Evinrude vs Mercury?

[duststang]

I am new to boating and have just purchased a Sea Nymph 14R with 1972 Evinrude 9.5hp, 1972 Mercury 7.5hp and Atwood 7.5. they all run but not yet tried on boat in lake. I was assuming that the Evinrude would propably be the best motor since the largest hp but not sure about reliability? I am planning on keeping one and selling the other two motors any thoughts or recommendations?
thanks,

 

[JimS123]

Re: Evinrude vs Mercury?

I have the same rig. My 'Rude is over 40 years old and the the Nymph is approching 50. When the boys were small we ran her at WOT almost all of the time because the 4 of us loaded the boat up pretty heavy. Except for a water pump and a few spark plugs the motor has not been touched.

I'm not a fan of 1970's vintage Mercuries. I know too many people with issues. I realize the Merc gurus will disagree with me, but I don't think too many people will have much bad to say about a Rude.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Evinrude vs Mercury?

I have had low hp rudes and the 7 1/2 Merc. All were fine reliable engines. I liked the Merc because it had a thru prop exhaust with splined prop shaft. The rudes had the water pickup on the front of the exhaust deflector meaning any sand or trash the prop picked up it threw it into the water inlet and they used a drive pin which we referred to as a shear pin because every time you were in harms way and really needed your power it would shear leaving you powerless. The merc would just slip and re engage and away you went. The cowl on the Merc (roughly a '74 vintage) was in my way when trying to start the engine.

My 2c,
Mark

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Evinrude vs Mercury?

If that boat is a 14 footer, sell all your 7.5 engines and place a 2 strokes higher HP outboard, probably could handle up to 18 HP nicely.

Happy Boating

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Evinrude vs Mercury?

If that boat is a 14 footer, sell all your 7.5 engines and place a 2 strokes higher HP outboard, probably could handle up to 18 HP nicely.

Happy Boating

Great idea and the little 18's big bro the 25, in Merc anyway weighs the same but you get 7 more ponies.

Have run a 33 hp engine (late '50's OMC) on 14' Alumacraft alum with side console and 30 hp Merc (old 4 cyl Mark 30) on 14' MirrorCraft alum with side console, both rigs were electric start so you had the battery and all and very nice with no safety issues.

Mark

 

[JimS123]

Re: Evinrude vs Mercury?

If that boat is a 14 footer, sell all your 7.5 engines and place a 2 strokes higher HP outboard, probably could handle up to 18 HP nicely.

Happy Boating

I've owned my 14R for 26 years and have had several different motors on her. IMHO an Evinrude or Johnson 18 is just about perfectly matched to that hull. Even though its rated at 25, when I put a 2-stroke 25 on she was overpowered - did not feel comfortable with more than 2 people on board.

After all these years I'm back to the 9.5. The boat is now mostly used as a river fishing boat, so speed is not that important. That 9.5 is such a sweet little engine and is so economical that for me its the ideal choice.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Evinrude vs Mercury?

Sell them all and get at least a 15hp. I've owned or ran the merc and evinrude. I don't think the atwood is likely a very good engine at all. An OMC 15-25hp would be my choice for your boat.
JBJ

 

[JohnRudeMan]

Re: Evinrude vs Mercury?

If you'll go for reliability, go for Evinrude/Johnson, no doubt!! But I'm sure the Merc guys will disagree with me...

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: Evinrude vs Mercury?

If you'll go for reliability, go for Evinrude/Johnson, no doubt!! But I'm sure the Merc guys will disagree with mee...

No we won't... We may be Merc guys but we're not stupid..

 

[JimS123]

Re: Evinrude vs Mercury?

If you want to go out in a boat and go fast and make a lot of noise and impress the girls, buy a Mercury.........if you want to get back, buy an Evinrude.

 

[andrewt12]

Re: Evinrude vs Mercury?

Evinrude and Mercury are the exact same motor, just different logos slapped on them ( well newer models at least), both i find are reiable and you can't really compare them. But then again ive never ran an older motor always had new !

 

[nwcove]

Re: Evinrude vs Mercury?

If you want to go out in a boat and go fast and make a lot of noise and impress the girls, buy a Mercury.........if you want to get back, buy an Evinrude.

exactly right for that era of motors.....if you wanna get there first....buy a merc. if you wanna get there and back....buy an omc!!! jmo

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Evinrude vs Mercury?

Carl Kiekhaefer is rolling over in his grave. Carl rated his motors at 3/4 throttle because he felt the rest was reserve. I agree, sell the three, and buy a 15-20hp motor.

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: Evinrude vs Mercury?

In that HP rating, I think the Tohatsu is better than either Merc or Evinrude.. LOL... Just joking around..

 

[JimS123]

Re: Evinrude vs Mercury?

Evinrude and Mercury are the exact same motor, just different logos slapped on them ( well newer models at least), both i find are reiable and you can't really compare them. But then again ive never ran an older motor always had new !

Couldn't be further from the truth.

Basically, Merc doesn't make motors any more. They are all all imported rice burners, thus they ARE the same as many others, except with black paint.

OTOH, Rudes are a breed all their own - made in the USA with the parent company in Canada.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Evinrude vs Mercury?

If you'll go for reliability, go for Evinrude/Johnson, no doubt!! But I'm sure the Merc guys will disagree with mee...

Yessss but I have had both and there are subtle differences why I quit OMC 35 years ago and have been with Black lacquer ever since.

Mark

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Evinrude vs Mercury?

Couldn't be further from the truth.

Basically, Merc doesn't make motors any more. They are all all imported rice burners, thus they ARE the same as many others, except with black paint.

OTOH, Rudes are a breed all their own - made in the USA with the parent company in Canada.

Actually, it is partially true. The 2012 small Evinrudes (3.5-15hp) are actually manufactured by Tohatsu, as are the small Mercury's (<30hp) 40-60hp mercs are made in China. Most Mercs >75 hp are made in Wisconsin.

http://corp.brp.com/en-us/company/news/brp-provide-lower-hp-evinrude-outboard-engines-tohatsu

 

[duststang]

Re: Evinrude vs Mercury?

exactly right for that era of motors.....if you wanna get there first....buy a merc. if you wanna get there and back....buy an omc!!! jmo

LOL thanks, I have noticed that the Mercury is much heavier than the Evinrude even though the hp is lower(7.5 vs 9.5) i thought that was wierd? I also noticed that the carb rebuild kit for Mercury is $36 more expensive than the Evinrude. I originally was thinking about trying to find a 15-18 hp but they seem so expensive. I think I will list all three and use the Evinrude until they sell, sounds like every agrees that the Evinrude is more reliable. I like to go fast but cannot afford to be stranded with my 5yr old son. I took it out with the Evinrude and we had a great time love the 14R SeaNymph. Evinrude ran great except 1 episode when I got in a area was mossy and the motor cutout started right back and ran fine (would like a little more power).

 

[egclassic]

Re: Evinrude vs Mercury?

I'd just like to add that my last two motors were mercs. They ran very well, but now that I have a johnson, I realize how much more difficult those mercs were to work on! And yes, they were much noisier also!

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Evinrude vs Mercury?

If you are an oldie lover that thinks old motors are much better, go for them. New 2.5 to 30 HP, 4 strokes Merc's and Rude's are reliable and simple motors, the only issue fanatics of these reputed brands won't digest is that both rebadged brands in that HP size are Tohatsu made in Japan...

Happy Boating