Help choose evinrude or black max

[johnj11]

Next weekend I will be looking at 2 used boats. Both are 1988 19' Spectre bow riders. I have not inspected yet but photos of both lead me to believe they are in similar condition. For the sake of argument lets assume both hulls are of equal value. Both have 1988 O/B 's. Both ads claim "runs great"
#1) 1988 Evinrude XP150 $6995.00
#2) 1988 150 Black Max 2.5L "Offshore" $7995.00

Just wondering if anyone has any opinion on:
reliability
performance
parts availability
Is the Merc. worth the extra $1000? (Assuming both in equal condition)


Lots of assumptions, I know. If this were 30 yrs ago I wouldn't hesitate to buy an Evinrude, but I live in Canada and it is getting harder to get parts for some of my old Johnson 9.9 kickers. I am assuming Evinrude folded at the same time Johnson did.

1988 Spectra Boat Spectre 19 for sale | Nanton, AB

1988 Spectra Boat Spectre 19 for sale | Nanton, AB

 

[82rude]

Re: Help choose evinrude or black max

should not be hard to get parts for evinrudes,their still going strong .maybe its a regional thing where you are.

 

[searaynoob]

Re: Help choose evinrude or black max

I have a 140 rude and parts are easy to find just go to marineengine.com or here on iboats. Marine engine sent me my parts for my johnson in 2 days I would personally go with the evinrude and then talk him down a bit lol!

 

[johnj11]

Re: Help choose evinrude or black max

82rude thanks for your reply.

I looked around a bit online and it would appear that parts are still available through BRP. If that is the case then am wondering why the price difference of $1000? Is there any huge advantage to a Merc. ? Ease of maintenance? Power to weight ratio? Better bearings? Steering? people prefer black? status symbol?

I have never owned a Merc. so would appreciate any feedback.

 

[johnj11]

Re: Help choose evinrude or black max

oops typing when I shoulda been listening. Thanx Searay.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Help choose evinrude or black max

All my family has owned is Johnnyrudes except my brother, he's a Merc man. No complaints from either camp. I doubt the $1000 difference has to do with the motors.....

 

[JimS123]

Re: Help choose evinrude or black max

Mercs are harder to work on and sometimes require special tools.

Back in the day, lots of guys wanted mercs because they ran faster and had models with higher HP. Today, you don't see too many old Mercs still running, but you see a ton of old OMCs.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Help choose evinrude or black max

Are you sure that is a 1988 Merc? It looks a bit newer, making it worth more. The 'rude is the 90* V6, which is a good motor, but the Merc has the newer 60* V6 design.

I have a '98 Johnny 150HPV6 and a '93 Merc 135HPV6, so I do have some similar experience. My motors are nearly identical, as both are 60* V6 motors. The Merc is 2.0L and the Johnny is 2.4L. The Johnny has better low end power(due to more displacement), oil injection and warning system (which the 'rude you are considering, doesn't have, BTW), and the block is much "prettier" than the Merc. Other than that they are pretty much the same.

I would see which boat you like better. One has a ski pylon which is nice. The other a ladder which is also nice. I like the paint job on the Merc better. Parts should not be an issue for either. You plan to do all work yourself, or have some shop do it?

 

[johnj11]

Re: Help choose evinrude or black max

Many thanks to all for your kind replies. Sounds like they are stacked pretty evenly with maybe a slight bias towards the rude for me.
WMusky, I will pay close attn. to hull and trailer condition as well as accessories.

Jim, parts are expensive enough. special tools are not my favourite thank for the heads up. Funny you should mention old OMC's
1967 100hp bought boat motor and trailer for $300 and ran it for many years never let me down but hull got too soft sold it for $600 this spring.

Chris, The ad said 88 for the Merc but now that you mention it, it did not reference well when I searched for parts prices. 2.5 L did not show up for 88 for pistons etc. I plan to get a manual or 2 and do as much of the work as I can. If I ever had to get carbs synchronized or something like that I would seek a pro. but the city is 2 hours away and the dealer where I am buying is 3 hours away. The ladder or pylon may be nice in warmer waters but here in the Rockies we avoid getting wet as the glacier fed alpine lakes will freeze the testes of a brass monkey LOL Would prefer to see a kicker bracket.


Everyone's comments are much appreciated. Nobody suggested I avoid either model at all costs or pointed to any severe engineering flaws so that puts my mind at ease. Unless your all members of the IBoats practical joke committee :laugh: Wishing you all trouble free season.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Help choose evinrude or black max

John, I wouldn't worry about needing special tools for the Merc. The special tools are for the Merc gearcase. Normally it is easier and cheaper to install a used or aftermarket gearcase, then repair it.

So you are not going to ski or swim. The pylon will take up a fair amount of space. Hopefully you can remove it.

 

[belairbrian]

Re: Help choose evinrude or black max

Comparing those engines is abit of apples and oranges. The 'rude' is a carbed freshwater motor. The merc is a fuel injected saltwater motor.

The merc would require a good inspection, depending on maintenance and care a saltwater engine can have some issues.

 

[johnj11]

Re: Help choose evinrude or black max

Hey Brian, The dealership is in Alberta. No saltwater this side of the Rockies but engine history is unknown. Would that model (offshore ) only have been sold in coastal shops or is it possible it has only been in fresh water? Is fuel injection a liability?

 

[gbrowne9]

Re: Help choose evinrude or black max

between an old omc and a merc i,d take a merc every time . omc,s had problems with the lower units and the merc,s are pretty tuff.

 

[belairbrian]

Re: Help choose evinrude or black max

Since saltwater engines cost more you don't see fresh water boaters using them, unless they got a good deal on it. here we are only 150 miles from the gulf so some guys have saltwater motors that spend most of their time in fresh water but go to salt a few times a year.

If maintained saltwater motors are fine, but you can certainly run into corroded bolts, and if not flushed properly who knows what the water passages are like. With an unknown history I would shy away from a saltwater motor.

Fuel injection isn't bad as long as parts and a knowledgeable mechanic are available. Just seems more mechanics know their way around carbs. But with more fuel injected motors that is changing.

I've owned Johnsons, Mercs and even a force. Johnsons are good motors and so are Mercs. I currently have a Merc.
I mention Johnson since Johnson and Evinrude were essentially the same motors for a long time.

But of those two I would probably go with the Rude unless I new the history on the Merc and did a lot of searching for corrosion.

 

[johnj11]

Re: Help choose evinrude or black max

Thanks Brian and GBrowne, for the useful info.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Help choose evinrude or black max

Gee, That's a lot of speculation. See if either of them saw saltwater. If not, buy the Merc. It is a newer design and looks better (IMHO).

BTW - the difference between a "Saltwater" motor and a "normal" motor, is a few pieces of stainless steel. IMHO, motors should not have any exterior steel components.

 

[johnj11]

Re: Help choose evinrude or black max

Well, The merc boat was sold and the other looked a LOT better in the photo than in real life. Don't think I want anything from that yard. All boats are sitting level or slightly bow down. Disastrous heavy rainfall 3 weeks ago. Lots of water trapped in forward bilge areas and ski lockers. Baking in the hot sun. What a recipe. Poor boats!!