How reliable are later Mercs/'Rudes?

[TheFormerlives]

I'm in the market for a new boat and a lot of the boats for sale in my area have late 80's to early 90's 100-150hp Mercs/Mariners and Evinrudes. Are these fairly reliable engines and are there any major problems with them? What are a few things I should look for on the engine while test driving a boat? I've never owned anything over 100hp. I was thinking about having a mechanic take a look at the engine before I buy anything.

Thanks guys.

 

[5150abf]

Re: How reliable are later Mercs/'Rudes?

Im' not a Merc guy, don't care for them with no particular reason.

If taken care of late 80s OMC engines are still some of the best on the water, early 90s are good too, I wouldn't go much beyond 95 as OMC was closing on bankrupcy and I think the engines got a little suspect after 96-2001 and stay away form anything that says FICHT.

Early form of high pressure direct injection that didn't work out so well.

 

[JB]

Re: How reliable are later Mercs/'Rudes?

Any outboard's longevity is directly proportional to the quality of care it gets.

Newer, DFI and 4 stroke EFI, outboards are a lot more complicated than the wonderful old carbed 2 strokes many of us are used to and they require a higher level of care.

They are even more vulnerable to abuse or neglect such as continuing to run when it is known that they are not performing correctly, failure to meet periodic maintenance requirements, failure to acquire and use a factory Service Manual, etc.

Even so, greatly improved user friendliness, cleanliness, efficiency and flexibility make the new technology well worth the investment.

You just need to raise your sensitivity to her maintenance needs.

 

[whofan]

Re: How reliable are later Mercs/'Rudes?

When you find something your serious about have a compression test done on engine cylinders.
This will tell you. of the motor condition.
Both Mercury and OMC are good engines, Mercury also is Mariner and OMC, Evinrude/ Johnson.
As stated stay away from OMC Fitch and the Force Motors Mercury once made.
At one time mercury also had a motor that would cut down on running cylinders much like a multi displacement or cylinder deactivation system that larger car engines have. I would personally stay away from these motors as well.
Mercury vs OMC is much like a Ford vs Chevy arguement.
I like the mid range OMCs better.
The 150 Mercury is an excellent engine as well.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: How reliable are later Mercs/'Rudes?

Stay away from Ficht? Not sure about that....

Between my partner and I we have 3 boats. His Lake & Bay with a 225 Merc Opti is down right now with a bad command module. (what a mess that is) My old reliable 1998 carb'd 150 Yamaha on my Hewes is down with a bad rod bearing.

The Carolina Skiff with the 1997 150 Ficht is running fine. And has been for many years.

Guess which boat we're fishing this weekend? Yep, ol reliable - the Ficht.

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: How reliable are later Mercs/'Rudes?

It all boils down to how well they were taken care of.

 

[BLU LUNCH]

Re: How reliable are later Mercs/'Rudes?

Jb is right about the basic maintenance. 6 years ago I bought a 1983 Mercury Black Max 150 the was immaculate 130-135 PSI on all cylinders long story short the previous owner never did the impeller neither did I til this spring I brought it to have it done and the driveshaft was seized to the crank and lost the motor. The motor would push my boat just under 45 MPH and it sounded mean{ The guy that bought from me fixed it} There's a lot of good deals now, a lot of guys going 4 stroke trade in's very where..............

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: How reliable are later Mercs/'Rudes?

Care, maintenance and condition are huge with any used motor. Same as any used car.

 

[Outsider]

Re: How reliable are later Mercs/'Rudes?

And has been for many years.

You mean many years since it was 'fixed' ...

 

[Dhadley]

Re: How reliable are later Mercs/'Rudes?

That's correct. It had all the updates and has been fine. The original owner had 2 gearcases go bad but that has nothing to do with the FFI system. In fact the second case went bad because the guy who fixed the first one didn't know what he was doing.