Why do Mercury OB seem to rank so low

[elkhunter338]

Most OB polls I see on any boating site, Mercury is never the number one choice. Most always it is Yamaha. I have to say I am not a mercury fan, always been a Johnson/Evinrude. Now with the e-tec mixed reviews i have read and the dealer 140 miles away I don't think that is an option (like the 7 yr warranty).

Merc dealers is local and I like what I read about the 115hp command thrust, just not sure about owning a Mercury (3 yr warranty)
The other dealer 35 miles away is Yamaha, their 115hp is small displacement, has timing belt, and have to set valves (3 yr warranty)
Honda dealer is 30 miles away but they seem to be just overpriced, heaviest OB on the market (5 yr. Warranty) want the valves checked yearly

The Suzuki dealer is 120 miles away, 140hp is light, still needs valves checked (6 yr warranty)
The Tohatsu dealer is 120 miles away, 115 , no valves to check, no timing belt, (compressor belt) 2 stroke TLDI (5yr warranty)

Should I shy away from a Mercury?
Most all the boats on the coast are running Yamaha. Still Merc and Yamaha have the worst warranty these are the closest dealers.

 

[bruceb58]

My 90 HP Mercury has a Yamaha power head. In my year, the 115 is the same power head. Not sure if the current Mercury motors in that Hp are still using the Yamaha or not.

 

[tpenfield]

Yamaha is a nice engine, but Mercury has always been #1 in my book. It seems to be tough to find market share statistics, but it seems like Yamaha and Mercury are the top 2. :noidea:

I would not shy away from Mercury. If the dealer is close, go for it.

Maybe 'Slip Away' can help on the industry stats?

 

[Scott Danforth]

I take all polls with a grain of salt. sometimes with a shot of tequila as well. Im a bit biased, as I know about 45 people currently working at Mercury. I would not hesitate in a minute to buy one.

 

[boobie]

All I can say is buy a motor where you get the best service close to you. They all break.

 

[GA_Boater]

Ford vs Chevy vs Fiat...I mean Dodge. People swear by one brand and swear at all the others.

Warranties are only as good as the dealer doing the work and the manufacturer. I'll take a good, reputable dealer over a longer warranty any day.

 

[Chris1956]

I think you will find motor preference to be regional. We have few Yamahas here on the Jersey shore. We have mostly Mercs and Johnnyrudes, although Yamaha is gaining in popularity, as Johnnyrude declines. On I/O motors, the vast vast majority are MerCruiser. I am not sure I know of one V-P I/O.

 

[SkiDad]

If I had to buy a new engine I would personally be looking at an E-Tec, b/c I'm a 2 stroke junkie. But the new Mercury 2015 115 4 Stroke seems like a nice improvement, especially with the Command Thrust option. I would like to see that one up against an E-tec 115 to see how they compare. Probably not a big deal for most folks but I'm into slalom sking and hole shot is king for me.

 

[82rude]

Yamaha is a nice engine, but Mercury has always been #1 in my book. It seems to be tough to find market share statistics, but it seems like Yamaha and Mercury are the top 2. :noidea:

I would not shy away from Mercury. If the dealer is close, go for it.

Maybe 'Slip Away' can help on the industry stats?

at one time omc sold more outboards than all other manf combined.i believe this held true right up to just before omc went bankrupt.if you can hold out a little I would bet that merc will offer at least a 5 year warranty to compete with etec 7 year deal.were I live newer models are dominated by mercury with yammy a far far distant second maybe.might see one tohatsu all summer ,maybe a suzzy and a few Hondas.etecs are slowly gaing ground as we will finally have a dealer close by.i personally have a 2011 60 etec.now if we start talking pre 2000 outboards omc vastly outnumbers all other in my region.

 

[elkhunter338]

I can hold out for probably 12 months, I am building a renn tolman 26' jumbo with pilot house. The boat should be ready for an OB in early 2016. My goal is to use the new boat for the 2016 fishing season. These boats run well with a 115hp e-tec or a 140-150 hp 4 stroke. I think the merc command thrust 115 would perform close to a e-tec with bigger prop of the command thrust. I am not after a speed boat and the 115 etec is plenty.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH2WXtmElxI

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Chances are your local Mercury dealer is participating in a program where they can offer you an incentive, including an additional 2 years of warranty, at no charge.

 

[Teamster]

My 90 HP Mercury has a Yamaha power head. In my year, the 115 is the same power head. Not sure if the current Mercury motors in that Hp are still using the Yamaha or not.

I think the Merc/Yamaha partnership dissolved in the 00's,...............

 

[bruceb58]

I think the Merc/Yamaha partnership dissolved in the 00's,...............

My 2006 is absolutely a Yamaha power head. The connector for my Rinda is a Yamaha connector. I know it's at least until 2010

 

[Teamster]

A little google searching says 2006 was the last year of the partneship between Mercury and Yamaha,....

 

[bruceb58]

A little google searching says 2006 was the last year of the partneship between Mercury and Yamaha,....

Please share your search results.

 

[Teamster]

"2006 model Mercury four strokes from 2.5 through 30 HP are built by Tohatsu.
Before Yamaha entered the U.S. market, Mercury?s Mariner line was built by Yamaha.
Last year (2005), Mercury four stroke powerheads from 25 through 225 HP (except the Verados) were built by Yamaha. Several of those models used Mercury drive legs, electronics and EFI systems (replacing carbs Yamaha used in similar sized engines).
In 2006 models, Mercury four stroke powerheads from 40 to 225 HP (except the Verados) are built by Yamaha.
Mercury?s agreement with Yamaha ended in March 2006, at which time Mercury is expected to phase in more four cylinders (75 to 115 HP) based on the Verado engine block, but without supercharging or intercooling."

From another forum

 

[Teamster]

And here,..

 

[Teamster]

[No message]

 

[Teamster]

Some history of the relationship,...

 

[bruceb58]

Mercury’s agreement with Yamaha ended in March 2006, at which time Mercury is expected to phase in more four cylinders (75 to 115 HP) based on the Verado engine block, but without supercharging or intercooling."

Of course the 75 to 115 were still made my Yamaha until 2010.
http://www.rinda.com/acro/scantool_adapters.pdf

Don't you have anything that is after 2004?