Yamaha vs Mercury vs Evinrude vs Others thread.....

[on_ice]

I am looking for a 40-50hp for my whaler and was wondering your guy's feedback on which makes a better small motor for years 2000 and up. I need something reliable, good on gas, etc etc. What do you guys think?

 

[Bass Man Bruce]

Re: Yamaha vs Mercury vs Evinrude vs Others thread.....

I have a 2005 50 hp evinrude E-tec, I love it. (quiet, starts INSTANTLY and fuel efficient, also came with 7 year non declining warranty)
That said, I think you're going to find that there's not a lot of difference in reliability and performance from any current makers.
Find a dealer you trust (the most) and pick a motor that fits your price/warranty/performance needs.
Good luck and HAVE FUN!!

 

[JB]

Re: Yamaha vs Mercury vs Evinrude vs Others thread.....

I take it you are looking to power a Boston Whaler 15 or 150, and that you want a new engine. You need to tell us these things.

The etecs are good engines, but expensive and heavy as are all of the good choices in new engines. In a 2 stroke the etec is the only one I would recommend. In 4 strokes I would only consider EFI engines, which are in the same price and weight range as the etec. The best of those, I think, are Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha.

My personal experience is with the Suzuki DF50. It is a very good and user friendly engine (my personal highest priority).

People will come on here and recommend an engine because of usually trivial differences in weight, reputation, price, warranty, complexity, ease and availability of service and parts and a host of nonsensical marketing claims, including drag racing and top speed claims.

One very important feature to compare is the local availability of professionally qualified service. All of these engines are too complex for shade tree and amatuer maintenance beyond what is instructed in Owner's Manuals.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Yamaha vs Mercury vs Evinrude vs Others thread.....

You will find in acuality fuel consumption is pretty much the same except for
certain specific situations but over all balances out.I feel that if you have a number of hp in the same block that efficiency per hp is best in the larger hp versions ie: a 60 etec does better than the 40 based on the same block.And then of course the 60 can be driven at 40 hp speeds and get close to the same GPH and be loafing at the same time and still have that burst when you need it.

 

[Lundman]

Re: Yamaha vs Mercury vs Evinrude vs Others thread.....

As has been said with the four strokes in the 50 to 60 hp range,...Yamaha,
Honda and Suzuki would be your best choices. I do not agree on the two
stroke end of things,though. Here I would choose Yamaha 50 carbed two
stroke motor mostly for price and reliability reputation. I am just not really
convinced E-TEC is the way to go,...taking a motor and running it at full
throttle right off the bat as they say you can is not the best of ideas no
matter how well a motor is built. Any smart boat owner would take it easy and properly break it in before attempting full throttle runs.

 

[longshanks]

Re: Yamaha vs Mercury vs Evinrude vs Others thread.....

On Ice

As JB mentioned, if you are considering a 4 stroke motor, I would lean towards an EFI, as opposed to carbed motors. I believe this rules out the Honda, which is carb'd. EFI starts and idles very smoothly and quietly.

I have an EFI Mercury 50. I got into it for such a low price that I couldn't refuse, and it is a very smooth, reliable runner. I have never run an ETEC motor, but they are a twin cylinder, as opposed to my Mercury 4-cylinder, and the ETEC is only 8 pounds lighter than my 248lb Merc 50 4 - stroke.

Maybe others on here can direct us to information on consumer satisfaction for the various outboards?

good luck with your decision