Yamaha vs. Mercury Outboard

[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.