Outboards

[Rum_Pirate]

Which brand do you prefer?

We can get to 2-stroke, 4-stroke, size late.

 

[Davy_S]

Why no Honda as they are a major brand?

 

[Rum_Pirate]

Why no Honda as they are a major brand?

I put it in other. LOL

However I left out Johnson and Evinrude, IIRC they are bust or serious financial difficulties - start another thread if you wish.

 

[Davy_S]

However I left out Johnson and Evinrude

The smaller ones are Suzukis, no wish to start another thread, i simply asked why you left out Honda.

 

[Rum_Pirate]

Down here Mercury have a reputation of being regarded as ‘fresh water engines.
Maybe the current ones are better, but the last ones were terrible.

The smaller ones are Suzukis, no wish to start another thread, i simply asked why you left out Honda.

to come clean, I forgot. Sorry.
Feel free to point out their pros and/or cons in the thread.

 

[Davy_S]

Down here Mercury have a reputation of being regarded as ‘fresh water engines.
Maybe the current ones are better, but the last ones were terrible.

I can't understand that, up to and including 30hp, mercury are made by Tohatsu, i don't know about the newer models, but some of the old Merc 4 pot strokers were great engines.

 

[Rum_Pirate]

I can't understand that, up to and including 30hp, mercury are made by Tohatsu, i don't know about the newer models, but some of the old Merc 4 pot strokers were great engines.

Maybe the salt concentration here? Maybe people did not pull out every time or they did not have access to fresh water to flush them.
Whatever the actual reason/cause they acquired a poor reputation which has carried on to a fair degree.

 

[Boathook]

I ticked other for Honda plus I have a yamaha. Both good in my view. To be honest I don't think that there is much between the major brands nowadays.

 

[Mr Googler]

We all know Mercury Verado are the best engines ever made......I hope ???

 

[Bouba]

Another vote for Honda. I think they are the most reliable (well they were when I researched outboards). I’ve had four and their suitcase genny.

 

[Fishtigua]

I've been working with outboards since 1986. Of the current crop of new higher-powered ones, Mercury is top. For smaller engines I would go for a Yam.

 

[Zing]

Suzuki has the best 20 - 30hp. Above that Yam.

 

[MrB]

My Merc 50 never missed a beat, ever! Great engine.

 

[MystyBlue2]

Why no Honda as they are a major brand?

Yeah thats my other

 

[ashtead]

For small 4-6hp not much between Yam and Suzuki 4h versions but Yam seemed more solid. Maybe if varies with size but I recall small hondas have issues with steel bolts and sound sick even when running . My small merc 3.3 has lasted 20 years in 2 stroke version but I became fed up with carb cleaning . When new the small merc/mariner worked well, but with age now needs some TLC .

 

[Davy_S]

I don't know if it is significant or not, but most bigger engines have a cambelt, my Honda certainly did, but the Suzukis use a timing chain, i have noticed quite a few cars are switching to chains, i never had problems with the Honda cambelt, it is simply a thought, i rate the Suzukis as a good engine, but as mentioned, i don't think there is a lot of difference in the well known brands.