What Outboard to Pick?

[BillP]

Re: What Outboard to Pick?

I'm stumped, and did not realize the joint venture Mercury/Yamaha 4-stroke outboards went back as far as 1996. I have a 2004 Mercury 115efi and understand this joint venture engine line was produced from 1999-2005. In any case, my oil changes take about 30 minutes twice per year. Valves need checked at 300 hours but I have talked to nobody with these engines who actually had to adjust the valves - checked yes, adjusted no. I have 600 hours on mine now and the valves are within specs.

I don't know about the big motors but the 45 and 50 merc/mariner 4s powerheads back then were made by Yamaha. The 45hp pre-dates the 50hp and my 50 is stamped as mfg in 12/96. Ordered by me a couple months earlier. There was a waiting line then...cost was $5500+ no dickering. Nobody knew jack about 4 stroke obs then except that they had a smokeless exhaust and got better fuel burn.