Who makes the best 4 stroke outboard?

Mr. Fisherman · 08-31-2003, 12:58 AM

Please cast your vote HERE

Diver_Down · 08-31-2003, 07:19 AM

I like my Honda 75...haven't had any problems with it and it is very fuel effecient.

08-31-2003, 07:35 AM

I like my Honda but the Merc that Nerta has works good too. Hondas are a bit spendy and heavier. Don't know aboout the others due to lack of exposure.

sturgn · 08-31-2003, 09:16 AM

I have a 15hp Honda at present but would trade for my old 9.9 Hi thrust Yamaha any day, I loved that motor, had atleast as much power as the honda I have now and made alot less noise and I think it had a higher amp alternator as well. when I get ready for a new one it will be a Yamaha!

sturgn · 08-31-2003, 09:18 AM

One more thing, not sure if its still the case, but my local dealer told me that the Honda and Mercury 4-strokes are the same engine, Honda makes the Uppers and Mercury makes the Lowers, just so you know! He also said that the only difference between the 9.9 Honda and the 15 Honda is a screw in the carburator after the warrenty was up you could remove it and it makes them the same. This was about 5 years ago so not sure if thats changed or not....

[ 08-31-2003, 10:20 AM: Message edited by: sturgn ]

Deepslayer · 08-31-2003, 09:21 AM

That Honda would probably be better is you didn't try to drown it in the Columbia, John!! :shocked: :grin:

,Ed

sturgn · 08-31-2003, 09:24 AM

Yeah lucky they have heavy duty battery cables, and danm lucky it still runs at all.....

Gregotis98 · 08-31-2003, 12:15 PM

I'm not sure about Suzuki or other four strokes but with the Honda's you're dealing with proven automotive advancements. With their larger outboards Honda made the best and easiest transition into the marine world by taking their car motors and turning them on-end, putting a lower unit on it, and WHAM you have a great outboard.

Fish Hawg · 08-31-2003, 01:21 PM

Yamaha high thrust power start and trim 8hp also has shifter on tiller

It is Suppose to have the thrust os a 25hp and our 8 hp yamaha will push our 20' glassply at 7mph into the current

Lepper · 08-31-2003, 02:07 PM

I have a 90hp suzuki EFI.. LOVE IT!!

Also have a 8hp high thrust yammi. LOVE IT!! just with the color matched on them!!
d

nerta · 08-31-2003, 03:53 PM

Merc. thirty five years of boating the most dependable for me has always been merc. my 4 stroke merc. is to new to tell as are most of the other 4 strokes on the market. TIME WILL TELL!

rockn'reel · 08-31-2003, 04:30 PM

I have an eight hp yamaha high thrust with power trim/tilt. it is a great motor and I researched extensively before buying it. It has the same thrust as a 20 hp motor and the 9.9 has the same thrust as a 25 hp motor. the 9.9 is old technology and they are going to stop making it this year or the next. the 8 will take over for this market and has proven itself. I have a few friends that use an 8 hp on their 25-27 ft grady whites and they work just fine. My boat is a 23'6" aluminum and it get me along just fine. I also looked into the 15 hp power thrust from honda but decided against it because the only difference it has is a 4 blade prop. There are no gearing changes to give it extra thrust.
Yamaha started from the ground up when building their 4-strokes but have always had proven outboards, honda comes from a long line of proven automobiles. I personally would not trust the suzuki outboards because of my experience with them in the 2-stroke line. Actually, I will say I do not trust or distrust the suzuki's because after my experience with the 2-strokes, I did not bother to research the 4-stroke line.
I now have a johnson 2-stroke as a main motor and have had many problems with that. I have been researching OMC for quite a while and all their problems. These range from their bankruptcy and bombarder buyign them and putting the rotax engine in for the 4-strokes. I ouwld say give Johnson/Evinrude some time before placing one of those on the back of your boat to see how things work out with the rotax.
Personally, the next big hp motor that goes on my boat will be the 225 hp yamaha. I just wish they would reduce the weight by about 100 lbs to get them down to the weight of a 2-stroke. Hope this info helps!

Critr Gitr · 08-31-2003, 09:22 PM

IMHO Yamaha

..... very satisfied with mine. To correct sturgn - Yamaha and Mercury are the guys in bed with each other. Some 4 stroke Mercs have (or had) Yamaha powerheads. For saltwater one can look at the copper content in the alloy used in the powerheads (the less the better)That rank Yamaha, Merc, Hond, Suzuki. All bets are off with the newer Suzies hitting the market. A mechanic that works on all of them says that 6 yr + Hondas are starting to show some corrosion fatigue - Yamahas of same vintage aren't. Also check which motor brings the higher book after a few years. I only wish the new 150s weren't so spendy.

Hogback · 08-31-2003, 11:40 PM

I have a 5hp. Honda that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. However to be fair I was warned that the 5hp. was a single and vibrated alot, my HD vibrated this is a whole new experience. My new boat is gonna have an 8hp Yamaha I've been told they are the kind. We will see.
Randy

jcarufo · 08-31-2003, 11:55 PM

I have a 7.5, 15, 25, and 90hp Hondas that have all performed flawlessly since new. The 90 on our heavy old whaler gets 6-8 mpg at 4000 rpm and 25+ mph (closer to 8 if I watch the Floscan meter). Yami's are probably great motors too, but after 18 years of quiet dependability and ownership I couldn't contemplate using anything else. Check Greg's Marine in Garibaldi. Best prices on the West Coast. Just a satisfied customer. Not connected in any way.

Jean

Reel Creel · 09-01-2003, 07:54 AM

I have had mercs for years with no problems. I bought a new six in 1993, and ran it for years with no down time I recently moved up to a fifteen high out put four stroke. This has the same power head that yamaha has. I have heard that honda is the poop, but for the money merc is the way to go. My fifteen merc was $2130 and the same honda motor was $3250 and yamaha was just under that. I think whatever you get the key is just to take care of it and it probably will last forever. Good luck

Mr. Fisherman · 09-02-2003, 10:37 AM

Well folks, it looks like it is between the Honda and the Suzuki 4 stroke 90s'.
The Yamaha folks were in the bidding until they wanted over $2400 just for the parts for the dual helm controls!
So Suzuki is about a thousand dollars cheeper with a 6 year warranty. My wife sure likes that but I am leaning towards the Honda. I already have the 4 stroke 8 HP Kicker.... when it is all said and done the difference comes to just over $500 and 3 years of extended warranty. What would you do?

skein · 09-02-2003, 10:47 AM

Ray, I bought the Suzuki, but as yet it's unproven, at least by me. I am very satisfied BTW, but with only about 20 hours on it I can't say anything about its long-term dependability.

The Honda, on the other hand, is pretty much proven. I'm glad to see you going with the 90, especially in the Honda. The 70 is the same motor, so you don't save weight by going to less ponies.

Good luck to you, my friend.

Skein

Rodbender · 09-04-2003, 12:37 PM

I was out with a friend on the weekend-he has a 17' Whaler with a 70hp Suzuki-the quietest outboard I ever heard-runs as smooth as a stick 'o butter.

He loves it and people @ his marina ask him if it's an electric