Mercury vs. Yamaha

[jbrandon47]

Okay, so I am buying a 2006 G3 Eagle 175 with a 90hp Yamaha 2 stroke on it. I have at home an '03 90hp Mercury ELPTO 2 Stroke. The Mercury has way less hours than the Yamaha...now the question. Do I leave the Yami on it or do I put my Merc. on it? They both run well and I will be selling one of them. I personally do not like the look of the Yamaha. I've never owned one though. Why is the prop white? I'm looking for some pros and cons to the both engines. It seems that the Mercury weighs about 40 lbs more than the Yamaha....will this make much of a difference? I think the Mercury will look a whole lot better on the boat than the Yamaha plus I may be able to get more money out of the Yamaha this spring.....Anyone got any experience with both motors?

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Mercury vs. Yamaha

You really answered your own question! To wit:

"Why is the prop white?" "I don't like the look of the Yamaha." I think the Mercury would look better on the boat."

You know what you want to do and now are looking for justification. In reality, no justification is needed. Go with the Merc. And on a 17 foot boat, 40 pounds will not make much of a difference.

If this doesn't convince you use this trick: Flip a coin, heads the Merc, tails the Yammy. NOW, analyse your reaction to the flip. Disappointed with the result? Losing engine is the one you want on the boat. Satisfied with the flip? Winning engine goes on the boat.

But really: It is obvious to me that you want the Merc.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Mercury vs. Yamaha

How much is "way less" hours? I'd be inclined to let that be my guide (Yammy fan that I am, notwithstanding). Of course you will have the added hassle of the motor swap then looking for Merc controls, unless you have them already. I agree, it's hard to beat the look of a Merc for pure sexy, but I found over the years that I've owned our F90 that the look of the big grey lump has quite grown on me. Probably also has something to do with the muted purr, flawless reliability, and rather astonishing fuel mileage.

The weight difference I doubt will be noticeable. Why is the prop white? It's a closely guarded secret that Yamaha devised a way to create paint molecules that, when spun in water under high..... - sorry, couldn't resist. I have absolutely no idea why their 2 stroke props are white. Our four stroker has a black prop....

 

[merchonda]

Re: Mercury vs. Yamaha

It's a tough call since Merc symbolized fun-on-water for a lot of years. It was my brand when I was a teenager--when 2-strokes were it. Looking at the corporate history, Mercury really flopped with the advent of the 4-stroke and emissions control. Merc management opted for DFI for larger outboards on the mistaken belief that a large 4-stroke would lack the torque that put smiles on customers faces that kept them in business. The verado was a 10-year engineering blank check that amounted to a bolt on super charger--it even lacked forged engine components until it got overhauled after 2007. In the process, my feeling is they lost customer service (like most companies living in the past that enjoyed a near monopoly) particularly with their dealers when supplying parts. They are hardly stocked and just about everything is a back order if its not a current model. Yamaha took market share because they are engineering refiners and had a reasonably fast supplier network. Do I love Yamaha? No, not inherently but after enough in the problem department, I've come to think that brand-loyalty alone is bullcrap. So, guess which one has a better chance of being trouble free in all aspects? Go with that one since trouble eats joy at a ratio of at least 10 to 1 in a boat.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Mercury vs. Yamaha

I have the '02 Merc 90 triple. I have compared specs to the Yammie 90. I'd take the Merc in a heartbeat for several local reasons but for the most part, the difference in cubic inch displacement can make a big difference in getting heavy boats/water toys up on plane.

Merc saw that years ago when they started building the V6's and the big, heavy, padded, Bass Boats were having a hard time in completing their "hole shot". So, the engines went from 2 liter (around '86 model as I recall) to 2.5, and then to 3 and the props were ported and some also went to 4 and 5 blades to solve the problem.

In looking at a '94 Merc sales brochure they offered a V6 150 in 1998 cu in and also a 150 in 2500 cu in. For that very reason in naturally aspired engines. When they came out with the Fuel injected engines things changed and cubes didn't seem to be that important, per a '97 sales brochure I also have.

Oh and on my little 17' tin boat, my 90 with a 2.33 gear box and 24P Ballistic SS prop turns 5600-5800 rpms with 2 folks over 200# and gear at 48.5 GPS. Hole shot is 2-3 seconds. I just ported my prop (1/4 dia holes) and that apparently accounts for the variance in rpm and certainly makes the hole quicker. Prior to that I had a solid 5600 at 48.5. Get your Yammie to match that. Grin.

HTH,

Mark

 

[JB]

Re: Mercury vs. Yamaha

Yamaha.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Mercury vs. Yamaha

Yamaha.

Common Mr. JB. Gimme a break. Would you mind explaining your position "beins" it looks like an OMC on your whaler in your Avitar.

Mark

 

[JB]

Re: Mercury vs. Yamaha

Common Mr. JB. Gimme a break. Would you mind explaining your position "beins" it looks like an OMC on your whaler in your Avitar.

Mark

I guess that means "come on". BTW, it is Dr. (or Professor) JB.

My position is that the guy asked for a choice between Merc and Yammy and I have had bad experience with one Merc 3 cyl. 90. OMC/BRP was not offered as an option. The pic in my avatar is 30 years old.

No pseudo tech lecture. The Merc stinks and the Yammie doesn't.

 

[stackz]

Re: Mercury vs. Yamaha

wow, one bad experience and you're done with something?

so if a door in your house sticks shut on you, do you just remove the whole door?

there's gonna be a lemon for every brand.

my dad hates mercury but I cant kill mine (runs to knock on wood haha)

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Mercury vs. Yamaha

Merc all the way!

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Mercury vs. Yamaha

I guess that means "come on". BTW, it is Dr. (or Professor) JB.

My position is that the guy asked for a choice between Merc and Yammy and I have had bad experience with one Merc 3 cyl. 90. OMC/BRP was not offered as an option. The pic in my avatar is 30 years old.

No pseudo tech lecture. The Merc stinks and the Yammie doesn't.

On the 3 cyl Merc 90, my current engine, after the horrible experience I just went through, I was not the least bit thrilled. I had no earthly idea that carb setup would be so critical on "today's" (I guess) engines. Have no idea as to how the Yammie is setup nor was I aware of your professional accomplishments. My apologies.

Mark

 

[jbrandon47]

Re: Mercury vs. Yamaha

So I've decided whichever I get I'm going to put a 4" set back hydro jackplate on it which will weigh about 29 lbs....The merc weighs about 301 lbs to the Yamaha's 261...Will the weight on the transom be an issue if I go with the Mercury? The boat is a 2006 G3 Eagle 175....Any advise???

 

[JB]

Re: Mercury vs. Yamaha

wow, one bad experience and you're done with something?

so if a door in your house sticks shut on you, do you just remove the whole door?

there's gonna be a lemon for every brand.

my dad hates mercury but I cant kill mine (runs to knock on wood haha)

Jeez!! The guy asked an either/or question. I gave him my either.

What's with the insults?? Some members manners suck worse than that Merc.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Mercury vs. Yamaha

Ahem. J, I can see you're a thinking man. Consensus seems to be either of those motors will be fine, and within the context of my very limited knowledge of outboards I'll go along with that. I've had a Yammy and enjoyed the heck out of it. I'm all Mercs now, but that's just the way it worked out. If it were my decision to make and all things were equal in terms of running condition I'd go with what's already on the rig, but that's because I'd rather hook up and go than work on my boat. I realize not everyone is wired that way.

I assume you've already run it, but have you tested it extensively in the conditions you want it to be able to handle; shallow water, etc.? You may find that you're happy with it the way it is and save yourself some green. If not, it sounds like you know what you want to do. Just don't overthink it. After all, it's a john boat. An awesome john boat, but a john boat nonetheless. Good luck. G3 makes a good boat.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Mercury vs. Yamaha

It's more of a cheese versus sushi question While I'm a Mercury dealer, I know that Yamaha makes me feel warm and fuzzy.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Mercury vs. Yamaha

Yamaha boat, Yamaha motor = complete package. I personally think the Yami is a better motor and I own a Merc.

 

[mdemott]

Re: Mercury vs. Yamaha

For what it's worth!
I have owned both engines, 225 hp and two stroke.
Mercury never let me down and kept going even when the fuel line deteriorated.
The Yamaha split a O ring in the fuel filter and shut me down.
I find the parts are more expensive with Yamaha

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Mercury vs. Yamaha

...Oh and on my little 17' tin boat, my 90 with a 2.33 gear box and 24P Ballistic SS prop turns 5600-5800 rpms with 2 folks over 200# and gear at 48.5 GPS. Hole shot is 2-3 seconds. I just ported my prop (1/4 dia holes) and that apparently accounts for the variance in rpm and certainly makes the hole quicker. Prior to that I had a solid 5600 at 48.5. Get your Yammie to match that. Grin...

Oh I dunno - what does your boat weigh? My bone stock F90, with cheesy alum factory prop, pushing the 17 and a half foot fibreglass boat pictured below does 41 at 5600. With a few goodies, some judicious prop dial-in and weight loss we might have ourselves a gunfight.

(Ya, I know - I can hear the big block offshore boys rolling on the floor howling as they read this rather pathetic unzip and measure exercise...)

 

[Slow Ride]

Re: Mercury vs. Yamaha

This debate has been around as long as there have been more than one manufacturer of outboards. In this case because they are both used with no real history, the coin flipping option is as good as any! A lot of hours is subjective and the truth it that a boat that is run regularly and well maintained can sustain 1000's of trouble free hours over a boat that only sees the water 4-5 times a year and sits in storage most of its live. I personally prefer Yami even though they tend to be a bit slower than Merc for one reason, the Yami is generally more reliable in my experience. I don't want to start a new debate about who has had an issue with this or that brand. I'm just stateing my experience. In the late 90's I purchased my first new motor and boat. At the time I was working in a business located on the water that catered to bay and offshore fishermen and guides. I asked a friend who was a guide which motor brand he recommended. Without hesitation he took me to the window overlooking the marina and said "take a look at virtually every guide boat in the marina." Yami 20 to 1 and it's still that way today. Why I asked? "They are the most dependable motors alive," he stated. When you are on the water 10-12 hours a day 6 days a week you learn quickly that dependability far exceeds speed (Merc. owns the speed title without argument). I no longer work there but when I'm out there getting fuel or bait I always take notice of the guide boats and remember that conversation. As of last saturday there were 22 guide boats docked at the T-head where I get fuel and only 1 had a Merc on it. I'll say one thing, they are pretty and so was the pickle forked shallow flats boat it was on. You get the point!

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Mercury vs. Yamaha

I still say SIZE matters! Merc. has the cubes.

Mark