If you could buy any motor......
Moderators: Redneck_Randy, badmoonrising, lakerunner
If you could buy any motor......
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?
Dave
2012 Homebuilt 28' Tritoon
225 hp Mercury
1993 24' Forester
50 hp mercury
2012 Homebuilt 28' Tritoon
225 hp Mercury
1993 24' Forester
50 hp mercury
Re: If you could buy any motor......
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
Ryan, Martha, Ana and Nathan Toler.
(SOLD)1992 24' monark sun spa 240 1996 (rebuilt) Johnson 112
2014 South Bay chassis (IN THE WORKS)
2006 dodge ram quad cab
Crosby Texas
(SOLD)1992 24' monark sun spa 240 1996 (rebuilt) Johnson 112
2014 South Bay chassis (IN THE WORKS)
2006 dodge ram quad cab
Crosby Texas
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- Posts: 674
- Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2011 4:53 pm
Re: If you could buy any motor......
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!
2008 Playcraft Extreme 2600
2008 300 Mercury Verado
2008 Bear Trailer
Iowa
2008 300 Mercury Verado
2008 Bear Trailer
Iowa
Re: If you could buy any motor......
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?
2014 Tracker Targa V-18 Combo/ Mercury 150hp 4 stroke
'06 Dodge 1500 QC 4x4 Big Horn Hemi
Sheridan, Indiana
'06 Dodge 1500 QC 4x4 Big Horn Hemi
Sheridan, Indiana
Re: If you could buy any motor......
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.
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.
'06 Odyssey 222C (Tritoon conversion) + '06 Suzuki 40 = Never lose your hat.
Re: If you could buy any motor......
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.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?
LC.
'06 Odyssey 222C (Tritoon conversion) + '06 Suzuki 40 = Never lose your hat.
Re: If you could buy any motor......
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.
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.
1974 Harris
70 HP 4 stroke EFI Yamaha
70 HP 4 stroke EFI Yamaha
Re: If you could buy any motor......
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 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.
SOLD - 2009 20' Bentley w/4 Stroke 90hp Mercury
SOLD - 2011 SouthBay 522CR w/115 4 Stroke Mercury
2014 Xcursion 23RF XS package w/150 4 Stroke Mercury
SOLD - 2011 SouthBay 522CR w/115 4 Stroke Mercury
2014 Xcursion 23RF XS package w/150 4 Stroke Mercury
- ChappyEight
- Posts: 134
- Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2010 4:20 am
- Location: Lake Monroe (Indiana)
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Re: If you could buy any motor......
I'm partial to the cost-to-performance ratio of the Suzuki 225.
Landon & Holly
2012 Premier Solaris-RF 240 w/ PTX
225 Suzuki
Lake Monroe (Indiana)
Architect (professionally), Golfer (poorly), Sim Racer (wannabe)
2012 Premier Solaris-RF 240 w/ PTX
225 Suzuki
Lake Monroe (Indiana)
Architect (professionally), Golfer (poorly), Sim Racer (wannabe)
Re: If you could buy any motor......
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.
2003 Sunchaser 824 by Smokercraft
2003 50HP Elpto 2 stroke
Pulled by a Cummins Turbo Diesel.
2003 50HP Elpto 2 stroke
Pulled by a Cummins Turbo Diesel.
Re: If you could buy any motor......
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.
'06 Odyssey 222C (Tritoon conversion) + '06 Suzuki 40 = Never lose your hat.
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- Joined: Sun Jun 13, 2010 2:27 pm
Re: If you could buy any motor......
yup, thats the one
2002 playcraft extreme,26', I/O, 498 ci, 625 hp, 580 ft pounds of torgue, Dart alluminum heads, holly 850 carb, bravo XR drive. GPS 76 mph.
- STEVEBRENDA
- Posts: 906
- Joined: Wed Sep 29, 2010 6:08 am
- Location: Boat on Table Rock Lake, MO
Re: If you could buy any motor......
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.
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.
2014 Regency 254
Mercury 250L Verado
I'm not saying let's go kill all the stupid people.. I'm just saying let's remove all the warning labels and let the problem work itself out.
Mercury 250L Verado
I'm not saying let's go kill all the stupid people.. I'm just saying let's remove all the warning labels and let the problem work itself out.
Re: If you could buy any motor......
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.
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.
1974 Harris
70 HP 4 stroke EFI Yamaha
70 HP 4 stroke EFI Yamaha
Re: If you could buy any motor......
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.
1974 Harris
70 HP 4 stroke EFI Yamaha
70 HP 4 stroke EFI Yamaha