suzuki outboard

stealheadwilly · 03-15-2009, 02:48 PM

hey I have a 16 foot drift boat and am thinking about updating my outboard
A friend has a suzuki 8hp long shaft do any of you have experience with suzuki and what do you guys think about 8hp should I look for something bigger also his is a two stroke oil injected

stealheadwilly · 03-17-2009, 06:30 AM

so nobody is familiar with suzuki outboards

fishkisser · 03-17-2009, 06:42 AM

Most folks on here lean towards other brands , I have never heard a bad thing or a good thing about them ...
A few used to trickle into the shop now and then but with no major problems ...

Smj · 03-17-2009, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stealheadwilly

so nobody is familiar with suzuki outboards

The motor I would buy would be the motor that has their dealership closest to me, cost would be a far second concern. Honda, Mercury, Suzuki, Yamaha=all good motors. If there were a Nissan/Tohatsu dealership in my hood I'd most likely but on of those.

Smj

Gopher · 03-17-2009, 08:37 AM

I looked into a kicker for my 16' driftboat a year ago. Thought of Suzuki as they also make the small Johnson/Evinrude. When I looked back then I heard good things about them. However, I ended up purchasing a 6 HP Nissan as I needed lighter weight and Nissan had a special on their extra long shaft that included a free battery charginging setup. FYI, Nissan, Tohatsu, and the small Mercs are the same motor.

I don't think you will be unhappy with Suzuki. You see quite a few in the southeast US.

Good luck

alfalfadan · 03-17-2009, 09:04 AM

I inherited an 86 Suzuki 6 hp kicker that I have used on my drift boat. It has been unbelievable. I keep it in a shed at my cabin near La Pine, so it gets very cold; sling it on the back of the boat in the spring and every year it fires right up. All I do is run the gas out of it in the fall, change the gear oil every half decade or so, and let her go. Since 96, when my Dad passed and I got the motor, have had to replace the mounts (due to dumping the boat in shallow water at Davis with the motor on----definitely operator error) and that is it. Can't say enough good things about it.

Sea Saw · 03-17-2009, 09:08 AM

I have Suzuki power for both my main motor and kicker ,very happy with both ,excellent power and fuel economy.

santiamflyguy · 03-17-2009, 12:30 PM

I have had a 2003 DF6 on my Clacka for the past couple months. It's the only 6hp 4 stroke available with a built-in tank. Single cylinder and weighs about 55lbs so I can pull it off the transom and throw it in the boat for trailering. It's a little hard starting but other than that I've been very happy with it. Seems to be a well-made little outboard.

stealheadwilly · 03-17-2009, 05:48 PM

hey thanks for the feed back after talking with a dealer in the area and taking the motor to there service department I think I'll get it still wondering if I should hold out for a fifteen horse, but I am getting a good deal on this one so

wsuweston · 03-17-2009, 07:51 PM

Marthagofish has had a suzuki 8 on a 16' alum. drift boat for like 20 years. Send him a pm.

Beginners luck · 03-18-2009, 05:31 PM

8hp will be fine. 15 horse? Youll get the bow WAY UP IN THE AIR and probably not go any faster. I had an 8hp suzuki kicker on my Duckworth and it was a great motor. Then sold it to a buddy with a 17ft DB and it worked great for him too.

stealheadwilly · 03-19-2009, 07:00 PM

thanks I bought the motor and took it to the dealer to get it serviced he said it looks good and replaced the water pump. It does need a prop protecter so will look for one tomorrow and hopefully try it out this weekend

thanks for the feedback will post and tell how it runs

marthagofish · 03-28-2009, 07:41 AM

I run a 1985 2 stroke suzuki 8hp on a 16ft Koffler wide botton high side drift boat. Motor pushes the boat just fine. WE use it in the Columbia and basically at drift boat with a motor is just a tug boat that will only go so fast. You can only go so fast before the back of the boat starts being pushed down.

A Suzuki 8hp works great.
When I bought mine the dealer told me that the Suzuki's were rated at the prop and not the motor. So what that means is a 8 hp suzuki equals a 10 hp american built. Not sure if it's true.

I use Sportcraft Marina (Suzuki Dearer) for service and parts.

Good luck. Mark