[Petrol]

Hello,I have a little problem... I intend to buy a outboard motor with 50 PS. My local dealer proposed to buy the HP 50 from Johnson. But I have heard, that the new E-Tec 2-stroked from Evinrude is a very good motor. In the last I had a old Mercury 25 PS. My Boat has a weight from about 800 kilogram. Can me someone telling, which outboard motor the best is or where I'll get more informations? About your help I'm very grateful.Sorry for my bad english...Petrol

[bossee]

"HP 50 from Johnson."Johnson 50 hp 4-stroke is actually a Suzuki (DF 40) but painted white with Johnson logo on it. It is a very good outboard and it has been on the market for several years so it has some history. http://www.johnson.com/docs/200008/0_US.htm http://www.suzukimarine.com/sr04/df5040/ "But I have heard, that the new E-Tec 2-stroked from Evinrude is a very good motor."Who knows for sure since E-tech is so new on the market? It has not yet proven itself to be a reliable outboard (lets hope this will be the case but it is to early to say for sure). http://www.evinrude.com/docs/100/0_US.htm "In the last I had a old Mercury 25 PS."Any reason to not buy a Mercury again?There are some fine 2- and 4-stroke 50 hp nowadays from Mercury.Fore example the Mercury EFI 50 hp 4-stroke is very good (the Mercury EFI 60 is basically same outboard but 10 hp more). If You prefer 2-stroke the Mercury 50 Classic could be an alternative also. http://www.mercurymarine.com/mercury_50_efi_fourstroke http://www.mercurymarine.com/mercury_60_efi_fourstroke http://www.mercurymarine.com/mercury_50_classic Yamaha 2- or 4-strokes are also good and reliable. For example the Yamaha F50 and F60 4-stroke.http://www.yamaha-motor.com/products/subcatinfo.a sp?lid=5&lc=otb&cid=19&scid=2&year=2004&cat=Four+S troke+Series&scat=Midrange"My Boat has a weight from about 800 kilogram."Can You tell us what make and model it is.800 kg is a rather heavy boat for a 50 hp outboard. How many horsepower is Your boat rated for?Is it a planing boat or semi(half)planing boat You have?Just as a comparison: I have a DC/Bowrider that is 5,73 meter x 2,20 meter and weight 740 kg without outboard, with outboard in my case 190 kg more. My boat is rated for max 150 hp but I use a 115 hp 4-stroke (Yamaha F115). My boat would not come up on plane with a 50 hp outboard."Can me someone telling, which outboard motor the best is"Best for Your boat - please tell us what boat you have and how many persons usually onboard and how You plan to use your boat normally. Some want to cruise rather fast, some do not even bother to get up on plane and just cruise at low speed most of the time. "or where I'll get more informations?"Some links above."About your help I'm very grateful."Sure we will try to help if You can give little more information about Your boat and how you use it."Sorry for my bad english..."It is fine I think - I understand what you write, and I'm from Sweden so English is not my first language./Bo"Petrol"

[JB]

Hi, Petrol.The E-Tec engines are pretty new. What Bombardier tells us about them is very exciting, but few of us have any experience with them on the water. Sounds like your dealer is in the same position.The Suzuki-made Johnson 4 strokes have been around long enough to earn an excellent reputation.We don't know about the availability of warranty service or parts where you are. That should be very important to you, as well.It would be a hard decision for me, too. I have been a faithful Johnson-Evinrude user for 50 years, but I now own a wonderful Suzuki 4 stroke (same as Johnson 4 stroke).I would let the local service and parts decide for me.Good luck.

[Forktail]

Johnson 50 hp 4-stroke is actually a Suzuki (DF 40) but painted white with Johnson logo on it.

Thanks Bo. But the Johnson 50 HP 4-stroke would be Suzuki's DF50 which runs out at 6500 RPM. Their DF40 is the same block as the DF50, but its tuned to run at a lower 5800 RPM.Both the E-TEC 50 and the EFI Johnson 50 weigh about the same. The Johnson/Suzuki 50 has been around a while and is proven to be an excellent outboard. I think you'll find the E-TEC considerably more expensive as Bass and Walleye magazine quoted the E-TEC 50 at $6831. Johnson EFI 50's can be had for $4500 to $5000.

[mercrewser]

Forktail, when you say the df40 is tuned to turn less rpms, does that mean that they simply over prop/gear it or is it more complex than that? I always thought that engines that shared the same block but different horsepower had different propellers or ratios to differentiate there horsepower but I never knew for sure.

[DJ]

Mercrewser,The HP ratings are typically much more complicated than people think.Since the 40 and 50 are EFI, it may be as simple as a fuel map change and an electronic flash of the engine management system. Can't say-for sure.With that said, don't think you can buy a 40 and have it changed to a 50 without some real rework or serious warranty issues.

[lakensea]

The 40's and 50's have different camshafts and ECM's (computer).

[Forktail]

The difference in RPM would be the major factor. Increasing the RPM will increase the HP, as long as the torque stays fairly flat, which it appears it does via the math and what lakensea said.

[bossee]

Forktail,-----Johnson 50 hp 4-stroke is actually a Suzuki (DF 40)-----Good You discovered the error by me, I just typed wrong, it should have been DF 50 of course.Sorry,/Bo

[Forktail]

No problem Bo. Your information is always very helpful.

[Petrol]

@AllMany thanks for the helpfully informations. I'm to be sold on your expert answers.@Bo"Any reason to not buy a Mercury again?"In my adjacency is only one outboard dealer and him business partner is Bombardier (Evinrude and Johnson). I think, sometime I need the local service and maybe parts. It's the only reason."Can You tell us what make and model it is."I think my boat is a half planing cabin boat. It is not a power boat or the like. My interest is the tramp on the water. I'm from Germany and I live in the greatest lake area in germany (in the near of Hamburg). The provisions of local lake law allow a speed-limit amounting of 24 km/h (around 15 mph). It's one reason. If you want see any pictures: here is the link.@JB"It would be a hard decision for me, too...I would let the local service and parts decide for me."I think the service of the local dealer for the Johnson-Motors is almost perfect. But the service in the first 3 years of the new E-Tec should are better on the public specification from Evinrude: Service is'nt necessary. But it is only theory...I tend to buy the E-Tec. If I come to a decision I'll it post here. Once again many thanks for your anwers!!!Best regardsPetrol

[bossee]

Hi,Here is some info below for Suzuki DF40 and DF50 I found in a magazine that could perhaps answer some of the questions that came up in this discussion about difference between the two outboards.Petrol: fine restauration You have made!I'm sure You will be happy with a Johnson DF50 4-stroke or Evinrude E-tech 50 hp 2-stroke. Both are envrionmentally friendly (CARB 3-star rated) and at least the Johnson/Suzuki DF50 is reasonably quiet even at full RPM (I do not know the noise levels on Evinrude E-tech 50 hp). Both also fuel efficent since both fuel injected (Johnson EFI and Evinrude DFI). If You buy the E-tech 50 hp please post here again how You think it is. Considering how large Your boat is I would, if economy permit, select the E-tech 60 hp (same weight as E-tech 50 hp) to get some more power.