suzuki outboards

[catfishhunter]

I am about to buy a new boat with a suzuki outboard.I have never owned or operated a suzuki.Can anyone tell me if there any good?How do they compare to yamaha or mercury in reliability?I fish in alot of isolated areas and need a reliabile motor.Any help will be appreciated.

 

[Harry Blanchard]

Re: suzuki outboards

I have been looking also. A local dealer who sells both claims the Suzuki never needs maintenance, except routine. I just read where Yamaha is number 1 in customer satisfaction. I have 2 yamahas and not a bit of trouble. One is 15 HP 4 stroke (200l), and the other is a C85 2 stroke (93model). Still can't make up my mind.

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: suzuki outboards

Suzuki's are very good motors. The dealer network is kind of sparse and I have heard complaints of very long parts deliveries.

 

[aero320]

Re: suzuki outboards

I just repowered my Triton 18' center console bayboat with a Johnson 140 four stroke (Suzuki DF 140). and ran it for about 3 hours yesterday as a breakin. There are not many Suzuki dealers around here, however, Bombardier gets their four strokes from Suzuki. The engine replaced a Ficht 175 Ficht that has lost its last cylinder under my ownership.<br /><br />My original engine controls, etc. were plug and play for the new engine. I was able to get the engine through my local Johnson/Evinrude dealer who has provided excellent service through the years.<br /><br />It idles so quietly, that you can hardly tell when it is running. The engine has excellent low end power, is very strong in mid-range and works well on top end. My boat seems to handle very well with this set-up also.<br /><br />I am going fishing this afternoon and will run the engine a little more.<br /><br />You might also go to www.suzukimarine.com. They have lots of videos on that site and several boat tests using their engines on a variety of different boats.

 

[manitoba1]

Re: suzuki outboards

catfishhunter:<br />I'm on 2nd Suzuki. I had a 55hp 2 stroke which I liked alot but had to replace after an oil injector line came loose (my own fault) and cooked the upper cylinder. Upgraded to a 2000 70hp 4 stroke which is a beautiful engine to operate. It's EFI so it starts with the turn of a key, very economical, extreemly quite and has lots of power and excellent throttle response. After having the 4 stroke I would not go back to the 2 stroke. If you can't find a close Suzuki dealership buy a new Johnson or late model evinrude 4 stroke since they are just repainted Suzuki's.

 

[Franki]

Re: suzuki outboards

Hi guys, <br />I have only had one Suzuki, and it never needed parts.. (mid 80's 40HP 2stroke)... unitl I hit a submerged log and needed new engine mounts and throttle assembly, after trying for a while, I gave up, sold it to an outboard wrecker and bought a Johnson.<br /><br />aero320, how is the power output compared to the ficht it replaced????<br /><br />I think aero has the right idea.. get the Johnsuki.. you have a much better chance of getting parts..<br /><br />I used to race suzuki motorcross bikes.. and they have never been all that good at parts supply for their own equipment.. but the badge engineered brands, (suzi engines in others equipment) never seem to run out of parts..<br /><br />Over here, I had no end of trouble sourcing some parts for a Suzuki Swift.. but I went to Holden (GMC in Australia) and bought the Holden barina parts, same engine, same parts except i could now get them and they were cheaper to boot.<br /><br />Johnsuki engines will get Bombardier support, and that must be a billion dollar deal suzuki would lose if the big B became displeased with them..<br /><br />Big B has a better chance of suppling you parts then Suzuki themselves..<br /><br />However, from what I have heard around the traps.. you are not likely to need much in the way of parts.. (although you probably heard the same thing about the ficht right???)<br /><br />rgds<br /><br />Frank

 

[zipper]

Re: suzuki outboards

Aero320 - I would be very interested to learn more about your Johnson 140 as I have just ordered my new boat with this motor. Give me some details about your boats size and how the motor performs for you if you don't mind. Thanks a bunch! zipper

 

[aero320]

Re: suzuki outboards

I have a little over 3 hours on the engine now so I can run for brief periods at wot. Tops out at 6250 with just me in boat. Dealer was with me (he is a regular size person) and rpm only dropped about 50. The boat is a Triton 18' bay boat, 92" wide and weighs 1700 lbs. empty, gas tank was full (44 gallons). Looks like top speed is going to be in mid-40's similar to other test boat reports at the Suzuki web site. I am sure you could prop it up and get more top end, but when I fill up the bait tank in the front, and the 30' gallon shad tank in the rear, the lower pitched prop is probably better.<br /><br />Frank, the Ficht 175 would push the boat about 10 mph faster, but the hole shot on the four stroke is much better. Incidentally, I had the Ficht 175 on a Stratos 285 Pro Elite (19') and it would GPS at 68.4 with just me in the boat (25" blade Renegade, hydraulic jack plate with engine height maxed out).<br /><br />The new four stoke makes a much better balanced combination, maybe because the gearcase is smaller.

 

[zipper]

Re: suzuki outboards

Thanks Aero. That's about what I expected. I'm putting mine on a 19' aluminum - a little lighter than yours otherwise similar size. Should be a good combo. I won't get mine till the end of March so if anything unusual comes let us know! Thanks a bunch! zip