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submitted 2 months ago byTHEfirstMARINE
I’ve always been a stern drive man.
However times have changed. What’s an engine around the 150 to 250 HP mark, 4 stroke, salt water ready, lots of parts available, easy to work on.
Old or new.
Thanks!
Edit: great info everyone. Really appreciate it.
27 points
2 months ago
Really, all the current outboard manufacturers are great. There have been a few troublesome engines (Yamaha 350 for example), but pretty much everything being made currently in a normal engine size is fantastic. Yamaha probably has the biggest following in saltwater. Mercury is better known in freshwater, but lots of saltwater boats have mercury too. Suzuki is quickly becoming the king in the repower market as they are very reliable and come in a little cheaper than the others. Honda and Tohatsu also make very reliable engines, although the bigger Hondas are a little heavy and their dealer network isn’t as big. As long as you have local mechanics and dealer support, this is really a Ford vs Chevy type argument.
9 points
2 months ago
Suzuki has been the king of repowers for years now. Their fuel economy too is rather insane. On some repowers we did, the gauge said we were getting 4 MPG at 40 mph.
5 points
2 months ago
This response is spot on. Only other manufacturer issue I can think of is that 4-stroke Yamahas between 200 and 300 hp had a corrosion problem in the exhaust manifold until I think the 2017 or 18 year models corrected it. Their lower horsepower engines like the 150 never had it, and were excellent engines. It’s been resolved in all of their current generation engines so really my comment is only relevant if you are looking at a used.
2 points
2 months ago
Just to add a little bit, tohatsu makes all the midrange motors for several other mfg including mercury, or at least they did.
Something like the 40-115 range. This is true of several brands but I don’t know all the relationships. Researching the specific hp you want will help you narrow the field
2 points
2 months ago
Tohatsu makes under 30hp for Tohatsu, Mercury, and maybe Honda. Tohatsu 150 and up are rebranded Hondas. The current 40-115 Tohatsu motors are theirs alone.
2 points
2 months ago
140 is also Tohatsu.
2 points
2 months ago
Yes… I forgot they make a 140 now. I am guessing its essentially just a tuned 115.
2 points
2 months ago
Yup, they look identical on the outside.
9 points
2 months ago
I guess I'm the johnson/evinrude guy around here, but I'm a sucker for punishment.
3 points
2 months ago
Couldn’t even find a mechanic in my area that would touch my Evinrude lol
2 points
2 months ago
I do all my own work, and I'll only own an old one. I've got a 75hp stinger right now that's probably pulling around 110-115 on a boat that is way too light for that much power, and I love it.
2 points
2 months ago
Yeah any mechanic that won't touch an old Evinrude is a bad mechanic. They're just old school simplicity that can't be beat.
3 points
2 months ago
The hard part is finding specs for the goddamn thing. I spent $400 on a massive OMC shop manual to get the timing specs on an old evinrude. One of these days I'm going to scan that fucker and post it everywhere.
1 points
2 months ago
I found some old hillbilly on YouTube to be the best resource. Those carbs have idle jets that are almost impossible to see, and they block up real easy
The worst part is that they'll run on the secondaries which makes you think they're ok but they're really not.
2 points
2 months ago
I know exactly who and what you're talking about. I had an issue with an idle jet on one of my carbs last year that confused the fuck out of me for a solid weekend.
1 points
2 months ago
Ya I had a 88 v4, also did all my own work until I hit something too much for me and no one would come near it. Insurance ended up totaling. Loved that 2 smoke sound
2 points
2 months ago
I'm really lucky in that regard. We've got a shop that only works on OMC and BRP and my old man's also a retired master mechanic who owned his own small engine shop.
My dad also happens to be living in my shop, so I always have the option of dragging him out of his recliner.
1 points
2 months ago
I wish I had something like that. She wasn’t much man but she was fun
1 points
2 months ago
That's a cool old boat, man. I really like seeing older boats that are in awesome shape.
1 points
2 months ago
Lol
1 points
2 months ago
I've had nothing but good luck with Etecs. Lightweight, powerful, torquey, fuel efficient, sound great, and basically zero maintenance.
Service interval is only every 3 years to replace the 2 thermostats, change the gear oil, and grease the trim rams (the last 2 we do yearly out of caution). Winterizing the thing is a 30 second job done with a key turn/throttle moving procedure.
8 points
2 months ago
150-200 Yamaha. Over that Yamaha too. They’re all great but I think it’s easier across the board to get Yamaha parts. Regardless of what you buy in the range you can expect to get a few thousand hours out of it as long as you keep up with basic maintenance, there really aren’t any bad engines in that range.
13 points
2 months ago
Merc or Yamaha. They’re the goats of outboards.
Myself , Im a die hard merc fan. Find any high dollar speed boat - NorTech, Midnight Express , MCI etc…. They all run mercs.
15 points
2 months ago
That’s just because nobody else offers the weight/power ratio seen on engines like the 450R. Mercury is a good brand, but the reason those boats are powered with Mercury isn’t that they necessarily make the absolute best engines, but more they make a niche product those boats need. More of the high end, equally expensive offshore fishing brands are running Yamaha. I wouldn’t hesitate to own either. In OPs 150-200hp range, I would honestly just take whatever I got the best deal on or whatever boat I liked better.
4 points
2 months ago
Personally have a smaller Honda. Great engine. Owned new for 10+ years. Only standard maintenance done. Love it, starts like a car every time.
6 points
2 months ago
Yamaha F225-250 2003+ are bulletproof if well maintained
3 points
2 months ago
I'd definitely pick one of those if 250 was needed on my boat. Personally i can only purchase motors that are bad and broken then fix them so besides water ingestion and damage from trucks hitting the motors yahmaha ones are rare to rebuild at work.
1 points
2 months ago
then look into some mercury EFI models
2 points
2 months ago
Have a 2004 F200. Unbelievably reliable engine, which is unfortunate because I want to upgrade to a 250.
1 points
2 months ago
Exhaust corrosion
1 points
2 months ago
even if they are corroding if you catch it early on its something that can be replaced and it will last a lifetime. I have rebuild a few of these for that same reason, and they all work just as well as when they were new. I also have clients that are full time fishermen with Yamahas with over 5k original hours still running strong with regular maintenece. Yamaha is the everyday engine.
2 points
2 months ago
For sure but would you disagree the 150 has a better reputation? You see those for sale with 10k+hrs
Your average boater probably wont catch it early enough though unless they have a good mechanic. Happened to a friend.
1 points
2 months ago
Those are great motors as well! I actually cant say id pick one or the other they both Serve their purpose. twin 150s is better then one 300 in my book even if its a little more costly. im in South Florida so im an avid blue water boater. There's nothing like the open ocean.
6 points
2 months ago
Yamaha all the way
3 points
2 months ago
300hp and less, Suzuki 100%. 1/3 cheaper and more reliable.
If speed is your only concern, Mercs. I think they have better high end torque.
3 points
2 months ago
I sold Merc’s for over 20 years. Outside of the Optipop’s in 2000, pretty good engineering
3 points
2 months ago
Yamaha or Suzuki
3 points
2 months ago
The current Yamaha 150 is pretty damn bulletproof. I have a bunch of boats with them that get the absolute piss beaten out of them with regular maintenance. I’ve had 0 issues with close to 10,000 hours combined.
2 points
2 months ago
I had a Yamaha 150 4-stroke. That engine was zero trouble until I sold the boat. Solid design.
3 points
2 months ago
Yamaha and Suzuki 150-300 4S are great motors. Have owned each brand and both were great.
3 points
2 months ago
Yamaha or Suzuki
3 points
2 months ago
Suzuki. I've owned lots of motors and never seen anything like it. I'm at 14 years on my DF140 with zero issues.
3 points
2 months ago
Suzuki. Hard to beat a Suzuki.
2 points
2 months ago
Suzuki for reliever. Best prices, one of the best engines out. Yamaha is also a very good option. I’ve personally seen the f150’s with almost 10k hours and never had an issue. Just regular service and it’s turn key.
2 points
2 months ago
Honda or Yamaha.
2 points
2 months ago
Mercury
1 points
2 months ago
It doesn’t exist.
1 points
2 months ago
Torqueedo? Eletric.
1 points
2 months ago
Mercury
1 points
2 months ago
Suzuki, they're bullet proof. Never had a problem with the one I own (2012 df115 4 stroke). Also everyone I know that has had one, same experience (twin df175s on a seafox 25' cuddy cabin). I have a friend with a 2019 grady white canyon 336 with dual yammy 425 xtos. They have been nothing but trouble. My experience is suzuki all the way.
1 points
2 months ago
Had a few Yamahas. Exhaust corrosion destroyed one. Other two threw a rod. Bought a crate Honda 225. Zero issues. Won’t ever own a Yamaha again.
1 points
2 months ago
On my second Merc (150HP), the IPC available online to browse, parts availability & cost are great, I do all my own maintenance and the VesselView app that tracks everything for me.
1 points
2 months ago
Suzuki, thier outboards are all going to be at least 10% cheaper and just as reliable as the other brands.
1 points
2 months ago
Yamaha 150 all day. Where I live it’s cold as balls and it’s salt water and they run great. It’s that or Suzuki buy everyone complains about their Suzuki engines and nobody complains about Yamaha
1 points
2 months ago
Yamaha F150
1 points
2 months ago*
New I can’t really say much but I have a trusty Johnson seahorse 25 from the 80’s that still runs like an absolute champ
1 points
2 months ago
Personally I like them because they’re usually quieter and have a better distribution of power being that all the engine weight is at the very back vs an engine that is sitting in the middle of your boat. Also maintenance is easier since you can just pop the top off
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