We have MANY satisfied fisherman that have both here at the resort.I probably see more yamaha than merc.I cant say that I have heard anything negative about either.I would consider your dealer of choice for future service after you own the motor can be just as ,if not more important than the product itself.Just something else to think about.Good luck! 
They have the same powerhead assembly, the cowling and lower units are different.
Power head built by Yamy on both, I see on Mercs web site a pic of their own 4 stroke 115
I have had good luck with several motors but the 2001 Yammy 115 that I am running is so trouble free its almost scary!! 
Like the man said two cranks on the starter and zoom! 
I just bought a new to me used boat with a 115 yammy on it. I have ran many motors merc, evinrunde, and now the yammy and without a doubt I will never buy another type of motor other than the yamaha. If I had to choose between the merc and the yamaha in my mind the there is no choice. You barley have to even touch the key and the motor is started. It is so easy you do not even have to think about it. Yamaha all the way.
Sorry guys, But I have to disagree…the next motor I purchase will be an e-tech. I have a friend that has blown a powerhead on three different yamaha 250’s each year on 621 ranger’s. He gets a new boat every year..and they guy is the biggest perfectionist I have ever met…so it isn’t owner/operator problems…
klh (hi Kirt),
beat me to my answer. yes these two motors are identical motors, except for the lower unit. I had a dealer tell me once that I might be easier to find a Merc new propeller out in the booneys, than finding a Yam prop, but they are the same motor.
I REALLY like my Yamaha F115.
good luck.
Jack..
Dear All,
Thanks for the responses. If there are more, please chip in.
Dean mentioned a good point tho’ about servicing. Hopefully, there would not be too much of that. Unfortunately, from where I am, THE Yamaha dealer is always so backed up …. usually 2 weeks out. Quite unresponsive. The other dealer is a Merc but also authorized for Yammy. Just give them a call and you can bring the boat in. 1-2 days later, you can get it back. Very responsive. But as they are mainly merc, they are not too big on Yammy. So, not much choice with dealers here. But I guess, that would mean that merc might be a little better. But how do most people view a merc OB when they are looking to buy used boat rigs?? Is there a more desire or prestige factor with Yammy?
“But how do most people view a merc OB when they are looking to buy used boat rigs?? Is there a more desire or prestige factor with Yammy?”
If I had the choice of 2 IDENTICAL used boats, 1 with a merc, the other yammi. I’d choose the Yammi every time. But, that’s just me, I just think they make the most reliable motors. Other folks may say just the opposite and that’s great. It feels real good as consumers to have so many good choices!!I have nothing against any of the manufacturers as I think they all make solid motors. It just seems that yammi 4 stroke owners are very happy and have the least amount of complaints, thus, I went with a yammi myself. Good luck and choose which ever one your gut tells you is right. Really, ya can’t go wrong either way. Choose the yammi! 
TSC,
First thing I will state is I’m biased to Yammy. No doubt in my mind if I’m looking for a motor, first choice is the Yammy. I’ve been running the F115 for 3 years now. Rock solid, not a single issue.
When I bought at Crystal Pierz, the service manager adn I were discussing break-in period. He said two hour tops varying the RPM’s. They said at training, you really don’t need one with this motor, but it freaks people out when they here it.
I have never run the comparable Merc, so I can’t comment on the differences, but I know my motor is super quiet, starts anytime on 2 short cranks & is a fairly fuel efficient if I don’t run it at 5500 RPM’s for long periods.
I don’t think you can choose wrong.
Before you buy either, give the Evinrude E-Tec a shot. This two-stroke engine is faster out of the hole and on plane, lighter, less polluting and has great gas mileage.
Aside from winterizing, which takes about five minutes, the engine requires no break-in period and no maintenance for three years. Evinrude advertises that the head and related connections have only two moving parts, relative to about 200 for the four-stroke engines. Emissions are significantly less then the four-strokes and meet all worldwide requirements.
To top it off Evinrude offers a $4.00 per HP rebate, or a seven year NON-DEPRECIATING warranty. That warranty was darn attractive and I took it versus the rebate.
So, if you change your mind and select E-TEC you have a faster, lighter motor, that is less polluting, has far less moving parts and is guaranteed for seven years.
Finally, a suggestion. If you know a dealership mechanic that services the above engines ask about the E-TEC visa-via other makes. Mercs are trouble, an opinion based on the experiences of several neighbors that live in my area along the river. Both the Suziki’s and Yammy’s are great motors, albeit the Suziki may be short-lived due to the
E-TEC. Bottom line is the industry’s best is the new Evinrude E-Tec.
I’ll echo a previous post on the break-in. I was told one is not needed except to vary rpm and not make any 15+ minute runs at one rpm within the first 10 hours of use.
I have Mercury F115 from 2004 and love it! I grew up with Mercury’s and asked the dealer to switch the boat package that came with a Yammi so I could have the Merc.
Personal preference!!
Quote:
Before you buy either, give the Evinrude E-Tec a shot. This two-stroke engine is faster out of the hole and on plane, lighter, less polluting and has great gas mileage.
Aside from winterizing, which takes about five minutes, the engine requires no break-in period and no maintenance for three years. Evinrude advertises that the head and related connections have only two moving parts, relative to about 200 for the four-stroke engines. Emissions are significantly less then the four-strokes and meet all worldwide requirements.
To top it off Evinrude offers a $4.00 per HP rebate, or a seven year NON-DEPRECIATING warranty. That warranty was darn attractive and I took it versus the rebate.
So, if you change your mind and select E-TEC you have a faster, lighter motor, that is less polluting, has far less moving parts and is guaranteed for seven years.
Finally, a suggestion. If you know a dealership mechanic that services the above engines ask about the E-TEC visa-via other makes. Mercs are trouble, an opinion based on the experiences of several neighbors that live in my area along the river. Both the Suziki’s and Yammy’s are great motors, albeit the Suziki may be short-lived due to the
E-TEC. Bottom line is the industry’s best is the new Evinrude E-Tec.
Taken right out of the E-Tec infomercial.
E-Tec would be the last engine I would consider buying at this point in time.
I am curious. You mentioned E-TEC would be the last engine you would consider buying at this time. Any specific reasons.
Also, is there anything I mentioned regarding the E-TEC being faster, less polluting, etc. that is not correct.
Thanks
with regard to discussion on Etec vs Yammie…
Emmissions: Both motors are EPA 2006 and CARB rated
Weight: The Yamaha is 33# heavier than Etec. That amounts to around 1.75% difference in weight on a 2000# rig.
Speed: There is no head to head comparison that I am aware of that can settle this dispute. With the Yammie being EFI this year, I would be surprised to any significant difference.
Oil changes vs oil injected: Believe it or not, if you can change your own oil, it is less expenive to operate a 4-stroke See Etec commercial thread from last year
What it boils down to is price for the motor and testimonies to their reliability. You really have to look hard to hear anything bad about either.
That being said, all I can say is GO SUZUKI!!! 
Pete,
After the comment from the last writer who could provide no factual info I didn’t want to get into specifics regarding individual motors but my son has a 115 HP Suziki on a PrinceCraft which he bought last year. There are few head-to-head tests regarding outboards, aside from the E-TEC promo, by when the E-Tec was first introduced there was one with E-Tec, Suziki, Yamaha and Merc. I believe this was in the 115HP class. The winner was Suziki because E-Tec was not as quite and had problems accelerating due to a computer issue. Overall, among the four motors the results were fairly close, albeit this was a few years ago and Suziki/E-Tec finished 1-2.
The results are available on the Internet, but you need to look because I have not seen for awhile.
However, since then the E-TEC has improved its responsiveness and is also quiter. A week ago last Saturday, after the PWT and Dog Diving tournaments in Winniconne, WI. we took the Prince Craft with the 115 HP Suziki and my new Crestline Fishhawk to the Mississippi River and launched at Merrick Park, WI. The boats are about the same weight, although the Crestliner is wider and shorter. I took my son’s lab, he took his wife.
Bottom line was the 90HP E-TEC was faster and much quicker out of the hole the my son’s Suzuki despite the HP difference. On the top speed end, just a tad; on acceleration there was no comparision.
They are all darn good motors, but I am sold on the E-TEC engine.
Appreciate the informed response.
E-Tec all the way. Plain and simple. Forget the 4-stroke.
Isn’t the ETec gonna cost more than a Yammi? In any case,
thanks for the thoughts. Seems like there are a lot of people biased towards Yammy. So am I, I guess, but I became biased because I own a 2 stroke and many people influenced me on Yammies too. I will not consider the Etecs cause I cannot get a kicker to go with it cheaply. So, will stick my options to Yammy, Merc, Suzuki….and Honda if the price is right. I think Hondas and Suzuki tend to be more expensive.
There have been allot of good points made here on all sides, I have a 1997 2 stroke 40HP Evinrude it has been a good motor overall with no major problems with it. However with that being said I am very strongly leaning toward a Yamaha for my next motor as I would like to upgrade to a 90HP. Anyone that I have ever talked to that owns a Yamaha has had nothing but good things to say about them. I have not decided if I will go with a 2 stroke or a 4 stroke as I more than likely will look for a used one, I can not justify the price tag of a new motor for a used boat. I have to admit that I am temped by the E-tec but there are two reasons why I probably will not get one in the near future. One: like I said before is I can not justify the price tag of a new E-tec (around $8000) for a used boat. Two: I never buy anything that is as new to the market as E-tec is, I want the products I buy to have been on the market for a few years and have a proven track record. I do know for a fact that my next major purchase for my boat will be a Yamaha T8 kicker hands down the best kicker on the marked IMHO. Sorry I got off track here a bit your question was “Should I go for a Yammy or Mercury?” For me if I had to chose from only these two there would be no question in my mind at all it would be Yamaha all the way. Like others have said in this post all of the motors mentioned here are good solid motors what it will boil down to in the end is your personal preference.
Best of luck to you on what ever you decide. 
BTW, does anyone of you with the 115HP Yammy have a 1700 Fisherman? How slow can you troll it down to?
I just went thru this decision about 2 mths ago.with the Lund Explorer I purchased I had my choice of a 115 Merc 4 stroke or a 115 yam 4 stroke. I really wanted the yam motor-however the merc had 1000 off in rebates so I went that route. I have been out about 7 times and so far am VERY happy with it. From day 1 (which was 28 degrees) that motor has popped off on first try everytime. Not cold-blooded at all. Merc and Yam are the exact same powerhead..its just the injection parts that are different in them. Either way I dont think you can go wrong..check to see which as specials/rebates going on them..
How slow can you troll your merc and explorer down to???
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