Quality of new outboards

[Silver Heels]

I was at the boat dealership yesterday and walked past the display of new Mercury outboards. I'm not looking to buy, just killing time, but something struck me about the new outboards- they just look cheap. Yes, I know, my pair of old Johnsons are loud, they smoke, and get tempermental with starting from time to time. But they are built solid, and with a high enough quality that they don't need to be shrouded from head to toe with plastic. These new motors had controls that look like they were ripped off a Murray lawnmower. And the tiller on the 25 horse felt like it would bust off when I put a little downward pressure. I suppose they have to build the new four strokes lighter to compensate for the heavier weight of the powerhead. They say one of the benefits of a four stroke engine is longetivity, but if the rest of the outboard is built like a disposable razor, what good is that? Plus, nothing beats that sweet smell of burning TCW-3 in the morning.

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Quality of new outboards

I've got no old motors, only got new. But I had older motors. Evinrude was pretty good, only a 50 and ran OK. Hell of a time starting if not run every week. Mercury was that "tower of power" some speak about, but it blew up. Other older motors always fussin with the oil and gas, cleaning replacing plugs, braking off older bolts that wouldn't budge...
And then in '86 I get my first new boat with a sweet little 3cyl 90 Yamaha. Oil injection, three carbs, pretty basic little rig. Man I ran that motor long and hard and for the ten years I owned it, nothing broke. Nada, zilch, nothing. It got a set of plugs, lower unit oil, and an impeller every two years whether it needed it or not. Since then, I have only owned Yamaha motors. The newest is an 02 150 TXRA. Solid, built like a tank. Six year old motor that I run 35 miles offshore in a 20' boat because I feel so confident about it. I guess I need to go down to the Merc store and see what they have done??

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Quality of new outboards

The tiller arm is the same design that has been used for almost 30 years...Haven't seen one broken in all of that time except as a result of an ex-wife with a sledge hammer.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Quality of new outboards

Never cared for Merc, can't give reason just don't like them.

Alot of it is cost cutting and price point, the cheaper you make them the more profit you make, OMC go into that big right before they went under, lots of plastic where you should have had metal.

Go look at a Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, and you won't find that, they understand quality and service life, not that they don't have problems too but the build quality is much higher.

If you build something as cheap as possible you may sell a customer one but if you make it right and back it up you will get that customer back again and again.

 

[mthieme]

Re: Quality of new outboards

I don't care for the styling of the new motors.

 

[Wee Hooker]

Re: Quality of new outboards

"I don't care for the styling of the new motors."

x2. Way to rounded/curvy. Just don't llok right to me. The other cosmetic point is color. Whay do so many manufacturers go with "don't match anything on my boat" blue?? ( At least Merc and Honda get this point)

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Quality of new outboards

The only problem I have with the new motors is they're too heavy and ugly. I ran a 2004 mercury 15 4-stroke and it had the wimpy force/chrysler looking lower unit on it that looked like it was made in china. It ran smoothly but any 15 hp I've ever had would outrun it. It was my bro-in-law's. He sold it....
The hondas are extremely ugly to me, but seem to be good quality from what I've seen. A fellow that hunts on the same lake as me has a 4-stroke 25hp yamaha. That thing looks like it's going to take the back in under at any second from being so heavy. It seems to run good, though. I did have no problem pushing the button on my '54 electric start evinrude and watching him get smaller and smaller. I'd like to have a new 25hp e-tec if I ever get a new one. But I hear they're heavy, too.
JBJ

 

[junkyardwarrior]

Re: Quality of new outboards

The post about the 25 4 stroke being slow-yes they are slower. They are heavier. But if they are rigged and mounted correctly, they are nearly as fast as a 25 2 stroke. Last weekend a customer of mine invited me to help him rig a 1542 War Eagle with a Yamaha F25. His buddy had the exact same boat, but with a 25ESH (2 stroke). On initial rigging, the F25 was about 5-6 mph slower. 19 mph vs 25-26 on the 2 smoke. We ended up raising the 4 stroker on the transom as high as we could, used a small motorcycle battery, went with a stainless 9 1/2 x 14 prop and played with trim pin positions and eventually got it up to 27. Then we played with the 25 2 stroke ane eventually got that one up to 28-29, after that it wanted to try to blow out or porpoise a lot. I really like the 4 strokes-use less fuel, cleaner, quieter, smooth....but they are just too heavy. I would love to have a new 90 HP class 4 stroke on my bass boat but the 4's are about 100 lbs heavier than the 2 smokes are, and I just can't do that. It already sits low in the water.

 

[nightstalker]

Re: Quality of new outboards

My 83 and 88 will still be plugging along when all of the 09's are in the junk pile.
nightstalker

 

[JB]

Re: Quality of new outboards

Who cares about cosmetics on an outboard?? It is the engine that matters and modern 'puter controlled manufacturing and operation makes that part better than it ever was.

I guess I am just a gearhead that is mostly interested in stuff that moves. I don't care if the cowling is voilet chintz with chartruese trim (Yetch!!).

I lie. I love little old JohnnyRudes with cast metal cowlings, but I love them because of how they performed in their day. There still isn't an outboard around that is sweeter on a li'l punt or a canoe than a 3HP JW Johnny.

That is fine for tradition and nostalgia, but for pragmatic everyday use of a mid or big engine I'll take a modern Suzuki DF.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Quality of new outboards

I have a 37 year old main outboard and a 40 year old kicker on my boat. Both are Johnsons and both have been very reliable. I will also add that, while I don't keep "score," most of the boats that I have towed over the last ten years have had outboards that would be considered "new" on them.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Quality of new outboards

its not just outboards its pretty much everything.
most of it is cost driven the rest is EPA and environmental manufacturing process driven.
but its industry wide .
take my 06 ranger I bought in nov 07.
spent almost 2 months in the shop over the time I had it. traded it in last apr for an 08 ranger.
so far its only spent 45 days in the shop the rearend has been rebuilt twice and now the door seal on the passenger side leaks air like a sieve and the steering wheel is cocked to the right while going straight and the tires are out of round,again. will be the second set shortly.
truck has almost 15 K on it and always babied and never wrecked or whacked.
bought an 06 Eddie Baur Explorer in june of 08 for my wife, bought it from the dealer as it was a program vehicle with 36K on it.
so far its been in the shop 6 weeks and its broke in the driveway ,again, and needs to go back to the dealer,again, with the ABS,Stability control and maint lamps lit.
and they wonder why the big three are done.
will never be another big three auto in my drive again.

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Quality of new outboards

and they wonder why the big three are done.
will never be another big three auto in my drive again.

Takes a lot of courage to say that here...seems like a lot of folks don't like the US bashing. I have posted and gotten slammed for saying the same, seems like the big three have planned obsolescense. They think we love to hang out in their stealerships and pay really good money to have our stuff fixed. Untill you start paying for my repair bills, stay out of who, or why I buy my stuff from. They are starting to listen, however. Seems like the new Fusion, Milan has a really good reputation. At least Ford seems to be trying....

 

[pvanv]

Re: Quality of new outboards

I think this is the same discussion that used to come up back in the 70's when electronic ignition came to be standard. Many yelled to keep their old points-and-condenser ignition systems. When carvel-planked wooden boats gave way to fiberglass hulls, many didn't trust the new technology.

More systems and more complexity does produce more single points of failure. These things are forced into production because of both manufacturing economies and government emissions regulations. But as the technologies become mature, the reliability becomes much better. Yes, small 4-strokes are more complex, hence heavier, so more lightweight bits are used to offset the weight. But the technology is solid.

Ever work on an old 12-cylinder Jaguar E-Type's mechanical fuel injection? Now that system will drive a man to drink. But today's more mature systems just plain work. If we want to really get away from modern technology, look at a Model T Ford with splash oiling -- Never have an oil pump issue if the motor doesn't have one. That's the same reasoning why Dad would never get power windows.

My newer small OB (07 Nissan 9.8) starts great, runs well, doesn't smoke, burns half the fuel, and is amazingly quiet. It will never need points, unlike my 74 15 hp 'Rude, which needed both sets every spring. With the improvements in prop technology, it pushes my heavy sailboat as well as the old 15 did.

The new motors are as good as anything. The reason we see newer motors getting towed in is because that's what's out there. It's a matter of exposure. You just don't see the old 33 hp OMC's as much these days. If they're not out there, you don't see them -- running or being towed in.