Good Boat but what do you think about the motor?

[salmonee]

I'm thinking about going to see this boat. I like the boat itself but the only reason for my hesitation is the motor. The motor is a '98 90HP Mercury 2 stroke. I have no experience w/ boating and really like the boat though. I don't want a brand bashing thread but am biased towards (suzuki, honda, yamaha 4 strokes) maybe due to what I've researched so far. It's like an hour drive there and I don't want to waste my time. I don't want something that will smoke and be loud while cruising around. I understand that 2 strokes will tend to be louder than 4 strokes but what about this Merc?

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Good Boat but what do you think about the motor?

Buy a boat, Salmonee. Buy a boat. Nothing wrong with that outboard, as long as it's running properly. Take a ride in it.

 

[tallcanadian]

Re: Good Boat but what do you think about the motor?

tall dark and handsome on the transom. don't worry about the 2 stroke thing. it's a boat. all motors make noise. good luck.

 

[saumon]

Re: Good Boat but what do you think about the motor?

I really like the Merc mid-range (50-60-75-90) 3cyl. 2-strokes from the 90's, mainly cause they're so easy to play with. Even if i'm not a marine mech, with the right FSM i can strip them down to the bare block and make them run again. They're also reliables but, as any 2-strokes, smokes a bit, but not that much if you use a good quality oil (Mercury/Quicksilver).

I'm the kind who don't like going to the dealer at 85$/hr cause a newer 4-strokes had an error code on the ECU...

Edit: i just realized you were the guy for whom CATransplant write this awesome post that's now in the sticky

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=300510

Re-read it. Buy a boat.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Good Boat but what do you think about the motor?

Not a big fan of Mercs for no particular reason but they are a good motor.

Just take a compression gauge with you and make sure it checks out, all cylinders within 10% and check the engine over good but having a Merc wouldn't stop me from buying the boat.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Good Boat but what do you think about the motor?

If you really have done research, have you actually looked at the noise charts and compared a carbed two stroke with virtually any of the four strokes. You might be surprised to note that there is very little difference in noise at wide open throttle although four strokes are quieter at idle and slower speeds. The issue is that 4-strokes make a "different" noise than a two stroke so this noise thing is more about perception. Have you also considered the maintenance issue with four strokes. Valve adjustments, timing belts, oil changes, the making oil issue, for example. None of that with a two stroke. And I own both and the two stroke happens to be a 75 HP Merc which is a brother to the 90.

 

[capt sam]

Re: Good Boat but what do you think about the motor?

4 strokes are by far much more quiet at WOT than 2 strokes, I have run both types of various models and have found this to be true every time, some 4 strokes are more more quiet than others. The Verados I've run are unbelieveably quiet compared to my latest yamaha. Having said that, there's nothing wrong with a 2 stroke merc, parts are cheap and easily acquired, solid motor.