WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

brianmerc

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Nov 5, 2002
Messages
140
My friends and I had a debate the other night on which outboard engine was the best. So...Which outboard engine performs the best? What is the best overall outboard engine?
 
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DJ

Guest
Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

There are almost 20,000 memebers of this board. <br /><br />I believe you'll get about that many differing opinions. :eek:
 

JasonJ

Rear Admiral
Joined
Aug 20, 2001
Messages
4,163
Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

Thats easy. Its the one that you maintain properly, and the one that gets you out and back every time with no worry. Thats being said, I'm a Merc fan, so Mercs are the best in my opinion....
 

SpinnerBait_Nut

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 25, 2002
Messages
17,651
Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

If you take care of them, about any of them are good.<br />It is all on how you treat them.<br />I am a Merc/Mariner person myself.<br />I like both.<br />I have also had Johnny/rudes that were good also.<br />I just like my Mariner.<br />"Nothing can be finer than your inliner"
 

dmessy

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 8, 2001
Messages
505
Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

If Sears don't make it, you don't need it :D
 

Reel Appeal

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 19, 2002
Messages
566
Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

Hmmm,thats kind of a loaded question.My picks would be Johnson first with Mercury a close second.Both are high quality motors.Alot depends on application and maintenance.Mercury leans towards higher performance,where Johnson is ruggedly built for dependability.<br />The BEST outboard is a good pair of oars! :D
 

papasage

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jan 12, 2003
Messages
785
Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

loaded gun :eek: :rolleyes: .i have onley owned johnson&evinrude untill reasentley. havent got the merc .fixed yet .iknow the merc. useto be rated different than omc and some other brands . i understand that they are rated the same now. i have 6 motors merc. omc & chrysler. ilike them all they are paidfor. they will git me out on the lake . well my merc will as soon as i git a piston . :D
 

RJS

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Mar 14, 2002
Messages
211
Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

I think most outboards today are pretty good. I don't think it's right to say one brand is better than another. Outboard manufacturers produce an engine line-up that spans from portable to large 6 cylinders. Each manufacture has strengths and weaknesses in their line-up. It all boils down to wants, needs, and the particular application. No manufacturer makes the best engine for all applications
 

Jack Shellac

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Aug 7, 2002
Messages
1,661
Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

For saltwater use: In older motors, OMC's because of their proven record for holding up. For a new motor, I'd have to go with Yamaha.
 

miloman

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Nov 3, 2002
Messages
1,181
Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

hands down a new rude etec if your buying new it is the best motor design I have ever seen
 

RJS

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Mar 14, 2002
Messages
211
Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

Milo,<br /><br />Were you able to test ride with the E-tech? Are these available? I would love to get a look at these first hand, they look and sound pretty cool.
 

rolmops

Vice Admiral
Joined
Feb 24, 2002
Messages
5,299
Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

I like the ones that not only get me out on the lake,but then even if the electronics break down have the possibility to wrap a rope around a flywheel and start her that way to get back.<br />So my answer would be the omc engines of the seventies and eighties.
 

Forktail

Ensign
Joined
Feb 11, 2002
Messages
977
Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

Most definitely one that gets you out and back over and over again. So that would be a Yamaha. ;)
 

flatsman

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 18, 2001
Messages
109
Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

Buy American Made products ----- Rice burners are late comers to the game ----- anyway we need to keep jobs at home. American Manufacturers can beat the competition . Plus parts avalibilty is much better. note; I personally find the fact that american manufacturers that are putting their logo on engines made out of the country sicking . MY Thoughts exactly ---Amen
 

S.T. Marine

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 13, 2002
Messages
248
Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

New evinrude Fuel injected motors are great. Have almost the same emmisionsas honda 4 strokes. they are 3 star motors now.
 

45_red

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jan 22, 2003
Messages
173
Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

Best would be the brand carried by a local dealer you know and trust.
 

NOSLEEP

Commander
Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
2,442
Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

I like the new Evinrude / Bombardier with direct<br />injection. fastest, cleanest and lightest.<br />More Gooder. ;)
 

roscoe

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
21,657
Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

I don't know which is best, but if I find a bright yellow one with green striping, I'm gonna buy it.
 

Skinnywater

Commander
Joined
Mar 7, 2002
Messages
2,065
Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

Ditto with what 45-red said.<br /><br />Just happend to spend my American dollars at an American boat dealer that was owned by an American that employs Americans that carried a Japanese name (Honda) that has a corporate office in America that bought American aluminum and steel to manufacture it and paid a share of American taxes and dutys to bring it here.<br /><br />Next year an American company may paint it bright yellow with green striping and put an American name on it. :D :D :D
 

Fly Rod

Commander
Joined
Oct 31, 2002
Messages
2,622
Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

:p Goodddd Morning!!! :) The Mariner by Merc was my best motor. :cool: Can't say about the Evinrude Ficht. :rolleyes: didn't have her long enough to get an opinon, :( she blew a powerhead with only 25 hrs. :eek: <br /><br />Just read an article the other day which says that Yamaha is the best all around. And that was from an independent survey. ;) :cool: <br /><br />just bought a 2003 Ficht Cant beat the warranty. Hope that I don't have to use it. Bought me one of them $99.00, 50 mile tow packages just in case.My pappy says better to be safe then sorryyyy!!!<br /><br />used up my allotment of Graemlins!!!
 
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