Re: 4 strokes OB for trolling
I used a 1976 Evinrude 9.9 and ?? Johnson SailMaster 9.9 for many years trolling for salmon and lake fishing. We were at a boat show in 1997 and the Honda dealer had a 15 HP set up in a tank, as soon as my wife heard it run and stood behind it, her first words, buy it, I am tired of the noise and smoke of your old motor. I had used the Honda up until this week, when I went with a Yamaha T9.9 High Thrust. I never has a lick of trouble w/Honda. But then again, I changed the oil about every 3-4 months, hey what's a quart of oil.
It is hard to tell in the Yamaha is running at idle.
I think the trick to avoid making oil is running a hotter thermostat, proper break in and then before you come home, run the engine at 3/4 throttle for a few minutes to warm up the engine and get rid of an moisture in the oil, if there is any.