Outboard Boat Motors?

[tp308]

Might want to look at tournament restrictions for youth. Many of them will not allow tillers and require an adult driver. Hp and 2 or 4 stroke aren’t usually regulated.

Correct… most tournaments require and adult driver/captain

 

[Scoot]

Get a 4 stroke yammy or a suzi. You'll be happy with either and both are bullet proof (at least as much as an outboard motor can be).

 

[Fatcamp]

Wish Yamaha was more popular around here.

Pretty much all Evinrude and Mercury on the used market.

 

[SuperDUECE22]

4 STROKE YAMAHA, BASICALLY LIKE OWNING A TOYOTA TRUCK, WILL RUN FOREVER ON LITTLE TO NO MAINTENANCE

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

Find out what motor dealerships you have locally or mechanics. In Alaska Mercury is newer to the market and Yamahas and Hondas dominate the market.

Something to think about is the bigger that motor the more gas you will burn. I run a 45hp Honda on a 16’ Lowe. Fairly stable but wouldn’t want to take it out in huge waves. Fast. I got 24mph (gps verified) with 800 lbs and a busted up prop on a huge lake.

Sipped gas. Burned 8 gallons of gas in 5 days (25 mile boat run to my hunting spot) then daily run hard/troll as we hunted.

I get the bigger motor abs speed but How much weight you carrying?

I’d not hesitate to run a 50 on a 18’ boat.

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

As long as there are enough local mechanics in your given area that can work on the brand you choose, either is a good option. Some models, years have reputations for being more reliable than others. Another thing to consider is the weight of the engine. Some “families” of engines all weigh the same, or very close, but differ in horsepower. (ie 75 & 90 may be same amount of weight hanging off the back of the boat).

Definitely agree about that motor weight difference with the HP range. Get the largest motor hp with weight.

 

[Ferrulewax]

Find out what motor dealerships you have locally or mechanics. In Alaska Mercury is newer to the market and Yamahas and Hondas dominate the market.

Something to think about is the bigger that motor the more gas you will burn. I run a 45hp Honda on a 16’ Lowe. Fairly stable but wouldn’t want to take it out in huge waves. Fast. I got 24mph (gps verified) with 800 lbs and a busted up prop on a huge lake.

Sipped gas. Burned 8 gallons of gas in 5 days (25 mile boat run to my hunting spot) then daily run hard/troll as we hunted.

I get the bigger motor abs speed but How much weight you carrying?

I’d not hesitate to run a 50 on a 18’ boat.

While this is somewhat true, 4 strokes burn significantly less gas at cruising speed than at the top end. I don’t have the numbers, but generally you’d be much better served by a large motor and 3/4 throttle than a smaller motor at full throttle. It’s easier on the engine too, and the speed is always there if you need it. All that said, I run a 20hp zuke on wide open 90% of the time- but I have a small skiff where weight is a much larger concern than on a bass boat.

 

[Fatcamp]

So any thoughts on the best place to buy a new Yamaha online?

 

[FLATHEAD]

I have a 9.8 Tohatsu on a little river boat. Most problematic outboard I've ever owned.
Let it sit for 30 days or so and I'm pulling off the carb, tear apart, cleaning and putting back together.
I'll never buy anything but a Yamaha from now on.

 

[Dunndm]

Depending on your budget here… look for an older haul aluminum boat. You can build a platform in it with a nice seating area… then try and find a newer 4 stroke motor. That’s the route I would personally take, but that’s just me. Teach them some basic skills of upgrading a boat.


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[muskysaloon]

Do NOT buy an underpowered boat. an underpowered boat will actually drink more gas and is unsafe in rough water. You can always back off the throttle, plus resale value is always better when the boat is maxed out for hp. Definitely get something with a large front casting deck so that you can have a couple of kids fishing/casting comfortably up there.

 

[Travis907]

I personally like Yamaha over the Mercury. Currently have a Yamaha on one of my personal boats and a Mercury on the other. The Yamaha is quieter and more reliable. Honda and Suzuki both make great motors too. Get what you can afford and get those kids fishing!

 

[Sturgies]

So any thoughts on the best place to buy a new Yamaha online?

In stock supply has been heavily hit by supply chain issues. We have been waiting on a new set of 70hp Yamaha's for work for a full year. Talked last week to local dealer and said things are still 8+ months out for any new orders. Fingers crossed we get our set that we ordered last fall this winter.

I did find a set by cold calling marinas/dealer. They are two states over. Be ready to travel and have a wide search radius.

Hope you have better luck.

 

[Sturgies]

We run Yamaha's at work, about 10 outboards total. Would pick em all day over the mercs I've had at other jobs. The Honda generator of outboards in my view.

We have a couple 2013 editions with nearing 1500+ hours still kicking and running the rivers. I'd label it hard use and have worn thru wearables but that engine is solid with good maintenance

 

[Elk97]

A good friend has a very successful marine repair and haul out business, mostly outboards. He used to sell and recommend Yamaha and still says they are great but over the last couple of years he's switched to Suzuki (4 stroke) and many of the commercial crabbers here have too. They are getting 8,000 + hours out of them with really hard use (in saltwater). The Suzukis are less expensive than Yamaha and seem to be as good or better.

 

[Broomd]

The truth is that they are all excellent as long as they are 4-stroke.
I'd rank Yamaha as top, Honda right there, too.
Suzuki is excellent as are Tohatsu and Nissan.

I currently have a Mercury 60hp 4-sroke, 14 years old, just replaced a coil this year, otherwise stellar motor. Has never failed to perform all over North America.
Many of the Merc 4-strokes were partnered with Yamaha for lower units, etc. That may have changed.

All in all, all of the motors out there right now are fantastic.
If I had a rigged choice, I'd roll Yamaha, then Honda, but would take any of the above with no hesitation.

 

[BroodBuster]

I've very happy with my '18 Suzuki with zero issues and a lot of use.

 

[Bailer]

I’ve had 2 Yamaha and 2 mercury. A 115 2 stroke of each brand, a Yamaha f150 and a mercury 150 optimax.

Both 115’s were perfectly reliable in the time I had them, the Yamaha idled a little smoother.

The 150’s are hard to compare. Yamaha didn’t have an issue in the 5 years I had it. Ran great and faster on a very similar hull. Mercury has had some issues. Cheap and easy to repair but issues. It gets much better gas mileage cruising mid-throttle 30-45 mph. That’s a big deal running around lake Powell trying to fish up in the San Juan river. I tend to prefer the mercury for the extra range, but first time it breaks down 60 miles from the ramp I’ll re think it.

 

[SDHNTR]

Yamaha would get preference in the used market, but I wouldn't turn away from a well cared for Merc. And if considering new, I think Merc is outpacing Yamaha currently. And that's coming from a life long boat owner with Yamahas on every one of them and 2 of them hanging off the back of my boat now. Right now, Merc is making more and better power at less weight. Better tech and fuel economy too.

Good on you dad! I love this idea.

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

I have a 9.8 Tohatsu on a little river boat. Most problematic outboard I've ever owned.
Let it sit for 30 days or so and I'm pulling off the carb, tear apart, cleaning and putting back together.
I'll never buy anything but a Yamaha from now on.

Is it older model? My 9.8 tohatsu is amazing.
But I’ve only used it two seasons. I have it set up on a 15’ Kaboat a Alaskan model.