Opinion on good motors?

[rsw21282]

I am looking into getting a new boat in the next few months. I currently have an older bass boat with a late 80's force motor on it. While that motor isnt to bad it can be tempermental. My question is what is everyones opinion on the best brand motor?
oldest motor they would buy?
any specific model?

Also does anyone know when they started putting fuel injection on marine engines?

Oh and for motor environment i would be running mostly in salt water. As well as not spending more than 5k but reguardless of price want to hear opinions and best bang for the buck ideas.

 

[wa2712nj]

Re: Opinion on good motors?

You might want to give us a little more info to work on, otherwise this kinda question just invites opinions and a flame-war?

Force, for example, is a brand of motor I never heard anything good about. But there's gotta be at least one person in the world in love with theirs.

What size and age of motor are you looking to move to? 2 or 4 stroke?

Be aware that there aren't as many manufacturers of small outboards out there as your might think. For example, Tohatsu/Nissan/Mercury small motors are currently all the same thing, or at least the same powerhead. But I've been told that if you go back a few years, small Mercurys were built by Yamaha. Don't know if that is true or not.

I've got a 9.9 Merc that is 5 years old, and a brand new Tohatsu 20. Both 4 strokes. I swapped the 9.9 for a 20 cause the boat was a bit under-powered on 9.9 (and cause my kids got their "boaters education card", allowing them to legally operate the 20). Why Tohatsu? Price mainly, plus I hadn't heard anyone here with serious complaints against them. Certainly didn't see a point in paying a lot more for the same thing with a Mercury sticker on it.

To get a real flame-war going, post the question "2 stroke or 4?"

YMMV,

-dm

 

[whofan]

Re: Opinion on good motors?

I am looking into getting a new boat in the next few months. I currently have an older bass boat with a late 80's force motor on it. While that motor isnt to bad it can be tempermental. My question is what is everyones opinion on the best brand motor?
oldest motor they would buy?
any specific model?

Also does anyone know when they started putting fuel injection on marine engines?

Oh and for motor environment i would be running mostly in salt water. As well as not spending more than 5k but reguardless of price want to hear opinions and best bang for the buck ideas.

Try to go with Mercury because its an American company.
Really you can`t go wrong with any brand now days. Early days of fuel injected two strokes 2002 back, some had issues but are running fine now in later years. Stay away from the OMC Fitch models.
Honda makes a fine four stroke outboard as does Yamaha and Suzuki.
If you want a two stroke, optimax from Mercury or a Etec from Evinrude are good choices.
Your local dealer and convienent service is what you shop for first.
Buy a brand that your local service shop works on providing they are good and will take care of you.
Talk to them even if your buying used from a private seller.
Try to stay from a 2005 up or if you have to go older get a OMC or Mercury carbed two stroke. Mercury had a EFI (not Optimax) that was good in the late 90s eary 2000s. 5k isn`t much now days. Outboard prices are crazy now days. What`s your Horse power requierments?
I have to say that 15 years ago and back in my own opinion OMC (Johnson Evinrude) were king of the hill. I`m still sad OMC is gone. Part of USA dies every year lately.

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Opinion on good motors?

Lots of choices in good motors
They concist of----------
JOHNSON & EVINRUDE

 

[JB]

Re: Opinion on good motors?

You need a JohnnyYamaZukiRude 123.6HP 5 cylinder three stroke.

Of course if your older bass boat has a size and brand and your Force has a HP rating there are probably better choices.

 

[old boat 54]

Re: Opinion on good motors?

I saw twin 150's E-Tec's during a ski show. These motors were no louder then the other inboard ski boat, and I did not see any smoke or smell any burnt oil/gas smell from it. I was pretty close to it. These are supposed to have passed the strict pollution laws in Lake Mead.
A lot less moving parts and a lot lighter. The problem is that your not probably to be able to work on this yourself, without a computer and software.