OUTBOARD MOTORS

[hitekxfer]

WHAT IS THE BEST, MOST RELIABLE OUTBOARD MOTOR ON THE MARKET RIGHT NOW.

[Bob Parsons]

What size range?

Some are better in the highpower range, some in the low

I have a suzuki 40 hp 4 stroke that has been great.
People with hondas swear by them.

[jbrooks544]

Hi,

I have a 1999 Suzuki 140hp. that is killer! Everyone I meet that knows a lot about engines recommends these motors. They have more stainless steel in the drivetrain than you can shake a stick at. They are a real commercial grade engine. My 140 has electronic fuel injection so I can putt around or troll all day at 500 rpm without snorts, coughs or fouled plugs. It comes with a 3 year warantee and you can get an extra 3 years coverage (6 years total!) that picks up on the declining coverage of the initial 3 year plan and extends it to 6 years. There are lots of good motors out there. There are pros and cons to all motors. I feel comfortable knowing that I am covered with a 6 year warrantee.

[DLWKFW]

I have used Mariners, and seen them in use commercially and recreationally with great admiration over the years. I think that they're built like tanks. (They are different from their Mercury siblings) Whatever you decide upon, look at repair costs and get friendly with your mechanic.

DW

[hitekxfer]

THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT. VERY GOOD ADVICE. I'LL CHECK THEM OUT.

RMH

[hitekxfer]

THANKS DUDE. I'M GOING WITH A SUZUKI 150. EVERYTHING I'VE HEARD, THEY SEEM TO BE THE BEST .

THANKS FOR THE TIPS.

RMH

[hitekxfer]

THANKS BOB. I'M IN THE 150 CLASS.

I'VE HEARD ALOT OF GOOD THINGS ABOUT SUZUKI.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF EVINRUDE?

RMH

[jmd]

Having been around boats all my life, including working at marinas, I'd say that you can't go wrong with Suzuki or Yamaha. I will say that if you compare Evenrude/Johnson and Merc/Mariners to the Yam & Suz motors, you'll find a huge differance. Performance, noise, length of life. I have a 1988 Yamaha 175 that starts on the first crank every time and is quieter, faster and produces less smoke than my friends 1997 Evenrude 200. (both boats are the same size);
I once spoke to a guy in the keys who runs snorkeling trips and he uses Suzuki. He said that Merc & Evenrude will need to be rebuilt at around a thousand hours, Yamaha around three thousand and Suzuki at five thousand. I don't know about you, but I've only put about 500 hours on my boats in the last two years. Either way, I still love the Yamaha.

Good luck.

[mlb6363]

You did the right thing. The Japanese engines are fine and the 4 stroke Hondas are superb. Never, ever buy OMC. I had two 150HP on my Boston Whaler, brand new, they both had to have 2 new powerheads in 3 years. Absolute junk ! and despite numerous letters to the company they never replied.

[LightTackle]

I have a '99 Ficht 225 on my bassboat and it has given me a ton of grief. I bought the boat last Sept. and in the time that I have owned it, its been in the shop for a cumulative of 3+ months. It is currently in the shop getting its second power head. The first one was replaced and I had 25 hours on the new one. I had maticously broken it in and it died in the middle of a tournament. To make a long story short, I bought a Palm Beach center console and bought a Mercury instead of the stocked OMC motor. I am still playing phone tag with OMC, but usually it takes two to play, they never return my calls. I wonder if the domain www.omc-sucks.com is taken yet.. hmmm.