Go EFI. They start much better on cold mornings and don't vibrate nearly as much. Just do it!

 

Poke around here on ifish (do a search). Lots of folks have problems with the carbureted Merc 9.9 model. The EFI model appears to be a total winner judging from all the feedback. You might consider also looking at the Tohatsu since Tohatsu makes all the Merc motors under 30HP. The Tohatsu is identical to the Merc other than the cowl, the color, and the throttle handle - and can usually be had for quite a few hundred dollars less money.

 

EFI all the way. I'm so pleased with mine.

 

EFI will start better. Both with vibrate enough to shake your fillings out of your mouth. Spend a little and go Yami.

 

Both with vibrate enough to shake your fillings out of your mouth.

The EFI Merc/Tohatsu is extremely quiet and smooth. The motors that vibrate are the single cylinder motors (6 HP or less).

The Yamaha has a carburetor (ugh), a whimpy 6 amp alternator that is undersized for today's electronics (vs. 12 amp for all other 9.9 on the market) and the Yamaha does not include a built-in pull starter in case your battery is dead. Do a little searching on ifish about the Yamaha rusting tilt tube problem too.

Your choice of the EFI Merc/Tohatsu is a sound one.

 

Yamaha doesn't have an EFI until you get up to 20hp I beleive. I have a 2015 9.9 Yami with a carb, electric start and power tilt. Great little motor. As long as you run the gas dry out of the carb. before storing, you shouldn't have any problems with the carb. Real quiet and no vibrations. It does take a minute or so before you push the choke all the way in first thing in the morning, but purrs all day long otherwise.

 

The price difference is substantial in some of these mentioned motors. I will definitely do more searching on these brands, and issues that have been brought up. Appreciate the responses

 

The EFI version ? Totally different motors between the EFI and the carbureted version...

 

I've got the carbed 9.9 yamaha as well as I don't miss the EFI. I have thousands of hours on it and it still runs strong. I've got a 25 EFI yamaha on the duck boat and the EFI is nice. But I don't start the 9.9 in single digit temps in a big hurry.

 

I used a Yamaha 9.9 for years. Good motor, few complaints.

Last year, I got a Mercury 9.9 EFI Pro Kicker. I've got one full season on it now. It's a better motor in all respects.

I don't think either is a bad choice, but between the two, the Mercury is the better motor.

 

I really like 9.9 Pro Kicker as well.

 

If your hearing is good go Merc 9.9 EFI. Mine is so quiet I have to look to see if it is peeing! Splashed the boat yesterday at Billy Chinook. Engines had been serviced and not turned over for months. It took atleast 3 or 4 revolutions (less than 5 seconds) for my Merc 9,9 to start. I have run Yamahas for my last several boats. I would not trade my Merc for any of them. I Love the Merc EFI

 

EFI vs carb
Apples and oranges
EFI is efficient and reliable but more $
Most marinas don't want to do a deep service or repair on old technology because of the ridiculous labor costs they'd charge-and then you'd both be mad about it.

I have a 2014 Suzuki DF 9.9 carb kicker
Ran stupid for for years brand new and annoyed me to no end after break in period
Neighbor used to ride motorcycles and did his own repairs on them
Carb chamber jets are like pinholes and get easily clogged with dirty fuel
Most fuel is dirty or leaves a nasty residue hard on carbs thanks to ethanol
We took the carb apart and gave it a sonic bath and that removed all the tarnish, gunk buildup
Now I drain the carb bowl after every day I troll with the kicker
Now I spray the air intake with a little carb cleaner after every troll
Now I don't mess with the idle setting
Now it starts every time first pull but I have to let it warm up 5 minutes at least-that's time lost to catching a springer or Chinook
Now two years later kicker still vibrates a bit if I'm not in that sweet spot in RPMs

So if it's about saving money it will be about a little more maintenance and upkeep never letting the carb to get fouled up ever
I would buy an EFI but I'm cheap and I don't fish all year round so I don't mind a little extra outboard upkeep

Just my experience with a carb, but I do hear a lot about the miracles of EFI-all probably true.

 

I like my Merc pro kicker, it's Carb'd. X 3 on running fuel out of the fuel bowls at the end of the day, no problems since doing this. It's a remote so no opinion on vibrations, but it is quiet. Pushes my heavy glass boat fine. A EFI is always a plus,,,gregg

 

My boat had an 8hp carbed Merc 2005 model when I bought it about 8 years ago. I am a honda fan but I kept the Merc kicker when I upgraded the main about 6 years ago. This little Merc has exceeded my expectations so far, runs great and pushes my 20' searunner fine. I only run non ethanol in my motors and I always run the kicker dry of fuel when done fishing for any amount of time. The only complaint I have is Stevens wanting 100 bucks for a thermostat that is the size of a quarter. Aftermarket prices are about half.

 

EfI all the way. Just my opinion. Have had both and the efi is better at everything. Currently running a 2022 suzuki 9.9 and couldn't be happier . Starts on command, is quiet and catches fish. I will save the yearly carburetor blues for my weedeater, lawnmower and pressure washer...I would think the efi merc would be a great motor

 

Thank you all. Have decided to most likely go new mercury 9.9 exlpt efi with remote control. Now to find a dealer who has or can get one, and at the best price with good support after purchase. Again, I appreciate all the feed back

 

Thank you all. Have decided to most likely go new mercury 9.9 exlpt efi with remote control. Now to find a dealer who has or can get one, and at the best price with good support after purchase. Again, I appreciate all the feed back

Shoot me a PM if you haven’t talked to anyone at Stevens Marine. We should have them, and they are 5% off. Unusual for us to be beaten on price and most people are very happy with our customer service! We may only have the 15s in XL remotes, but depending on the size of your boat, there might be a case for that. Nelson (TOC)

 

I'll be a contrarian here regarding my experience with all E10 fuel and draining the carb. I have a '06 Yamaha T8 and have never had a problem with gummed up jets or hard starting. I never run the carb dry. Perhaps it is because I don't leave it unused for more than a few months but I suspect a thin drying film gums up more than a full wet bowl of fuel.

 

My motorcycle buddy thinks the carb on my Suzuki model is over engineered with very fine fuel jets and carb chamber holes with little tolerance for fine particles or residue. Who knows? All I know is that since I run the kicker dry now, open the bowl, add an ounce of stabilizer every other fill up, my kicker has stayed in working order. I think my friend may be right given I only use Costco gas and their gas is never old. Costco has the freshest gasoline in town all year.

Glad your kicker cooperates for you.

 

I have a Suzuki EFI kicker. My old carb'd kickers were fine once warmed up. This thing I can bump the key in any weather and it lights right off. Would definitely encourage EFI.

Dave

 

Ran Merc 9.9 pro kickers since 2006. The 2006 version was on my Intruder and worked ok. Hard to get the speed just right when trolling but with the top and hull on the Intruder I couldn't set the throttle and forget it anyway. Too many wind gusts, waves, and boat wakes. Had another on my 2017 Columbia. It had more vibration at certain RPM which was annoying. Handled the boat well and fewer issues with speed and line. The boat has a lot to do with that. Other than that they were both fine and had no issues as long as I ran ethanol free and put a bottle of Quickleen through them once per year. Put an 15 EFI on the Columbia in 2020ish? Night and day difference. The EFI is vastly superior than the carburated model. I run either ethanol free (when moored) or E10 and it doesn't seem to make a difference. Speed/throttle control is much better. The only thing I don't like about the EFI is that they moved the shift from the handle to the tiller.

 

rookie23 and The Overfishin Condition. Just a thought. I have a very very low hour 9.9 exlpt efi on my 26ft Rogue. if it worked for all I might take the 15 and you get my 9.9 I could use a little more push if I run for Tuna this year. Just a thought.

 

Is it a remote model? Year?

 

Seems like these threads state it a lot, but are the smaller Mercury's really through and through Tohatsu's? Or are they both just built by Tohatsu?
I understand the Mercury's will say Mercury on them as will the Tohatsu. But are they otherwise the exact motor size to size, parts to parts?
.
Or, are the smaller Mercury's just built by Tohatsu?

 

Seems like these threads state it a lot, but are the smaller Mercury's really through and through Tohatsu's? Or are they both just built by Tohatsu?
I understand the Mercury's will say Mercury on them as will the Tohatsu. But are they otherwise the exact motor size to size, parts to parts?
.
Or, are the smaller Mercury's just built by Tohatsu?

I have a 2015 Tohatsu 8hp electric start tiller. I bought it because it was supposed to be the same as the Mercury 8hp that went with my previous boat. The Tohatsu is fine except that the steering friction on it is a pinch bolt on plastic in lieu of the lever that was on the front of the Mercury. Makes using hands free 4wd tough some times.

 

I worked for a manufacturing plant that made a product that was also made by another manufacturing plant. But was also made at another plant by the actual owner - all were labeled as their product. We didn't make the product the same as the product we manufactured. They wanted us to make it to their specifications.
Some companies have another manufacturer make their product. Doesn't mean both products are the same or made to the same quality.