Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

[jmw129]

Always hear people bragging about how Mercury makes the best outboards.

Is this true?

I have an Evinrude and would like to believe Evinrude is better.

Your thought's please?

 

[levi_tsk]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

oh c'mon do you really want to go there?







EVERYONE knows the only thing mecury makes well is a boat anchor jeeze!!!!!

 

[emoney]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

Do they still make Mercury's?

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

Well, I think the old Merc 500 was about the best motor built under the Mercury brand and that was back when Carl owned the corporation. OMC did beat Merc to the punch, when it came to the full shift lower unit, but Merc beat OMC to the punch, when it came to the fully jewelled powerhead. I believe there are good and bad with the two, but myself, I'll be loyal to Ole Evinrude and Lou Johnson's concepts.

 

[oldcatamount]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

Zephyr, What is a "fully jewelled powerhead"?

 

[raczekp1]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

compact powerhead?

 

[AEROCOOK]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

For what it's worth Ive found that Mercury tends to have a lot of NLA (no longer available) parts in their catalog. I was helping a buddy last summer with a 1988 Merc 90hp that had no spark, turned out to be the stator and you guessed it, NLA!

 

[F_R]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

http://www.old-omc.de/e_1967/seite_02_03.jpg

 

[JB]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

The very best outboards ever made were the 3 to 4.5HP twins made by OMC from the 50s to the 80s. I guess that means Evinrude, but

There are and have been so many models of both brands that your question is sort of like asking if blondes are better looking than redheads.

I do think that the ETEC series are the best outboards currently available, but that is a technology evaluation, it doesn't speak to reliability, user friendliness, etc.

Anyway, it is just an old guy's opinion.

On the other hand, I know for a stone hard fact that Ford makes better trucks than Chebby.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

As someone else on the forum wrote: "Take a Mercury if you want to get there. Take an Evinrude if you want to get back. Take a Sears and rowback." Now that's funny right there!

In the old days, "fully jeweled power" was Merc's marketing euphemism for roller and needle bearings on all rotating parts.

Merc vs. Evinrude? Pepsi vs. Coke!

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

Define "best".

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

Always hear people bragging about how Mercury makes the best outboards.

Is this true?

I have an Evinrude and would like to believe Evinrude is better.

Your thought's please?

Mercury has the best engine cover decals on the port side...Evinrude has the best engine cover decals on the starboard side.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

Or better yet -- define "best for what". A measure of what's best can be any of the following"

1) Ease of starting
2) Cost of ownership
3) Reliability
4) Fuel Economy/Operating Cost
5) Speed
6) Performance with water toys
7) Noise, harshness and Vibration (NHV)
8) Emissions
9) Maintenance Costs
10) Parts availability
11) Ease of service
12) Ease of operation

Get the idea????

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

I also don't know what you mean by best? And are you talking about new motors or including old motors? Its hard to beat an old tiller 20 hp Mercury. The 65 hp Mercs were also great.

I personally prefer Yamaha outboards over Mercury and Evinrude for newer engines. I'd put Mercury second. The ETech is high tech and looks good on paper--but is it as durable?

I have four friends on the Bassmaster Elite circuit, three of which are sponsored by Mercury. One has an ETech. The three swear by their 250 Optimax's, and the service they receive from the Mercury factory mechanic that travels from tournament to tournament with them. They have also seen too many breakdowns by the other fishermen running the ETechs. To these guys, breakdowns can be catastrophic in their pocket. They speak highly (and quietly) of Yamaha, which is a Bassmaster sponsor.

The new 4 stroke Yamaha 250 SHO is an absolutely incredible engine--weighing less than competition 2 strokes. I have no idea how they accomplished that. Right now, it's the top dog on the lake.

 

[levi_tsk]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

i beg to differ seems like all the engines are heavier than even an ho 250 etec....
http://www.evinrude.com/en-US/Engines/ETEC_HO/ETEC_250_HO

that vmax EDIT is EXACTLY the same weight and id be surprised to see if it could even hold a candle to an etec not to mention the cost difference ... id bet that vmax cost twice what an etec does ... id atribute this to EVERYTHING that WAS stainless in that engine is now probably titanium but it might as well be made of unobtainium cause IM not buying ONE

i know a little about metalurgy and titanium looks pretty good on paper -till you scratch it or heat it too much then ITS DONE

and what about yam's 300 fourstroke 800 POUNDS!!! really? i cant think of a boat made before 2005 that could handle that kinda weight hell my 350 chevy is lighter and to top it off IT MAKES MORE POWER

 

[jmw129]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

Hey guys,

I have enjoyed reading your opions. I personally like Evinrude but my question was wide open. I guess overall given the history, part availabilty, reliability, cost of ownership, power, and fuel economy, and weight are all factor's I take into consideration.

Since I have Evinrude, I personally have received all kinds of feedback from Mercury owner's trying to sell me on their engine & why not to buy Evinrude. Now if you talk to Evinrude owner's they seem very loyal as well and swear by Evinrude / Johnson outboards.

Since I haven't owned a Mercury outboard, I was curious to put a post out there about Mercury vs. Evinrude and see if I learn alot from everyone's experience with either brand.

I think a proven history of performance, parts available, and overall cost of ownership say's alot about the quality & engineering of their outboard line-up (small to very large).

The company with the best "Long Lasting" outboards I think wins the crown for best built outboards.

Your thoughts / experience?

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

It's kind of like the difference between Fords, Chevy and Dodge trucks. One brand has a poor dealer base. Two pull better resale values. One sells more diesel pickups than the other two combined.

But in the end, you really cannot go wrong with any of them.

 

[DECK SWABBER 58]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

Well my grandfather owned nothing but evinrude's his whole life. Nuff said.

 

[DECK SWABBER 58]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

http://www.old-omc.de/e_1967/seite_02_03.jpg

Thanks for posting that F_R.

 

[64osby]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

I have a Merc 500, had it for 8 years, I've put a few plugs, a couple impellers, lower gear oil and a whole lot of gas in it, and that's it.

I have a Rude 135 that I have never done one thing to it. It's sitting on a stand waiting to hit the water. I hope it every bit as good as the Merc.

A good engine is one that runs, the best engine is one the runs a long time.