WHICH OUTBOARD TO CHOOSE?

[Capt. Terry]

OK I AM MAKING SOME HEADWAY NOW ON MY 24' SEA OX REFIT. NEW FUEL TANK NEW DECK AND BUILDING THE NEW CONSOLE NOW. THEN SOME GLASS WORK THE OUTSIDE HULL REPAINTED, BOTTOM PAINT, AN ENGINE AND SPLASH! I WANT TO TAKE THE OLD 1989 MERCURY 100 HP OFF THE BACK AND PUT ON A .........UMMMM I THINK 150 LONG SHAFT OUTBOARD.

I HAVE TOSSED AROUND WITH THE IDEA OF GOING WITH A CLEAN AND / OR REBUILT ENGINE TO SAVE MONEY......CAN GET INTO ONE FOR ABOUT ANYWHERE FROM $5500 TO $9000. ...BUT THEN AGAIN, I CAN GET A NEW ONE HUNG ON THE STERN AND COMPLETELY RIGGED FROM ANYWHERE FROM $9500.00 TO $14,500.00. WITH WARRANTY.

......SO HERE IS THE QUESTION THAT I AM LOOKING FOR ADVICE ON SERIOUSLY PLEASE. WHO HAS MADE THIS CHOICE LATELY, WHAT DID YOU GO WITH MEANING HORSEPOWER, MAKE, MODEL, AND 2-STROKE OR 4-STROKE.....FUEL SAVINGS COMPARISON, NOISE REDUCTION AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF....ETHANOL TERRORS.....AND THE TRUE QUESTION .....WHAT IS THE BEST BRAND?

LOTS OF PEOPLE I KNOW HAVE YAMAHA'S .....SOME WITH GREAT SUCCESS....AND SOME WITH HORROR STORIES. I HAVE RIDDEN IN TWO BOATS RECENTLY WHO HAVE 150 HP AND 200 HP SUZUKI AND I GOT TO TELL YOU THAT IS ONE FINE RUNNING QUIET ENGINE. THE 4-STROKE YAMAHA'S WEIGH SO MUCH MORE. I HAVE PUT A BRAND NEW 90 GALLON ALUMINUM FUEL TANK UNDER THE NEW DECK SO I AM READY TO MAKE A MOVE HERE......

ANY AND ALL INFORMATION WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED HERE AND THANKS IN ADVANCE.

[tankerfly]

I have had 2 boats, 1 with an evinrude and 1 with a yamaha. The Yammie was much newer, but after the experience of both, I will only buy yamaha in the future. I also have a friend that replaced E-tecs with yamahas and loves the change. I have heard good things about the suzuki's as well. Only been on one boat with them and they ran nice, quiet, and reliable for the limited time I saw them in action.

[dolphinfrenzi]

Capt
I changed to Zuki and our team boat runs Zukis and I LOVE THEM. As far as I know there is nothing else. I know the Box runs zukis on the "goose" I can not count the number of times people ask me are you going to start the motor, I said she is running. Quiet is understatement And they do have get up out of the hole when you push they RESPOND!

[calebw]

Really you can't go wrong with any new 4 stroke motor on the market today. Personally I have a suzuki 140 on our skiff and I have nothing but good things to say about. Never any trouble what so ever, I like the extended warrnerty plan too. If it was me I would outfit you boat with a new suzuki 150, pay the extra cash and get the 150 over the 140. I have ridden on boats with both motors, and the 150 is a very powerful 150hp motor, the 140 is strong but the 150 is in a whole different class. Can't go wrong with a yammy either, they are all about the same today.

[Capt. Terry]

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH AND ANY MORE INFO WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. I REALLY DID LIKE THOSE ZUKI'S THAT I RODE WITH AND TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH FOR THE LITTLE AMOUNT OF NOISE THEY MAKE I THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THEM DUE TO THE FACT THAT I COULD HARLY HEAR IT RUNNING.

ANOTHER THING IS THAT THE ZUKI IS ACTUALLY REMARKABLY CHEAPER NEW AND INSTALLED THAN THE YAMMAHA FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN PRICING SO FAR.

AGAIN THANKS TO ALL RESPONDERS HERE.

[gottaflylee]

I second the Suzuki 150. I have run both the 150 Yama as well as the Suzuki 150. The Suzuki 150 is quiter and as strong as the Yama. There is something about the Yama tha I am not happy with although I can't put my finger on it, may be the noise. A friend has the Suzuki 150 on his small shrimp boat, he has almost 8,000 hours on it. Had to replace the shifter clamp at about 3,000 hours but other than that, starts it and goes.

[Mustang Sally]

I own both. I personally have had issues with the Suzuki being sensitive to ethanol. I have good filters on both boats. Knock on wood, the yamaha has never missed a beat.

The suzuki has been in the shop a bunch. Maybe I just have a lemon.

[Banshee]

terry,
the annpolis Boat show is just around the corner, deals to be had!!!!
Just a thought.
JW

[Ace1st]

I recently had the same questions. I compared four different brands and it finally came down to two brands. Yamaha and Suzuki. Price was a huge decision maker for me. And I chose the Suzukis. I recently sold the whole rig but did manage to put 80 hours on it. In that time I did not have one single issue with the Suzukis. I loved them and would by again. Mine were DF 140's.

[biebs]

Out of curiosity, anyone have any experiences with the new hondas? Im in the process of outfitting a new 22ft skiff with a 135hp and through the dealer im purchasing through its a really good deal. Most of the commercial skiffs up and down the ICW use hondas from what I notice. Just curious of why they have not been mentioned.