What's the best brand outboard to buy?

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BillP

Captain
Joined
Aug 10, 2002
Messages
3,290
Re: What's the best brand outboard to buy?

forktail,<br />When did Johnson start having corrosion problems? They used to be at the top in resistance. Is that a Bombadier motor? 2 or 4 stroke?
 
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Forktail

Ensign
Joined
Feb 11, 2002
Messages
977
Re: What's the best brand outboard to buy?

BillP, it's a year 2000 model 15 HP 2-stroke. One of the few Johnson's I own. I called my help on satellite phone to send up a new 15 for one of my spare Jon's. I didn't know he'd be sending a Johnson in the plane, but I never specified a brand, as I thought he knew I run mostly Yamaha's. He bought it based on price and availability thinking that was the most important. <br /><br />I don't know if Johnson's have corrosion problems or not. But in this case, the corrosion is under the cowl. Fasteners, linkages, connectors, etc. The paint is chipping, nothing fits good, and everything is cheap-o flimsy. I forgot to mention that the tiller handle is cracked and the spring for the tilt lever is wasted. However, it does run reliably.
 
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vidar

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 30, 2003
Messages
165
Re: What's the best brand outboard to buy?

i think the best motor has to be yamaha.....thats what they steal most here in norway....the thives know quality.... :)
 
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skiffer

Seaman
Joined
Apr 23, 2003
Messages
68
Re: What's the best brand outboard to buy?

Forktail:<br /><br />------------------------------------------<br />I don't see where crguy specified a 2-stroke or a long shaft. <br />------------------------------------------<br /><br />crguy didn't specify stroke of shaft length which is why I said " IF you want a 2 stroke long shaft......." <br /><br />Your experience with Johnson confirms what I had suspected about them.<br /><br />Based on my experience with my Toyota truck (192,000 miles and never been in a garage for anything except brakes) my next motor is going to be Japanese, probably Yamaha. Unfortunately, it will have to be 4 stroke since they don't make a 15hp long shaft 2 stroke.
 
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bobbyk

Cadet
Joined
Aug 2, 2004
Messages
14
Re: What's the best brand outboard to buy?

YAMAHA, hands down. I have a 6hp Yammy that I bought in '86. I've never had to pull it more than twice for it to start. Runs like a champ & it's gotten ALOT of use. I have an Evinrude on my Formula, and it is garbage.
 
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steviecops

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Oct 3, 2003
Messages
585
Re: What's the best brand outboard to buy?

We had yamaha outboards over here way before the 80's and they didn't have a good name. They seemed to corrode quickly, (cylinder heads and exhaust covers). They also had reliability problems. The Yamaha's of today seem to be an altogether better engine though. They must have sorted some of the problems out.<br /><br />The Suzuki's were very good engines, even the old ones. They seemed to be more robust than the Yamaha's.<br /><br />My personal favourites are Johnson/Evinrude or Mercury. These just seem to inspire confidence.<br /><br />I reckon most of todays motors are pretty good if you're buying new.<br /><br />Here's a thought. If you want 15hp and total reliability and little or no maintenance, and all for about $300, but three British seagull engines, now those things are something else ;o), they will run forever.
 
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