Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

If you could buy any motor what brand and HP would it be and why? 4 stroke vs. 2 stroke........ Or which one wouldnt you buy?

Mercury verado 250 pro! I think that is the best looking motor hands down, I also love the sound of the supercharger. It's a 4stroke so it's quite and you can putt putt all day no worries and when you get ready punch it and you've got awesome power thanks to the supercharger....of course my boat won't handle that big of a motor but i will still probley get in the 150-200hp range when I repower! As far as what I wouldn't buy.....any two stroke...they are still a 2 stroke and a pain!!! I also wouldn't get a yamaha I just don't like those motors, heavy and ugly in my book

The new 4 stroke yamaha! Merc's customer service is something I never want to deal with again! Course I won't buy a new boat ever again that way if it breaks in half I know I get to keep both halves!

Ya those Yamaha 2 strokes are a PAIN. 7 seasons with mine I've had to change the spark plugs twice and add oil when the tank gets low. What a PITA?

I'd get a Force.



Nah, probably not a good idea. Also, part of me would be a little reluctant to buy a new 40-60 horse Merc, simply for the fact that they sport a "Made in China" sticker. Maybe that's wrong of me to be spooked by that since they could very well be built under stricter quality control standards than anything else. And they have been proving to be good motors so far, but then again, I have a hard time handing out reliability awards for 3 year old motors. Takes longer than that to prove anything. Heck, I'll bet even those old Forces weren't too too bad after only a few years.

Just my $.02. Afterall, my "uber-reliable" Suzuki has been quite a nightmare.


LC.

Heatman wrote:Ya those Yamaha 2 strokes are a PAIN. 7 seasons with mine I've had to change the spark plugs twice and add oil when the tank gets low. What a PITA?

Yeah, call them heavy, call them ugly, whatever, but there's gotta be a reason why 90% of off-shore boats, rental boats, and Somali pirates run Yamahas.


LC.

I was faced with that decision recently and ended up with a Yamaha 4 stroke. My Mercury experiences were not bad tho.
The 89-90 era 75 Mariner/Merc went over 3000 hours without a whole lot of trouble, the 2002 Merc 60 4 stroke big foot was another 3000+ hours of pretty much trouble free performance.

My decision was based on that "made in China" sticker so I went with the Japs. I might have made a $1000 mistake (the difference in cost)
One thing I am finding out, Yamaha parts are a lot more expensive than Mercury parts. A strict reading of the warranty also seems to discourage DIY maintenance. The YES says PLUGS are a dealer installed item.

I think the answer to your question will depend on HP, use, type of boat, size of boat, etc. For example the Verado Pro 250 is the "bomb" but it is not going to be legally sold and installed on a 18' 2 tube pontoon boat.

I have owned 2 and 4 strokes but my last two boats were 4 strokes. Some have offered valid arguments on the merits of the ETec 2 strokes but I think the majority pf the engines sold on pontoons are 4 strokes.

I would guess that the typical answer to your question on most pontoon boating forums is "get a 4-stroke, get the biggest HP you can afford and get the engine from a reputible/dependable company". The term reputible/dependable will vary by user. I like Mercury but would not shy away from Yamaha if that was the only engine offered on the boat I want by my dealer. From there, you will get into personal opinions (Mercury fans vs. Honda fans, vs. ETec fans vs. Yamaha fans, etc.).

If pose your question on an off-shore boating forum then you will start to get into opinions about twin engines vs. single vs 2/4 stroke vs. weight/HP ratio vs. maintenance cost vs. cost per hour to run vs. fuel consumption, etc.

I'm partial to the cost-to-performance ratio of the Suzuki 225.

I would go with a mercury if it is 150hp and smaller, 2 stroke of corse! As for the 175 and up? Well I guess a Etec would work. If over 250 I would go back to a mercury. No matter where it is put together, it is still a mercury. And all stuff made in china is not bad.

GregF wrote:...The 89-90 era 75 Mariner/Merc went over 3000 hours without a whole lot of trouble, the 2002 Merc 60 4 stroke big foot was another 3000+ hours of pretty much trouble free performance...

Aren't both of those motors partially Yamaha?



LC.

yup, thats the one

Knock on wood, all I have had to do is add oil and replace plugs on our 2003 Mercury 125 My oil reservoir buzzer went out and I need to replace the whole tank ($150). I would never own a 4 stroke, they sound like way too much work and I would say that is why most of the pontoon boats have 2 stroke motors.

At the end of the year, I check the lower unit, empty the fuel tank and lines, then fog th motor. That is the extent of my maintenaince.

Edited: to add preventative maitenaice of replacing water impellor every 3 years.

What "extra work'?
I had a 2 stroke and a 4 stroke in virtually the same service for about the same time on the same boat. I did a lot less on the 4 stroke and it sold for $600 more money.

I also question the guy who says more pontoons are being sold with 2 strokes. That must be a local thing. I don't think Yamaha even makes a 2 stroke these days that you can't carry on your shoulder.

Yes Mercury mid range motors (2s and 4s) use a Yamaha licensed block design. All the bolt on parts are Mercury. Even stuff like the water manifold is different. I found that out when none of my gauge sensors would work.