Johnson 4 stroke 50 hp compared to Yamaha & Merc

[Bigbobcat]

Hi,

Need input (advise) on 2005 Johnson 4 stroke 50 hp on 20' pontoon boat, low hours on motor (probably 30-50 hours). Is the motor good compared to Yamaha & Mercury Bigfoot, 4 stroke & 50 hp ?

Thanks

 

[chrisg]

Re: Johnson 4 stroke 50 hp compared to Yamaha & Merc

What do you mean " need puts on..."? Though you were looking at 2 pontoons with different engine? There was a poll on what motors people have. just go through the forums on Johnsons and see what issues people are having/ask the question there.

PS. I bought the bigfoot for my boat, getting it installed now.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Johnson 4 stroke 50 hp compared to Yamaha & Merc

A Johnson 50HP 4-stroke is a Suzuki 50 HP 4-stroke painted white. Suzy built them for Johnson. They are three cylinder, EFI motors and are great motors. A 50 HP Merc 4-stroke has the largest displacement and would be a four cylinder EFI. The Yamaha, depending on the year, may or may not be EFI. I see no benefit to owning a carbureted four stroke. In fact I would own a carbed two stroke before I would own a carbed four-stroke. If I have to deal with carburetors, I may as well have the performance advantage of the two stroke.

 

[Bigbobcat]

Re: Johnson 4 stroke 50 hp compared to Yamaha & Merc

Is four cylinder EFI better than three cylinder ?

>I see no benefit to owning a carbureted four stroke.
Please clarify ? Which motor is a carburated four stroke ? Are all the 4 stroke are carburated 4 stroke ?

Thanks

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Johnson 4 stroke 50 hp compared to Yamaha & Merc

No -- not all four strokes are EFI. When four strokes came on the scene most were still carbureted. If an engine has electronic fuel injection (like your car) it says so somewhere on the engine cover. Whether an engine has one, two, three, four, six or eight does not make one or the other better or worse. A 50 HP three cylinder engine can have the same or very near the same displacement (cc's) as a four cylinder engine. The 3-cylinder will obviously be more compact and weigh less than an equivalent four cylinder.

Think about starting your car. You get in, turn the key and it starts. EFI engines do the fuel enrichment required for starting automatically. If you never owned an engine with a carburetor, you don't know how frustrating it is for some folks to get those engines started. Do you choke it more, less, advance the fast idle lever, leave it alone, etc. Carbs are also touchy to get synchronized. Two strokes are better performers than four strokes (although four strokes are getting better). So as I mentioned, if I'm forced for whatever reason to deal with a carbureted engine, I will take a two stroke over a four stroke so I get the performance advantage.

 

[Bigbobcat]

Re: Johnson 4 stroke 50 hp compared to Yamaha & Merc

Hi,
I need convenience over performance, i.e. easy to start, trouble free, no adjustment as carburated engine (prefer EFI), have to time to "fix" the engine when I am at my cottage, don't need to drive really really fast (just for cruising) ...
Based on the above: I prefer 4 stroke EFI over carburated or 2 stroke
Any comment is appreciated !

 

[Bigbobcat]

Re: Johnson 4 stroke 50 hp compared to Yamaha & Merc

But can someone tell me which brand is a better choice in terms of easy to use, easy to maintain (minimum maintenance), less maintenance cost if they are similar in horse power, 4 stroke, EFI ...
Yamaha, Merc Bigfoot, Merc (regular), Johnson ?
Thanks !

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Johnson 4 stroke 50 hp compared to Yamaha & Merc

Two stroke: no oil changes, no oil filters and don't have to worry about disposal of either. No valve adjustment, no belts or timing chains to worry about. No complicated electrics to worry about. Same lower unit service as a four stroke. EFI/DFI two strokes can have the same sort of electrical problems that four strokes would have.

Four stroke: Generally heavier, generally less performance but better economy. Generally EFI so starting is easier than carbed engines. Can have spendy valve adjustment, timing belt replacement, and oil/filter changes and disposal issues.

Two strokes are definitely cheaper to maintain. By an Evinirude Etec and you have no "scheduled" maintenance for three years. If you are asking someone to pick and engine for you based on your very broad criteria it ain't going to happen. You've not mentioned model years you are interested in and in your list of models, (Big Foot for example) those mercs are available in either two or four stroke versions so that's not even a measure of reliability. BigFoot is a reference to a lower unit. I take it you have a very limited knowledge of outboards so the words that popped off the page were "ease of use". If that's a major issue, then you want "turn key starting" which implies EFI/DFI engines which are available in either two or four stroke engines. If you don't want to be bothered with oil changes and valve adjustments and worry about timing belts then you want a two stroke. Only you can make the two-stroke/four-stroke decision. On a pontoon I like a four stroke. On a planing hull I prefer a two-stroke.

 

[Bigbobcat]

Re: Johnson 4 stroke 50 hp compared to Yamaha & Merc

Hi Silvertip,
Thanks for the info.
I am new to boating, in fact, I never owned a boat before ! I am just looking to buy a pontoon boat this year.
I do oil change of my minivan myself year round except when it is in the winter, but I switched to synthetic oil last year, so the oil change is even easier.
I have no problem with the oil change myself, so based on your suggestion, a 4 stroke EFI is a better choice for me !
Yes I prefer turn key starting because I don't want to spend my weekend "fixing" or "adjusting" the engine I prefer to spend my weekend boating instead !

Once I take possession of the pontoon boat, hopefully soon, I will post and ask about how to winterize the engine.

But now, I just need the knowledge to sort out the type of engine (seems a 4 stroke EFI is good for pontoon for me), then brand names ...

Thanks !

 

[Bigbobcat]

Re: Johnson 4 stroke 50 hp compared to Yamaha & Merc

>Four stroke: Generally heavier, generally less performance but better economy. Generally EFI so starting is easier than carbed engines. Can have spendy valve adjustment, timing belt replacement, and oil/filter changes and disposal issues.

I am OK with the above !
- Heavier: OK
- Less performance: OK because it is mainly for cruising the lake with family
- Economy: It's good because I plan to explore the different lakes
- EFI so starting is easier than carbed engines: I like that !
- Can have spendy valve adjustment, timing belt replacement, and oil/filter changes and disposal issues: No problem with timing belt replacement as I paid to get it replaced for my minivan, I have no problem with oil/filter changes.
But what is "spendy valve adjustment" ????? Please clarify, thanks !

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Johnson 4 stroke 50 hp compared to Yamaha & Merc

just that. the cost of labor to adjust the intake and exhaust valves. most cars today have self adjusting hydrolic lifters, the older style engines had push rods that moved the valves, and these have to be adjusted.

 

[Bigbobcat]

Re: Johnson 4 stroke 50 hp compared to Yamaha & Merc

How often does the spendy valve need adjusted ?
Does one need a gauge or something to adjust it ?
How much approx does it cost to have the marina adjust it ?
Thanks

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Johnson 4 stroke 50 hp compared to Yamaha & Merc

You don't want to do this yourself. I would expect a couple hours of labor at about $90/hr plus parts and supplies depending on what part of this great country you are located in. Valve adjustment frequency depends on the engine manufacturer. All engines are not the same. Two strokes don't have valves so this is a non-issue with them.

 

[Bigbobcat]

Re: Johnson 4 stroke 50 hp compared to Yamaha & Merc

So how often does spendy valve need adjustment ? Once every season ? Once every few years ?
Thanks !

 

[chrisg]

Re: Johnson 4 stroke 50 hp compared to Yamaha & Merc

I remember someone here saying " If you can afford a boat [and now the gas to go in it] you should be able to afford the maintenance costs".

If you can afford it 4-stroke as that is the new technology. is cheaper but has its issues. (2-stroke you have to prime the engine before starting, no big deal.)