outboard opinion wanted,

[FTB530]

i may be in the market for a 25 hp outboard, what would be a best bang for the buck on a new one, Yamaha,Honda,or Suzuki, i have a 40 horse Honda and its great, but im also thinking about price to and Honda is the most expensive i have saw.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: outboard opinion wanted,

Why the 25? Your 40 isn't that far away and is already paid for (I guess). Can't advise on which is best. Go to the engine repair sections and look at the 3 badges. If you don't see any postings about problems, ask the question on there, is it due to no problems, or no circulation....not many out there to fail (if they are going to).

Mark

 

[steelespike]

Re: outboard opinion wanted,

If you don't do your own service you may want to consider a nearby servicing dealer.
What type of boat?
I don't think you will be happy with a 25 after a 40.Especially if you boat with a couple of people with you.
Most motors are pretty reliable.I think you will find the Tohatsu and Suzuki lowest priced.
Evinrude Etec makes a direct injected 2 stroke 25,30 and 40 hp.The lightest 25 & 30 are 146 lbs the 40 is 240.
Etecs have no breakin and no service for 3 years or 300 hours.
A 2 stroke has fewer moving parts, is usually lighter and requires less maintenance.
What ever motor be sure to compare apples to apples when pricing.

 

[supagidget]

Re: outboard opinion wanted,

My question would be to go with a 25hp Yamaha (f25sea) or 30hp Nissan/Tohatsu? I have a 1965 Orlando Clipper with a 1968 40hp currently powering it. The engines available, has to be electric start, remote 15 inch, are limited to the above engines. Once you hit 40hp all of the motors are 20inch or tiller only at 15inch, etc. The boat is light but I have heard some bad things about the 25hp yamaha sea....

Price difference: About 4K out the door for yamaha 25 and 5k out the door for Nissan, 5.4k for tohatsu.

 

[steelespike]

Re: outboard opinion wanted,

The Merc site lists a 15" 40 hp. Of course computer sites have been known to be wrong.

 

[FTB530]

Re: outboard opinion wanted,

Why the 25? Your 40 isn't that far away and is already paid for (I guess). Can't advise on which is best. Go to the engine repair sections and look at the 3 badges. If you don't see any postings about problems, ask the question on there, is it due to no problems, or no circulation....not many out there to fail (if they are going to).

Mark

I have the 40 on a Zodiac and its bolted on,to much of a hassle to swab back and forth to the aluminum boat,believe me i already tried that previously lol.

 

[FTB530]

Re: outboard opinion wanted,

Sorry i didn't make it clear about the 40 Honda,it is on another boat and i don't want to be swapping back and forth and the aluminum boat i use is rated only for a 25 hp,so that is what i'm looking at . The Suzuki looks like it might be the way i go if i end up buying a new motor,.

 

[Slow Ride]

Re: outboard opinion wanted,

First let me say that I have owned several models of engine form three different manufactures and I have no interest in endorsing any of them, but I do have an opinion. I recently went on two test rides in the exact same model boat from a dealer. The only difference was the maker of the engine. One was a Suzuki and the other just happened to be an evinrude etec. I don't currently own an etec or suzukie but I have to say that the difference in performance was tremendous. The Etec was superior in virtually every way during this demonstration. After this experience, I have a poor opinion of the Suzuki excelleration, cruising speed and top end. I have heard that it is very dependable and fuel efficient but so are all the other brands these days. I would have to do another side by side evaluation before I would ever consider buying the "Slowzuki."

 

[FTB530]

Re: outboard opinion wanted,

Slow Ride thanks for that review,i have read a lot of good reviews on the larger HP Etecs i 'have'nt actually been around one in the water.i do like the light weight of them and have heard the excelleration is good,

 

[supagidget]

Re: outboard opinion wanted,

Although the merc site lists a 15" 40hp, it is not electric start and remote. Not sure of the configuration they offer.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: outboard opinion wanted,

Not doubting you, slow ride, but were the props the same? I assume the HP was the same. Anyway, good info.

With OB's, there's performance and there's durability. Growing up, that was the fundamental difference between the two real motor choices, merc and OMC. "If you want to get there, get a merc; if you want to get home, get an OMC" Of course everything has changed. I see the Yamaha as the work-horse engine now but that's more an impression than from proof.

"Durability" includes reliability and should also factor in ease and availability of service, repairs, etc. I think there's great value in getting a motor brand of your local reliable dealer/mechanic, rather than a brand (or price) that might be "better" with no one around to work on it.

 

[FTB530]

Re: outboard opinion wanted,

Well i'm 5 minutes away from the local Honda -Etec dealer so that part will be an easy decision and i got a screaming deal(their cost) on the Honda i bought three years ago so i guess it wouldn't hurt to pay the price for a E-tec or Honda there ,thanks for the opinions and advice.

 

[Philster]

Re: outboard opinion wanted,

When comparing engines, a modern 2-stroker will feel much snappier than a 4-stroker of equal horsepower. They just light up quicker and offered better throttle response (as a general rule).

So, just keep that in mind.

 

[Slow Ride]

Re: outboard opinion wanted,

Home cookin, not sure about the props but the boats were both rigged at the same shop so I assumed they knew what they were doing. Silly me, right? Who knows.

I have been running Yamaha for a long time but I have owned other engines along the way. I also have an OMC at the moment. I'm fortunate enough to have both a shallow water boat for the gulf coast shallow flats and an offshore boat. When I buy new, I usually buy Yammy for one simple reason. When I was researching my first new motor several years ago I happened to be the G.M. of a business located on the marina in Port Aransas TX. I asked the opinion of a fishing guide friend of mine which manufacturer he suggested. He took me to the window and said "look and the marine, there where all the guide boats are docked. What do you see?" I kid you not, there were about 30 Yammys there and 2 or 3 Mercs. When I asked why he said "because Yammy is hands down the most reliable engine on the market. Its not the fastest and usually not the most recent in technology. But when Yammy puts something out, it is reliable in a way that most of the others are not." That was almost 15 years ago but I assume it is a reasonable statement today. Although, I have heard good things about most of the others. Suzuki it light, but so is Etec and etec has 40% less moving parts! Kinda reminds me of a Cummins in a wierd sort of way. Merc is still the fastest but they tend to need a little more TLC. Yammy is heavy and only average on speed but is perhaps the most reliable. Flip a coin or buy the one that matches you boat colors! LOL You will probably be ok in my opinion.