Comments on: As a Marine Motor which is more reliable: Mercury , Honda , Yamaha?

By: galgiere

galgiere — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 23:12:59 +0000

When in Doubt go AMERICAN.
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By: skeptron

skeptron — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 22:52:59 +0000

yamaha for me..its the best
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mc

By: shrimpon

shrimpon — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 22:10:59 +0000

Choice of engines generally depends on several things, including cost to purchase and maintain, including fuel usage. An engine that works great in fresh water may be a total dog in salt. I would recommend going to a couple of marinas in whatever type of environment you plan to use the motor and see what is the most popular engine on the boats there. Here in SC on the coast it is hands down Yamaha, and having owned several and being a heavy salt water user I can tell you it is my first choice. In the same usage I have managed to blow up two Mercury engines.
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Over 30 years experience with just about every brand of outboard sold in my area of the country (SC)

By: DDrew

DDrew — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 22:01:59 +0000

I would say that Honda and Yamaha are both the same in terms of quality and reliability – and Merc would be a step down from them… My family owns a marina and we sell both Yamaha and Merc's – and when we sold someone a Merc (which we tried not to do) we would surly see them again that season with engine problems, when we sell Yamaha's – the are rarely any problems… I don't know too much on the Verado's other then that you need mechanics who have done training on them, which could be hard to find… bottom line, Japanese make more reliable engines then Americans…
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By: bj

bj — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 21:21:59 +0000

It depends on what you want.

If you want a 4 stroke engine Honda and Johnson are the best way to go. Don't listen to the guy who said Mercury Verado, they are extremely heavy and sluggish.

If you want a 2 Stroke the only way to go is with an Evinrude E-Tec. They burn just as clean as any 4 stroke and there is no recommended scheduled maintenance for the first 3 years you own it. They are simple to work on too, however I would recommend letting the dealer do any work that may need done but there probably won't be any work to be done.

The Mercury Optimax is a dog. I know this from personal experience. For instance in a Bullet 20XD with an older Mercury 260 EFI you can be cruising at about 50 MPH, slam the throttle and it will nearly give you whiplash. In the same boat with a 250 Optimax if you do that it will just gradually accelerate.

So here it is in order from best to worst:
4 Stroke:
- Honda
- Johnson
- Mercury
- Yamaha

2 Stroke:
- Evinrude E-Tec
- Mercury Optimax
- Yamaha Vmax
- Suzuki
- Nissan

For older 2 strokes if you want to buy a used motor I would buy a Mercury 260 EFI, Mercury 225 ProMax, Johnson 150 Fast Strike.
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By: John M

John M — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 21:05:59 +0000

I had a yamaha for about 6 years and had a great run with it ,providing you give it regular servicing and flush it well after using it in the sea/salt water,but I believe mercury to be ok too.
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personal experience

By: Mark G

Mark G — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 20:43:59 +0000

We've been in the marina business for 30 years and can tell you from our experience that Yamaha is by far the way to go. I hate to "nay-say" other companies because I deal with all of them in a good way, but the new Verado from Mercury has been running into a huge amount of diagnostic issues as well as false coding issues with the ECM, mainly due to the fact that EVERYTHING is digitally controlled on the engine. This means that there aren't any shift or throttle cables, just a sensor i.e. "drive by wire." However, they have tons of power and are quite economical. Honda outboards are quiet, but when compared to other four stroke outboards, they fall short in every catagory such as fuel consumption, economy and power. Yamaha outboards are untouchable. Their two stroke outboards are cleaner, more efficient and more smooth than any other four strokes but their own! I can't say enough about Yamaha's...I have yet to see a Yamaha outboard in my shop NOT start, no matter how old it is, and I'm not kidding. Definitely the most reliable.
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30 years marine business

By: Frank P

Frank P — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 19:55:59 +0000

Rec. or comm. use? You didn't say. I use them for comm. inshore fishing & clamming I own Evinrude E-tec & Yamaha 4 strokes. Honda corp. "spit" on me & I have had problems with Mercury.
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comm. use since 1983

By: Do

Do — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 19:35:59 +0000

Love my Yamaha – very straightforward and reliable.

Honda OK – but they're awful about obsolescence.

Little experience with Mercury but do not know of any problems.
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By: Gavin C

Gavin C — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 18:51:59 +0000

I am a boat mechanic they all have their problems but I would stick with a mercury four stroke the verado's are awesome. Honda's are good but hard to get parts for after a few years. I don't know much about the yamahas but I can say stay away from suzuki's good luck
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