Suzukis and salt water

[haddles]

Just got back from holidays along the coast from where I live and noticed that all the water taxi's, tour boats and coastguards boats use twin four stroke Suzuki setups. Normally I don't see many Suzuki's around the place but these motors live in the saltwater and i'd imagine thay would never get flushed out. Do modern Suzuki's have a particularly good name in the saltwater? I just found it odd that they would all choose Suzuki over the wide range of competition when they aren't that common in general use.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Suzukis and salt water

Mercury claims to have the best anti-corrosion aluminum developed at Lake X Florida years ago. Think they put a lot of copper in it. Dunno about Suzuki.<br /><br />Might be a local dealer made them a deal, or maybe something else like price, or maybe what you said.<br /><br />Why don't you ask the owners why they went with Suzuki.<br /><br />Mark

 

[haddles]

Re: Suzukis and salt water

I thought about that but I don't think any of the drivers are the owners. It was in more than one area too as I was travelling around. I don't think those big 4 stroke suzukis are that cheap either. I've never really considered Suzuki before I noticed this so it could be that they discount them as a form of advertising. It worked on me.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Suzukis and salt water

I had a friend with a 140 and I think it was a 4 in line (know it wasn't a Vee). Was a late '80 or early '90 model. The guy used it on a 17' bassboat and liked it fine. Don't see much of them around here.<br /><br />Maybe Suzuki was the only dealer locally??????<br /><br />Mark

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Suzukis and salt water

All brands have about the same corrosion protection. It's about price, dealer's in the area and perception.

 

[DJ]

Re: Suzukis and salt water

The early Suzy's (pre-1991) had some serious corrosion issues. They were nicknamed "sizzlers", like Alka Seltzer.<br /><br />I owned a 1995 DT 140 (2-stroke) 140 HP. I HATED that engine. The Mikuni carbs needed constant attention. The parts were ungodly expensive, the dealer network was pathetic.<br /><br />To be fair. If you have a GOOD dealer, that would make a big difference. The later four strokes have proven to be good.<br /><br />If Suzuki could get their dealer act together, they would be a real contender, in my book.<br /><br />They (Suzuki) seems to want to "dabble" in the US market. Their commitment is hard to nail down.<br /><br />That's just MY opinion.

 

[Richard O'D]

Re: Suzukis and salt water

I think the warentee is what seperates them from the rest of the field. I see more and more up on L.I.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Suzukis and salt water

The Suzuki warranty is the same as everyone elses's...Three years. At the beginning of the selling season they have gotten into the habit of running their "Gimme Six" warranty extension which bumps it up to six years...Sort of. Most of the other manufacturers run a promotion at the same time. As DJ pointed out, Suzuki and Honda too for that matter, have a less than full bore marketing scheme for the U.S. Since that dumbxxx Mercury complaint to the Feds, Japanese companies are not to keen on aquiring more market share since they do not want to be falsely accused again

 

[Vantoo]

Re: Suzukis and salt water

Originally posted by INTERNETOUTBOARDS:<br /> As DJ pointed out, Suzuki and Honda too for that matter, have a less than full bore marketing scheme for the U.S. Since that dumbxxx Mercury complaint to the Feds, Japanese companies are not to keen on aquiring more market share since they do not want to be falsely accused again

Havn't heard about the Mercury complaint. Care to share it with me?

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Suzukis and salt water

Mercury filed a complaint with the Feds that the Japs were dumping and that was keeping Mercury from scooping up more and more market share. The Feds said Aaaggghh, yeah, Yamaha did have two price lists...One for dealers, one for boat manufacturers...So we'll call that dumping. Then Mercury was unable to prove that they were hurt by it, so....The Feds told Mercury to pack sand.<br /><br />End result...Reduced price competition. So YOU get to pay more!

 

[imported_Curmudgeon]

Re: Suzukis and salt water

... Japanese companies are not to keen on acquiring more market share since they do not want to be falsely accused again.<br /><br />I doubt concern for false accusations has the Japanese too concerned when it comes to market share. I suspect a plethora or lack of presence in a given area is due to dealer availability, service,and most of all, price.<br /><br />I also suspect we'll see a perception change in the boat market as more and more "brand" name boats become available with only Black Anchors attached. Great marketing strategy on the part of Brunswick, though - if you can't get the boat makers to push your engines, buy the boat maker. We'll see, as there are lots of good boats on the market that aren't constrained in motor choices.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Suzukis and salt water

On the contrary, the Japanese are very concerned about having TOO MUCH market share. Possible backlash has been one of the primary reasons why many Japanese companys have limited sales goals here. The Japanese even have an agency named MITI that overlooks Japanese export sales and advises them when to cut back on exports so as to not generate problems associated with market expansion. Dealer availabilty and price are directly related to their desire to limit expansion...Most of the time.

 

[Gordon Goldie]

Re: Suzukis and salt water

In the UK, Suzuki and Johnson are now the same engine with different cases. Is that the case in the US?<br /><br />Also, Honda do a standard 5 year warranty. Everyone else is 3 years.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Suzukis and salt water

Honda is three years in the U.S. and Suzuki makes the Johnson/Evinrude four-strokes.