Outboards to Avoid

[83mulligan]

Hey all,

In the market for a used boat this fall. I want an outboard for power. just thought I'd throw it out here to discuss........

What are the outboards to avoid in the 90 to 150 hp range from the 90's to current. I'm just trying to avoid buying a motor that has had recurring issues for lots of people.

second....are there any gems out there to look for and snap up if they become available

I'm talking only oil injected or 4 strokes here.

 

[jimmbo]

Re: Outboards to Avoid

To avoid: 1998, 99, 2000 150hp Ficht models. Any and all 4 strokes

Gems: Mercury inline sixes(pre 90, but great engines), Mercury V6s, Omc V6 loopers, Late model V4 loopers, Post 1977 99.6 cubic inch V4s, BRP E-tec

Just my Opinion, others may vary

 

[83mulligan]

Re: Outboards to Avoid

I see a lot of used boats in mid to late 90's with mercs. mid to late 90's mercs pretty good?

 

[BonairII]

Re: Outboards to Avoid

Regardless of what brand you decide to go with....make sure that you check the motor out thoroughly. Looks for signs it's been overheated, check condition of LU oil, and make sure to check compression.

 

[86 century]

Re: Outboards to Avoid

Hands down the best value in an outboard is force by far the most under rated.

A lot of people will disagree with me but as is said above condition is everything.



Im not a big fan of the evinrude vro although I have one that works for now anyway.

 

[jimmbo]

Re: Outboards to Avoid

Fubared
Obsolete
Recyled
Chrysler
Engine

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Outboards to Avoid

I will toss out a couple darkhorses here.. Tohatsu/Nissan 2-strokes. I found them to be be well engineered/built, very reliable, and the oil injection was pretty simple and reliable (owned a 92 Tohatsu 40HP and an 89 90hp NS90A).

You can often find them cheaper as they are not as common as John/Evin/Merc and are discounted because of it. Not sure of the TLDI's but I understand those are very good engines as well.

My first OB was an 88 Force 50hp. No love for that engine as I don't think it was a powerful as other 50's and ran rough and stinky.

 

[79Merc80]

Re: Outboards to Avoid

F - F___ked
O - Over
R - Re-built
C - Chrysler
E - Engine

I have talked with several mechanics and they LOVE them. Lot's of money in keeping them running.

 

[64osby]

Re: Outboards to Avoid

I have a 1985 90hp V-4 Evinrude that is a very nice runner and not too bad a fuel either. The VRO has worked with out issue.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Outboards to Avoid

I will toss out a couple darkhorses here.. Tohatsu/Nissan 2-strokes. I found them to be be well engineered/built, very reliable, and the oil injection was pretty simple and reliable (owned a 92 Tohatsu 40HP and an 89 90hp NS90A).

You can often find them cheaper as they are not as common as John/Evin/Merc and are discounted because of it. QUOTE]

Also discounted due to difficulty of finding repair parts for all but the latest models.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Outboards to Avoid

"Also discounted due to difficulty of finding repair parts for all but the latest models"

Not true. All Japanese and now the two "US" made engine's suffer from lack of foresight when it comes to product support of older model engines. I think it sucks overall, but to single out Tohatsu is just unfair

 

[lncoop]

Re: Outboards to Avoid

"Also discounted due to difficulty of finding repair parts for all but the latest models"

Not true. All Japanese and now the two "US" made engine's suffer from lack of foresight when it comes to product support of older model engines. I think it sucks overall, but to single out Tohatsu is just unfair

Actually, I was attempting to single out older Nissans, but I do realize I mistakenly included Tohatsus. FWIW, you were the first one to tell me this was an issue with Nissans.

 

[jkust]

Re: Outboards to Avoid

I've got an old Force and it has been trouble free in all respects but it seems I must have got one built on a Wednesday because that is definitely not the norm.

 

[83mulligan]

Re: Outboards to Avoid

any thoughts on a 2000 115 hp johnson?

 

[jimmbo]

Re: Outboards to Avoid

I drove one in 2000. It was propped to overrev slightly and it still had poor holeshot. It had great top end

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Outboards to Avoid

I would expect that '00 Johnny 115HPV4 to be an excellent motor. I have a '98 150HPV6, which is it's big brother (motors are boys, boats are girls), and it is an excellent. Any of the Merc V6 motors are excellent. FWIW 60* V motors built by Merc and Johnnyrude are real good motors, IMHO.

The 90* V4 Evinrude/Johnnys are a classic design, but a bit dated now. These were made from 1958 (the '58 and '59 Fat-Fitfy is not a good choice) until the late 90s in crossflow and loop charged versions.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Outboards to Avoid

Actually, I was attempting to single out older Nissans, but I do realize I mistakenly included Tohatsus. FWIW, you were the first one to tell me this was an issue with Nissans.

What I was taking issue with was the implication that Tohatsu/Nissan costs less( they don't anymore) due to a lack of parts availability. The least expensive outboard on the market is domestic production Mercury's. While many people claim that they and 60 year old OMC crap have parts availability up the wazoo the fact is that they don't. Virtually all the myth regarding parts on the Old Ones is for a few models that existed virtually unchanged for years. Most of the carb and ignition parts used on those were also used on non outboard engines. Hence the reason for still being able to find an x part. In addition, aftermarket companies found that there was a great deal of demand for some of this stuff due to the huge number of them sold. So, it is true that older model Tohatsu and Nissans have issues with parts availability...Just not more than anyone else does. I think all of the manufacturers need to reevaluate there support for older models as it is unfair to consumers, who had faith in the product to begin with, to have to dumpster an engine because some widget is unavailable.

On a side note. West Bend-Chrysler- Force Mk1- Force Mk2 were not that bad. The fact that so many of the things are still alive proves that they were a decent outboard. The reason for the bad reputation was primarily due to the people who purchased them...Least expensive outboard, made them the price point outboard, purchased by the kind of people who usually skipped on maintenance. I had a friend, that was a Mercury dealer, that commented to me back in the 70"s that his customers were a better class of people and every person he saw with a Chrysler looked like they lived in a trailer park. He wasn't being nasty, he just saw how little the average Chrysler owner spent in money and time to keep them up. And while it may be an oversimplification, he was/is/will be right

 

[myboatisbroke]

Re: Outboards to Avoid

I have had nothing but trouble with both Force engines that have been on my boat(1989 Spectrum 1900). Even had a hard time finding anyone to work on it, and when I did, he ended up ruining the powerhead(HE DIDNT HAVE THE WATER RUNNING TO EARMUFFS!!! HE RAN IT TILL IT LOCKED UP SOLID!!!). Most places I called actually laughed when I told them what I had and refused to work on it! Re-powered with a 79 Mercury 80hp and have had zero problems whatsoever, propels the boat to 35mph, and best of all it will let me idle all way on the Erie Canal, or trolling for walleye without loading up. A lot of people to love them, but I for one wouldn't consider it, unless you know the owner and have seen it run. As with anything used, check the basics first, compression testers and spark testers are cheap and most auto parts have them. I have always liked mercurys, and the Johnson 25hp I have on my duck boat runs awesome too.