Yamaha vs. Mercury Outboard

[h2ofowlr]

I am looking at powering a smaller skiff with a 40 h.p. 4-stroke outboard motor.  Any pro's or con's in regards to Mercury's or Yamaha's.  I am looking at those instead of the Honda and Etec as I have located a seller of each that is offering a decent deal.  Which one will be a more reliable engine?

[BigGoonTuna]

based on personal experiences, i'd go with yamaha every time.

[huntnphool]

based on personal experiences, i'd go with yamaha every time

 

[cohoho]

Personal opinion you can't beat Yamaha for the small motors like kickers etc, but for the mid range motors, if you running a pump, nothing compares to E-Tec for performance.  In a prop mid range motor I think your probably suited with any of them, maybe where ever you get the best deal..... I had a Honda 50hp in a pump, perfect weight to thrust for what I had it on to get 35hp out of the pump end.  When I put on the prop lower end I would run like a raped ape...  I up graded to a Honda 90HP pump and smoked anything out there that could run shallow, until I got to try an E-TEC, holly crap, it was light years faster than the Honda 90.... But reliablity was your question, wasn't it?  Four stroke will be easier for maintenace...

[fishcrazy]

If running a prop I would go with Yami hands down. Great engines!!! 

Mercury has gotten left behind by the others. Customer service sucks!!! The only thing Murcury can make is the Sport Jet. And if Yami or Evinrude biult one it would be better. IMO

I own 2 merc motors.

[BLKBEARKLR]

I love my Yamaha, although it is a 200HP, I have never had an issue with it. I highly recommend them.

Both quads - Yamaha
Both Snowmobiles - Yamaha

Never had any issues with anything that I have that is Yamaha

[bowtech721]

Yamaha, I dont own one but rented a thunder jet in alaska that had 3000 hours on it and it still ran like new im not kidding it was awsome. Personally run evinrude but between those two yami hands down 

[steeleywhopper]

Yamaha for sure! You could not get me to buy a boat with a Merc on it no matter what the price.

[Antlershed]

Murcury can make is the Sport Jet.

And those go through oil and gas like crazy, and sometimes catch on fire...

I would definitely go with Yamaha. 

[PolarBear]

Yamaha, none better!

[sako223]

Yamaha here too. Mercury was selling Yamaha under their colors. I think it is over now. Brunswick holdings and Yamaha might have split the sheets too.

[klickman]

Yamaha, Yamaha, Yamaha.     Run em hard every summer and no problems except running out of gas.   

KLICKMAN

[twisp_river_slayer]

i would buy a set of oars before i bought a mercury

[h2ofowlr]

I went and looked at the Etec 60 hp today?  It looks nice, don't like the price tag.  Does anyone have any good experience with those?

[Antlershed]

I know a few people with Etecs and they have been happy with them.

[fishcrazy]

I went and looked at the Etec 60 hp today?  It looks nice, don't like the price tag.  Does anyone have any good experience with those?

If running a pump the e-tec won't be beat. Great performance and fuel economy. 4 strokes don't do well with pumps.

If running a prop then go with a 4 stroke. Yamaha is what everybody is likeing.

Kris

[huntnphool]

Any of you guys with Yamaha engines want to hook up a warm water wash to your kicker just send me a PM, I will make you the piece to do it.

[carpsniperg2]

i have a yamaha cx 40 and it is very low maintenance and always has worked great and the kind of water i bowfish in is not very pretty

[Firstlight]

I know a couple of guides that started running e-tecs in Alaska. They where really happy with them until they blew up. Now I guess you have to take into consideration the amount of hours they where using them ,and they have a good warranty.

 I run a Yami on my sled and love it. Every time I turn the key it starts. One of the only down sides to Yami's is the weight. They tend to run a little heavier than the Mercs, but they definitely will out perform them.

I hope it works out for ya.

[cohoho]

If you want decent information on E-Tecs, call Alaska Mining and Diving and ask for Rich.  He is the E-Tec rep there and has sold hundreds of the motors, one of the highest volume reps around.  He will give an honest assestment of how they are mechanically versus here say.    Here in WA I know Auburn Sports and Marine has the E-Tec line also, see what their warranty work rate is.  As for the warm water thing for the Yamaha, heck yea, call Huntnphool.  I got one from him and put it on my boat and it is excellent...

[MooseStock]

Get the Yamaha if you can't get a SUZUKI.....they are tops....................Les

[Dicko Bob]

YAMAHA!

I am excited to hear the announcement from Yamaha on the 20th on the "New" outboard that they have out together!

[PolarBear]

YAMAHA!

I am excited to hear the announcement from Yamaha on the 20th on the "New" outboard that they have out together!

I wonder if they did some re-configurating or if they are coming out with a 400 hp outboard?  That 350 4 stroke is crazy.

[BLR 243]

I'v got a merc 45 jet on my sled, friend had the same on his, he sold his sled bought a new one and powered it with a yamaha i would do the same.

[floatinghat]

Don't forget the Suzuki's great motors.  I have one on my whaler and love it.

[fishcrazy]

Don't forget the Suzuki's great motors.  I have one on my whaler and love it.

I've been told that they are lighter weight motors as well.

Kris

[MtnMuley]

You can't go wrong with any of the new major brand motors these days.  I run Yamaha, and don't plan to quit.

[fishcrazy]

You can't go wrong with any of the new major brand motors these days.  I run Yamaha, and don't plan to quit.

I agree. But the reason I won't go back to Mercury is they have rotten customer service. Both times I have had my kicker worked on it has taken several months to get parts and they were wrong. When they were sent back we were charged for them because THEY opened them and tested them and said they were fine and nothing wrong. Ya no kidding!!! Now they are open so you pay us $900.00. It took 2 years to get that all ironed out.

Kris

[MtnMuley]

That's ironic.  Motorguide electric trolling motors are a part of Mercury, and I've had nothing but issues with them also!  They pretty much force you to spend the money for a new one.

[Big Guy]

I've had Mercury's in the past brand new and used. All I can say is yamaha,yamaha,yamaha.....

[WAmuleyHunter]

I love my mercury optimax.

[Big Guy]

I love my mercury optimax.

You havn't had it long enough then.

[h2ofowlr]

I called the guy up that had the Yamaha outboard forsale and he had sold it.  I let a good one get away.  Anyone know of someone selling a 4-stroke Yamaha 40-60 h.p.  I will have to put a tiller handle on it.  I have an 18' Sea Ark I am looking at replacing my 60/40 Mercury Jet with tiller.  I am planning on using my boat more in the salt and a jet is not the way to go, due to all the eel grass.  It plugs left and right.

[PolarBear]

If you decide to buy new, go to Brown's Landing in Scappoose Oregon for the best deals and save a bunch on tax. 

[h2ofowlr]

If you decide to buy new, go to Brown's Landing in Scappoose Oregon for the best deals and save a bunch on tax. 

When I purchased my motor for my North River I had priced Brown's Landing.  I think I ended up getting it for a better deal at 3 Rivers Marine even after taxes.  Having said that I did buy a duck boat from them about 8 years ago.  It just didn't work the last go around or I would have made the drive down.

[MtnMuley]

If you decide to buy new, go to Brown's Landing in Scappoose Oregon for the best deals and save a bunch on tax. 

[Skillet]

Depending on the years, a 4 stroke Merc and Yammi from 40hp up to the 115hp are exactly the same yamaha-built motors, the difference being Merc had the EFI option and Yammi's were carb'd.  I believe 2005 (maybe it was '04) was the year they parted ways...  now the 40-60 Merc's are made in China.  I  owned the 2003 Merc 40 HP 3 cyl tiller/prop on a 1686 Rouge sled (heavy welded, but not nearly as heavy as your Sea Ark) and always wanted more bottom-end torque.  Top end was good at 31 MPH on the GPS - and it sipped the fuel.  I ended up putting a 2006 60HP tiller merc 4stroke (that's a 4 cylinder) on it, and that was the dream outfit.  Best holeshot, would carry a full load no prob, 36 MPH top speed loaded.  More than I needed, but it cruised all day on a couple of gallons if I didn't get too crazy with the throttle.  Sold out of duck and goose hunting, now I have a 2006 115 merc 4stroke and a 8 hp merc kicker on a deep-v fishing boat - couldn't be happier.  I seriously looked at the Yamaha, but the upgrade $$ was too much for what was effectively the same thing.  Now, if I was going to buy a newer tiller motor, Yamaha all the way.  They have the VTS on the 4 strokes that let you dial down the idle to troll slower (another fishing benefit).  Don't know anything about the customer service - I haven't had a single problem with any of the mercury 4 strokes I've owned.  The maintenance on a 4 stroke is actually much more $$$ on an annual basis than a 2 -stroke.  A lot more if you don't change your own oil and adjust your own valves.  My only real bit of advice is if you are buying a late-model motor, 2 or 4 stroke, buy one already set up with a tiller handle - it will scare you to death to look at the prices of the new handles from a dealer.  PM me if you have any Q's I can help with.

[fishcrazy]

I love my mercury optimax.

I agree. I love my Optimax Sport Jet. Just don't look forward to ever dealing with Mercury Customer service with it. I'm on my second Power head in 5 years. Tossed a rod right out of the block on the first one. But that was my fault not a Mercury issue.

My Kicker has been a goods motor but I have had problems early on and Mercury lost any of my future business when I had to deal with their warranty and customer service department.

Kris

[h2ofowlr]

I had a guy e-mail me and he is selling his 2004 Yamaha 4-stroke 60 h.p.  He said he thinks it has about 100 hours on the motor.  It has been used in salt.  Anything to watch out for?  It has cables, but I am going to try to put a tiller on it.  If anyone knows of someone selling a tiller for a 60 hp.  That would be appreciated.

[Antlershed]

I love my mercury optimax.

I agree. I love my Optimax Sport Jet. Just don't look forward to ever dealing with Mercury Customer service with it. I'm on my second Power head in 5 years. Tossed a rod right out of the block on the first one. But that was my fault not a Mercury issue.

My Kicker has been a goods motor but I have had problems early on and Mercury lost any of my future business when I had to deal with their warranty and customer service department.

Kris

Our Sportjet isn't the Optimax. The only real issue (other than being a gas/oil hog as designed), was the time it caught on fire. Other than that, we haven't had any issues with it. Ours is the 240 though, and according to a NR guy at the boat show a few years ago, they quit making that engine because it was just the 175 souped(?) up and they had a number of issues with it. If I was going for an outboard, I would go Yamaha.

[h2ofowlr]

I went and looked at the Yamaha 4-stroke 60 hp.  He started it up.  It was running very quite and I was about to say I would take it.  He threw it into gear.  Then afterwards threw it into reverse.  It ran again, with the hose hooked up to it, then it started knocking.  It sounded like a ping, knock on the top cylinder.  Does anyone know what would cause this, stuck valve?  Anything to worry about or is this normal for a motor that has sat for a few month.  My experience is that it's probably not good.   

[Kuduman]

H20fowler:
 Here is my starting 4 in order of preferance.

1. Yamaha
2. Honda
3. Suzuki
4. Evenrude If you can find a good decent one.

As you can see Mercury didn't even make the list
I would Carry a mercury only if I needed an anchor. I spent 22 years doing Coast Guard coastal search and rescue and I would NEVER buy a merc.

Good Luck

[PolarBear]

Stay away from Suzuki unless they are brand new (still not sure then).  Anything over a couple of years old is or will be junk.