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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 27,091
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 27,091 |
One that runs and does not strand you.
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,850 Likes: 3
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,850 Likes: 3 |
A few years ago our salmon fishing guide on the Kenai river called Mercury outboards "welfare motors"- - - - -"They're black and don't work!" He ran a Yamaha. An oldie but a goodie. Remember the Evinrude FICHT motors? I had a boat mechanic tell me that it stood for "found in channel hailing tow".
Last edited by RJY66; 07/27/22.
"Men must be governed by God or they will be ruled by tyrants". --- William Penn
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 5,699 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 5,699 Likes: 2 |
I'm not an expert, but all you listed will work fine. I traded in my 2004, 90hp Merc four stroke. And got a Honda last year. No complaints, yet. The Honda and Merc were only 200$ different. The Merc had been in the shop four times, for electrical problems and I decided, reliability, trumps price. My small motors are Merc, Yamaha, and Honda. Honda being the most reliable of the three small motors. Just my experience. We are running Honda and Mercury on the harvesting boats. Harvesting algea for human consumption! These run 10 to 12 hours a day average, everyday, weather and wind cooperating. From late June thru September, sometimes onto November depending on material to harvest. The Honda's have required less maintenance and get about 15% better fuel usage per hour. Like I said ,I'm not an expert, just sharing experience!!
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Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,452 Likes: 7
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,452 Likes: 7 |
A Yamaha dealer told me Suzuki is the best one made. I had lots of trouble with small Yamahas. Plugged jets mostly. Brains got fried by lightening maybe. Warranty was good except one mechanic didn't get the cooling tube in right, which would have burned it up if I hadn't noticed all the crazy bubbling.
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 61,044 Likes: 18
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 61,044 Likes: 18 |
If you fish rocky lakes, use safety cord to save the motor. hood.
These premises insured by a Sheltie in Training ,--- and Cooey.o "May the Good Lord take a likin' to you"
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Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 3,777 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 3,777 Likes: 1 |
Guiding north of the border I see a ton of Yamahas that size and the ones I’ve used are/were excellent.
One fellow I fish out of owns a lot of remote camps and is one of the biggest single purchasers of outboards that size. He too chooses Yamaha. When he turns them over every couple years he told me he orders 80 some. Best he’s used he says. Every 7-8 years the Yamaha factory crew from overseas actually stop in and query him on any issues or improvements he might like on those motors. He’s a sharp guy and says over the years he has pointed out a number of things that could be done better, none have ever come to fruition.
Osky
A woman's heart is the hardest rock the Almighty has put on this earth and I can find no sign on it.
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 61,044 Likes: 18
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 61,044 Likes: 18 |
One rub to having a Merc in Wabigoon is, the closest dealer is Sioux Lookout, 45 miles away.
These premises insured by a Sheltie in Training ,--- and Cooey.o "May the Good Lord take a likin' to you"
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,555
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,555 |
Yamaha
Buddy runs 300hp four stroke. wide open all the time. 7 years nothing but routine maintenance.
I have an HPDI 2 stroke 150. It's a 2001 model. Not one lick of issues.
Clyde
The liberal mind is an endless black hole of stupidity.
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 16,113 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 16,113 Likes: 2 |
Whichever one has the closest dealer with a decent mechanic and parts shop. If it’s got tits or a motor, and it’ll give you trouble.
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 25,953 Likes: 7
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 25,953 Likes: 7 |
I am going to be buying a new/new-ish outboard in the 15-25 HP range for use on a 16' jonboat. Tiller steer for sure, electric start preferred. What are the 'fire's preferences of Yamaha vs. Suzuki vs. Mercury vs. Honda? I know Yamaha is like the Toyota of outboards, and I have had a couple of them (both 2 strokes, both solid). No experience with 4-stroke outboards of any make. Look at onlineoutboards.com. It is a division of Cumberland watersports. Buy a Tohatsu. They build all the Mercs under 20 hp. Same motor, different labels, more money if it is Merc branded. They also build or have built under other labels. The 10 hp, 15 hp, and 20 hp are built on the same frame and share bore x stroke measurements, as well as weight. Might as well buy the 20 hp. I just installed a new 20 hp Tohatsu as a kicker on my Aluminum jet boat. Electric tilt and trim, electric start. I love it. I am too old and shoulders are too torn up to yank on a pull start. Final note. Beware fake online outboard sales sites. I found several with great prices, but wanted payment via Paypal direct. Fug that. Cumberland watersports is good to go.
People who choose to brew up their own storms bitch loudest about the rain.
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 5,142
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 5,142 |
In the 15-25 HP range you're looking at its really a horse a piece between brands listed. Merc will be a Tohatsu as noted. Hard to fu.ck up a smaller four stroke anymore.
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,209 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,209 Likes: 1 |
Smaller Mercury and Tohatsu outboards are built in Japan by a 50/50 joint ownership of the plant by Mercury and Tohatsu.
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Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 3,059
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 3,059 |
I am going to be buying a new/new-ish outboard in the 15-25 HP range for use on a 16' jonboat. Tiller steer for sure, electric start preferred. What are the 'fire's preferences of Yamaha vs. Suzuki vs. Mercury vs. Honda? I know Yamaha is like the Toyota of outboards, and I have had a couple of them (both 2 strokes, both solid). No experience with 4-stroke outboards of any make. Look at onlineoutboards.com. Final note. Beware fake online outboard sales sites. I found several with great prices, but wanted payment via Paypal direct. Fug that. Cumberland watersports is good to go. That's where I bought mine, had it shipped right to the front door.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,567 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,567 Likes: 2 |
I'm not wealthy enough to afford a good one so I have a '96 25hp Mercury 2 stroke.
Does alright by me, spent a few hundred getting it tuned up , fluids changed, etc and its starts on the second pull every time.
For the amount of motoring I do, I'd be good with a 9.9 Jap 4 stroke.
have you paid your dues, can you moan the blues, can you bend them guitar strings
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 14,279
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 14,279 |
Actually I think I'm wrong and the small Mercurys are made by Tohatsu. Its one of them anyway. What I found was Tohatsu makes the smaller ones for Merc and all of the motors for Nissan. Also at one time, Yamaha provided a lot of assembly/pieces for Merc but I doubt the new Mercs have Yam pieces. That was back when Merc was in a joint venture with Yamaha.The result was Mariners.Evinrude filed a lawsuit against Merc that they won, so Merc and Yamaha went their separate ways.I have a 30HP tiller Nissan which is a Tohatsu with electric start,trim and tilt.Super cheap to run but my old 20HP Merc 2 stroke can whip it speed wise any day of the week.
Its all right to be white!! Stupidity left unattended will run rampant Don't argue with stupid people, They will drag you down to their level and then win by experience
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 61,044 Likes: 18
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 61,044 Likes: 18 |
We've been in Dryden, Ontario on a Friday about quitin' time. A fellow with a stubble beard fueling up to go fishing in his old, smaller boat with an older outboard. I'll think he catches more fish than the men with the big dollar rigs.
These premises insured by a Sheltie in Training ,--- and Cooey.o "May the Good Lord take a likin' to you"
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 39,231 Likes: 37
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 39,231 Likes: 37 |
Actually I think I'm wrong and the small Mercurys are made by Tohatsu. Its one of them anyway. What I found was Tohatsu makes the smaller ones for Merc and all of the motors for Nissan. Also at one time, Yamaha provided a lot of assembly/pieces for Merc but I doubt the new Mercs have Yam pieces. That was back when Merc was in a joint venture with Yamaha.The result was Mariners.Evinrude filed a lawsuit against Merc that they won, so Merc and Yamaha went their separate ways.I have a 30HP tiller Nissan which is a Tohatsu with electric start,trim and tilt.Super cheap to run but my old 20HP Merc 2 stroke can whip it speed wise any day of the week. I think in the fam we've had about 9 boats. 1 Chrysler, 1 Mariner and the rest Merc. Mariner was the worst of the lot for reliability, then the pentastar and merc has been Toyota like for us. Just fishing Green Bay, Little Bay de Noc, Lake Michigan etc. Nothing really "off shore".
Me
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Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 1,335
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 1,335 |
I've always preferred "inboards".
God Bless America
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,422 Likes: 13
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,422 Likes: 13 |
For a long time Nissans were a rebranded Tohatsu. I think Nissan quit selling outboards a few years back. I just read that Tohatsu has a new line of larger engines, all made by Honda.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,722
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,722 |
Checkout the EFT Suzuki’s.
And you can’t go wrong with Suzuki, Honda or Yamaha.
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