Which outboard motor should I buy?

[rodologist]

I am ready to purchase a new outboard motor so please be patient with we this way I will have a better understanding about buying outboard motors .I have narrowed down my search for an outboard to a 15 HP short shaft four stroke with an electric start. I would like to purchase one of the following motors Yamaha ,Suzuki, Mercury, Honda I have only ever heard and seen one running that was a Yamaha are all the four stroke engines that quiet and smooth running if so is there any one of the four names that would be a more desirable motor for me to buy.

 

[bustermin]

Re: Which outboard motor should I buy?

I am ready to purchase a new outboard motor so please be patient with we this way I will have a better understanding about buying outboard motors .I have narrowed down my search for an outboard to a 15 HP short shaft four stroke with an electric start. I would like to purchase one of the following motors Yamaha ,Suzuki, Mercury, Honda I have only ever heard and seen one running that was a Yamaha are all the four stroke engines that quiet and smooth running if so is there any one of the four names that would be a more desirable motor for me to buy.

One thing you dont say is what boat you will be installing it on. also, I dont know if you are aware of this but, 4-strokes are heavier than 2-stokes and that should be taken into account as well as everything else.

 

[rodologist]

Re: Which outboard motor should I buy?

One thing you dont say is what boat you will be installing it on. also, I dont know if you are aware of this but, 4-strokes are heavier than 2-stokes and that should be taken into account as well as everything else.

The boat is a Smoker craft 16 foot with a 72" beam .I am aware that the four stroke engines are much heavier than the two stroke I certainly appreciate any info that is pasted on to me. Thanks

 

[Mark2009]

Re: Which outboard motor should I buy?

Yamaha is the most unreliable and will have the most problems, Honda is very reliable and will last years. not sure on the other two.
hope this helps.

 

[gcboat]

Re: Which outboard motor should I buy?

I think you at least owe it to yourself to take a look at the E-TEC's. I don't sell them or work for them but I'm in your same situation on the motor hunting thing.
It's a two stroke motor but that's where the similarities end. Take a look through their website. I also have a CD they sent me. If you want it send me a PM with your address and I'll get it out to you.
I think they're pretty damn neat.

 

[Yreka]

Re: Which outboard motor should I buy?

I have a 1977 Honda 10 4T from 1977 to present, not a lick of problems.
I have a 2002 Yamaha 15 4T from 2002 to present, not a lick of problems.

For me, it would come down to location from (and quality of) the dealer/service center, and what I could get the best deal on.. Think you will likely be happy with any of the 4, and find very little difference between them.

 

[walk-on]

Re: Which outboard motor should I buy?

I have a 2008 Mercury 25HP jet that I am very happy with. Starts right up every time and runs great.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: Which outboard motor should I buy?

my 18ft 1957 LoneStar ElDorado (all aluminum)has a 1994 115hp Evinrude and runs like a spotted ape-(rarely seen and very fast)

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Which outboard motor should I buy?

I am ready to purchase a new outboard motor so please be patient with we this way I will have a better understanding about buying outboard motors .I have narrowed down my search for an outboard to a 15 HP short shaft four stroke with an electric start. I would like to purchase one of the following motors Yamaha ,Suzuki, Mercury, Honda I have only ever heard and seen one running that was a Yamaha are all the four stroke engines that quiet and smooth running if so is there any one of the four names that would be a more desirable motor for me to buy.

Howdy,

I did the same thing a few years ago with a 9.8hp 4 stroke and decided on a Tohatsu from Onlineoutboards.com

The price was quite a bit lower than any of the other ones and it's a great little engine.

You indicated that you wanted a 15hp engine but you could also get a 20 and not gain any weight.

The electric start, 20hp short weighs the same as the 15hp short, and is only about $300 more.

Their price includes shipping and there's no tax.

If I was going to get another small outboard I would probably consider another Tohatsu or Nissan.

If I was going to get a "Big" one, It would be an Evinrude ETEC no question.

Cheers,


Rick

 

[po1]

Re: Which outboard motor should I buy?

Morning,

I went a route similar to HT32BSX115 and got a Nissan 18hp 4-stroke electic start from Onlineoutboards.com in 2008 for my 16' jon boat. I couldn't beat the money I was saving in shipping and taxes. Fast shipping, three days later the motor was delivered to my driveway and 2 hours later I was at the lake.

 

[rodologist]

Re: Which outboard motor should I buy?

I think you at least owe it to yourself to take a look at the E-TEC's. I don't sell them or work for them but I'm in your same situation on the motor hunting thing.
It's a two stroke motor but that's where the similarities end. Take a look through their website. I also have a CD they sent me. If you want it send me a PM with your address and I'll get it out to you.
I think they're pretty damn neat.

Thanks that is very thoughtful of you they are sending the CD to me.

 

[Big Keepers]

Re: Which outboard motor should I buy?

I'm a big Yamaha fan, however my yacht club had a small Suzuki outboard for our tender and it was pretty strong for the small 9hp it was. Suzuki has a great reputation as well as Yamaha.

Go with the advice that suggested you buy a motor where you don't have to travel to the ends of the earth for a service tech you can trust. Yamaha and Mercury dealers are everywhere. Suzuki is very popular. I don't see Honda all that often by me. Evinrude, well they are still Evinrude in many ways. Its a 50/50 shot with them IMO.

 

[wa2712nj]

Re: Which outboard motor should I buy?

I'll offer up another endorsement of online outboards. I ordered a 20hp Tohatsu 4st electric start from them - price was a whopping $1500 less than what the local dealer quoted me. Motor was delivered in less than a week (we are on the oppposite side of the country) and we got the old motor off and the new one installed in about 2 hours. Fired up fine and we completed the first two hours of the break-in process yesterday.

For the record, the small (<25hp) Nissan, Tohatsu, and Mercury motors are currently the same powerhead. There are minor differences in the controls (e.g. Tohatsu does not use the integrated shift/throttle on the tiller handle that I so much disliked on our Merc).

Good luck,

-dm