Opinions on outboards

Status
Not open for further replies.
Trix

Trix

Keeper of San Juan Secrets
This may be a futile Ford vs. Chevy pickup question, but I'll give it a go.
A close friend just sold his San Diego sailboat and is looking to buy a used saltwater fishing boat. He's browsing 2009ish 26 to 30 footers with 150 to 250 twin O/B's. Boat would be slipped.
So the obvious question is, can you all provide any preferences or cautions on O/B brands?
My 50 years of v-drives, jets and sterndrives provides no direct experience, but many hundreds of boating magazines clutter my brain. I lean toward Honda and Yamaha, but his choices may driven/limited by the condition and hours of the boats on the market., although he is looking sorta nation wide (my truck might be the tow vehical!).
 
I have experience with all types and I can tell you that no matter what motors are purchased with a boat, there’s no guarantee he’ll have a problem free experience. I’ve seen Yamaha motors that are junk and some that are impeccable. The same holds true for Mercury. Honda is a great motor, but the weight on them is killer. If the boat is going to be located in Page, I’d lean Mercury because techs and parts are plentiful.
 
That era motor was dominated by Yamaha for salt water use. And I’d say for good reason.

Personally I would say Yamaha>Suzuki>Honda. I would rate Mercury down the line.
 
Really appreciate your comments. I encouraged him to look for a boat with complete service records. He certainly knows the risks of buying a decade old boat from a stranger. Fortunately, he can afford any repair, so I was needling him to stash the cash he's saving on older boat in his gas and repair account, not his fine wine account!
 
I have a mercury that has been very reliable, so I am not Mercury basher. The newer 4 stroke, non-supercharged Merc's are very nice, have bigger blocks and lighter weight. But Yamaha's and Honda's in that size from that era are much more sought after with the offshore crowd, and demand more in resale than the Verado's...deserved or not, they have a less than stellar reputation for reliability......
 
I have had all types of out boards all my life in salt and fresh water . Had great luck with all of them . I would go with where you are planning on having it serviced every year and see what they recommend and are trained to work on . I am not a mechanical type of fishermen . But rely upon my boat mechanic experience . Good luck 👍
 
I wouldn't place much value on service records. I have a lift in my barn, and clean the suspension of my vehicles with a toothbrush. I change the oil and fluids twice as often as recommended, and there is no record of that anywhere. Paying someone else to maintain your stuff, which generates records, just means that you don't know how or aren't willing to take care of your stuff without help. Having worked at a dealership, they do the minimum possible to get a vehicle out of there in working condition, where an owner might spend more time cleaning, inspecting, and fussing over their machine.

Now, the comments about using the brand that you can get repairs and parts for easily is quite accurate. I bought a Kubota skid steer because the dealer and parts are close, even though I like Caterpillar, Bobcat, and Case.
 
Last edited:
Mercury has by far the best servicing network. No matter where you are, there is likely a Merc mechanic close by. It used to be that way for OMC (Johnson/Evinrude), but that's not the case anymore. All the companies out there make good outboards. I would make my choice based on the best deal I could get and the service available. I would strongly recommend you buy a 4-stroke as Bombardier (Evinrude) is the only serious manufacturer of 2-strokes right now, and they will have to get in the 4-stroke market in order to stay viable. Mercury, Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki are way ahead of them in that area. :)

Ed Gerdemann
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top