Trolling motors to buy Yamaha or Merc 4 stroke or 2

Small Fry · 05-08-2002, 06:50 PM

Now that I'm in the market for a new trolling motor I would like to hear the pros and cons on different makes.

I know the reliability of the Merc but I like the options on the Yamaha. The price difference is more than a couple hundred bucks.

I think I want a 4 stroke any feed back on them would help as well.
So many choices

spinnermaker · 05-08-2002, 07:07 PM

Hey Small Fry I had a Merc. now I have a Yamaha 8hp 4 stroke. So far it is the best trolling motor I have ever owned. Plus they come with 3 year warranty standard at least mine did.

Vinny · 05-08-2002, 07:10 PM

Wallowing in 2-cycle exhaust make me ill.

TheRogue · 05-08-2002, 07:16 PM

If you fish by yourself a lot, a Merc 2-stroke with the Shift-in-the-handle is the cat's meow!! Never have to reach down to flip the gear lever, just twist the knob. Also nice for a drift boat, because you don't have to reach all the way to the "tippy" back of the boat. Rumor has it that it will out in the 4-stroke next year or two.

Lipripper · 05-08-2002, 07:29 PM

I had a 6 horse Yamaha 2 stroke and now I have a 9.9 Merc. The Yamaha was the sweetest motor I have had. The Yamaha trolled down to a dead troll without as much as a burp. The Merc I have now is a 4 stroke and is a little cold blooded. If I did it again I would buy a Yamaha 4 stroke. I do like the shift lever on the Merc. It's right up front where it is very convenient

Small Fry · 05-08-2002, 07:44 PM

The 2002 Yamaha has a longer tiller handel and the shift lever is on the handel. The 8 & 9.9 horse have a electric start. 8 horse has a 5 amp alternater and the 9.9 a 10 amp.
Both havt the option of power tilt.

05-08-2002, 07:56 PM

I have a 15 Yamaha 4 stroke and it purrs all day long. I will never own another 2 stroke. Loud, smokey, and mixing oil is a pain. I would recomend Yamaha or Honda if you want to spend the dough.

Fool

Jsail · 05-08-2002, 08:25 PM

Yamaha! 4 stoke!
Mines up for a test drive next week

Silver Hilton · 05-08-2002, 08:38 PM

I like my Yamaha a lot. I have the 2001 9.9 electric start, which has the shift handle on the tiller. It's pretty nice. The one ding on it is that it's a bit cold blooded, first thing on a frosty morning. It has always started, but sometimes I have to run the starter a little longer than I would prefer. Once you run it for a few minutes, its perfect, and is perfect for the rest of the day.

I have the high thrust model, which is great for larger boats. This has a larger diameter prop, which gives you more oomph at lower speed, but won't run you at high speeds. Perfect for a kicker.

The 9.9 will run my boat (19 ft north river sled) down to about 1/3 mph without a drag sock.

I haven't had a Honda in a long time, but the one I had back in the 80's was a real nice motor. It wouldn't troll down as well as the Yamaha, but I suspect they've got that fixed by now. I suspect that either one is going to be a good piece of equipment.

You couldn't pay me enough to use a 2 stroke kicker again.

Reel Livin' · 05-08-2002, 09:19 PM

I paid a few extra bucks for the Yamaha 9.9 4-stroke, and I really like it. I have heard some very good things about the Merc 9.9 Big Foot as well.

Either way, I am of the opinion that a 4 stroke is the way to go over a 2-stroke. Good luck in your decision making!

chromer · 05-08-2002, 09:55 PM

Got a new 8 hp high thrust Honda with electric start. Love it!

If you're looking for sweet price then look 2-stroke. If a long term investment in the best equipment out there - 4-stroke is the only way to go. I'll never suck 2-stroke smoke again. Gives me a headache just thinking about it!!!

Dr Strangelove · 05-08-2002, 11:31 PM

I have the Yamaha T8 high thrust electric tilt and it rocks. Never have to sprain you bak again leaning onto a swimstep or DB haveing to tilt the sucker up. For a smaller boat, change the prop to a standard faster pitch and you can get a higher top end for travelling. One small drift sock would compensate for any minumum speed changes. I had two problems with it, first metal flakes in the low idle injector and second bad metallurgy and winter steelheading cause a tilt arm crack, both warrantied. No probs since, not cold blooded, and much lighter than the Merc bigfoot I had before.

Myles · 05-09-2002, 06:01 AM

Small Fry check your e-mail. I've get a T8 Yamaha, 8 hp 4 stroke, electric start, power tilt. I assumed this would last me "until death do us part" so I went for the power everything, so when I'm older and less capable of leaning over the transom and pulling up the kicker I could still fish.
You could always pick up a used motor until you decide.

myles

fishbait · 05-09-2002, 08:53 AM

SF,

H O N D A .........

Own a 1986 7.5, stills starts 1-2 pulls, never a problem. THere are lots of very good 4 strokes out there, you should condider looking at honda too.

Bait O' Eggs · 05-09-2002, 12:00 PM

I have an 82 and now an 85 10hp Honda. Both start first or second pull everytime and run all day without so much as a burp. I did just have a seal go out after 4 years of my own use, but I expect that once in a while for a 20 year old motor.

I agree it is not real convienent to reach down and flip into reverse with the hondas, but then again how many times do you do that? I backbounced for 2 hours today and never put it in reverse once. Once it is in gear I only go forward 99.9% of the time until my fishing parter drags his sinker on the bottom and hangs it up.

If I was to buy new and money was not an object, it would be Yamaha, no contest. Since I live on a budget, it is 20 year old honda trolling motors for me.

Clackman · 05-09-2002, 08:44 PM

still have 8hp merc 2 stroke runs great love the shift.sold 10hp honda last year was ok @best seems like old tech. and spendy just sold 15hp merc 4stoke peice of junk in shop all the time didnt troll down & died alot swor i was going back to a 2 stroker but guys @northriver & people who have yami 8 convinced me to put one on my boat on order!

TH · 05-09-2002, 11:27 PM

I have the Merc 9.9 bigfoot.
The gear switch is right at the front of the motor, not a long reach.
The 4 stokes are cold blooded, but they troll forever on 6 ounces of gas :grin: and our quiet and don't smell!

I have a big boat 22 1/2' and the 9.9 bigfoot does a great job! Very smooth, I can fine tune the speed very easliy..

I got mine from Dave Wilson at Stevens Marine.. pretty good process.. good price!

roadsend · 05-10-2002, 04:01 AM

My Yamaha 4 stroke, high thrust, 9.9 hp, electric start is primo. I echo above comments about a little slow to warm up on cool mornings (it takes 3-4 minutes) but it starts and is ready to go instantaneously the rest of the day. It will troll as slow as you want. In a squeeze it will move my heavy, old 23' glasply against a Columbia ebb. Not very fast, but steady. It is easy on fuel.

Mofish · 05-10-2002, 05:54 AM

Small Fry

You need to check out the Honda's. I have a 9.9 4 stroke and it starts and runs great every time. The thing that I like the most that it is a great cold weather starting motor.

You need to check them all out. Make sure and don't go to big. 9.9's are just about prefect for all size boats. I have a 24 boat and it is just the right size.

Good Luck.

Mofish

[ 05-10-2002, 06:55 AM: Message edited by: MoFish ]