Help me select an engine???

[yoda4x4]

I everybody! I just bought a 14' boat and am looking into purchasing a brand new motor for it. The boat specifies that it can handle anything up to a 25 HP outboard. I'm interested in only 4 strokes as they are a better fit for me. What recommendations can anyone make as far as size, reliability, price, and obviously what brand? The brands I'm looking into are: Honda, Evinrude, Johnson, Mercury, Nissan, and Suzuki. Please provide your thoughts as I'm finding it difficult to rate one from another. Also, if you have any links to reviews performed on any of these brands, I would appreciate that too.<br /><br />Thanks!<br />David

 

[DJ]

Re: Help me select an engine???

Yoda,<br /><br />Bass and Walleye Boats magazine did a 25 hp. shootout last year. I believe it was about May or June issue. Go to their website and see if you can get a copy.

 

[norman158]

Re: Help me select an engine???

after reading steelie's post on this board i would not even look at a suzuki. just my .02 worth

 

[Bear]

Re: Help me select an engine???

Don't know the difference between 25 and 30 hp fourstrokes. I have read a test in a swedish boat magazine (november 2000):<br /><br />Evinrude 30 597 cc 192 pounds<br /><br />Honda BF 30 499 cc 142 pounds<br /><br />Mercury 30 747 cc 186 pounds<br /><br />Suzuki DF 30 597 cc 192 pounds<br /><br />Yamaha F 30 A 747 cc 180 pounds<br /><br />All three cylinder, fourstrokes, long shafts, and electric start. No powertrim on the Honda.<br /><br />Top speed ,WOT, 28,5-29,0 mph (about 25 knots) but "only" 26,5 mph for Honda, on a 550 pounds and 15' boat. Two persons. <br /><br />Fuel consumption @ 25 mph; #1 Evinrude #2 Honda and Suzuki #4 Yamaha and Mercury. The difference is too small to be of any concern in this case, but Yamaha and Mercury are a more thirsty but not much. With more load it's the other way around; #1 Yamaha and Mercury # 3 Honda and #4 Suzuki and Evinrude.<br /><br />Acceleration, 0-23 mph #1 Yamaha, 11 seconds #2 Mercury 13,5 seconds #3 Suzuki 16,5 seconds #4 Evirude 17 seconds #5 Honda 22,5 seconds. Three people on board (530-590 pounds).<br /><br />The Yamaha is more quiet than the rest at five different speeds. At idle its the other way around.<br /><br />The conclusion? -What colour do you like, black, blue or silver? <br /><br />So how this compares to 25 HP depends on if the are based on the same powerhead, right?<br /><br />What about dealers, service, parts and... $$$?<br /><br />/Bear

 

[yoda4x4]

Re: Help me select an engine???

Thank you all for the information. However, one of my biggest concerns/questions is about the reliability of each manufacturer. Which manufacturer has a better track record for reliable engines which last a long time?<br /><br />Thanks again,<br />David

 

[cochran351]

Re: Help me select an engine???

The mercs are made by yamaha, the OMC's are made by suzuki, I live in an area where there<br />are 30 boat dealers within a 60 mi. radius<br />and not one of them are Honda.In fact the only 4 strokes I have ever seen have all been yamaha. Local dealer is Most important,<br />check out their reputation and service area.

 

[Clay]

Re: Help me select an engine???

Why do yamaha dealers tell everybody that yamaha builds mercurys 4-strokes.

 

[cochran351]

Re: Help me select an engine???

Mercury buys the yamaha powerheads on their 4 strokes and hangs on a merc lower end. This has been discussed hundreds of times on other boards. A friend of mine bought a small<br />four stroke for his jon boat and both the merc and yam dealer told him they were the same engine. Ymaha cost more but had extra warranty. Things are wierd in the marine industry, my buddies merc has an electronic control system made in mexico, my V max yamaha has one made by motorola (USA Co.)<br />Go figure. I would look for merc to start building their own 4 strokes.

 

[DJ]

Re: Help me select an engine???

The marine industry really got hit hard by the new restrictions. They simply do not enjoy the economies of scale that the auto manufacturers do. They have to sell alot more engines to recoup the R & D costs.<br /><br />It was easier for the Japanese manufacturers to go four stroke. Many already had adaptable engines in their line up. Honda and Suzuki with car engines and Yamaha with motorcycle technology. <br /><br />All the US manufacturers had were 2 strokes.<br /><br />It costs an incredible amount of money to develop an engine from the ground up. That's why the US folks stayed with the 2 stroke basics. Yet it's strange how the Japanese saw some merits in it also. Vice versa for the US companies with four strokes.<br /><br />The outboards today (including four strokes), are much cleaner than those of a few years ago. Yet they are filthy compared to automotive engines.<br /><br />Autos take some benefit from catalytic convertors yet most of the bad stuff is cleaned up by higher engine temps. Something the outboard folks are going to have to address.<br /><br />By the time the outboard folks get there, the auto folks will have gone away from internal combustion to fuel cell technology.<br />It's alot closer than many have been led to believe. The biggest stumbling block is fueling infrastructure, eg; hydrogen.

 

[Clay]

Re: Help me select an engine???

Merc and yamaha got together to save money and time. A smart move by both companys. But to say yamaha builds mercs four strokes is wrong. I was there when the first block was machined. I was there when the first motor went into the test cell. which by the way was a 50 hp. The 50 hp block is manufactured <br />in fonddulac. the head is manufactured in japan. which is the case for most of thier motors <br />sorry guys but it bugs me when people call mercurys yamahas. I enjoy what i do, but I don't build yamahas<br />although they still share information merc and yamaha are no longer obligated to work together<br />Djohn, put your money in hydrogen

 

[DJ]

Re: Help me select an engine???

Cootie,<br /><br />Wasn't taking any shots at Merc. or Yamaha.<br /><br />Industries today are not nearly as segregated as they used to be. You also know that Merc. casts some very big parts for an auto manufacturer. Same for Yamaha.<br /><br />Ahh! Fon du Lac-outboard mecca.<br /><br />I already have.

 

[Clay]

Re: Help me select an engine???

HARLEY (MERCURY) DAVIDSON

 

[Bear]

Re: Help me select an engine???

"Which manufacturer has a better track record for reliable engines which last a long time?" <br /><br />THAT will be Honda. <br /><br />We don't know that much about these "new" ones, do we?<br /><br />/Bear