Best Outboard Manufacturer

[MikeSmith1]

Who makes the best outboards these days? If you were to buy a brand new outboard which make would you choose assuming price is not a problem. The main criteria in my opinion are:

1. Reliability
2. Fuel efficiency
3. Performance
4. Ease to maintain

[Pikey Dave]

Bloke walks into a car showroom & says to the salesman

"I'm looking for a cheap, fast, reliable car"
Salesman says........"You can have:-

Fast & cheap
Cheap & reliable
Reliable & fast"


.....sh1t happens.......

[Sutty]

I'm a Yamaha man myself, had the smallest to the biggest with many in between. Never had a problem but they tend to be more expensive. You gets what you pay for

[Pikey Dave]

For performance & ease of maintenance you can't beat an Etec.



.....sh1t happens.......

[office888]

Originally Posted by MikeSmith1

Who makes the best outboards these days? If you were to buy a brand new outboard which make would you choose assuming price is not a problem. The main criteria in my opinion are:

1. Reliability
2. Fuel efficiency
3. Performance
4. Ease to maintain

Yamaha for dealer network, longevity, and fuel economy. Once you start getting past a few hundred hours, the cost of timing belts and valve adjustments will start to add up. Once you start getting around 800-1000 hours, the engine will probably start to burn a little oil, but it will still be usable... caused by a combination of ring wear and valve guide wear.

Evinrude ETEC for ease of maintenance (lots of shared parts between ETEC models) and performance. However, a rebuild at about 1500 hours is recommended.

[Maximus]

Best Manufacturer...? Strange question really...Best engine is what suits the Boat you have and the type of Boating you do best..ie size of RIB..Crew...Range..Petrol-Diesel-2-4 stroke....and of course...how fast you want to do it!
Not forgetting Budget
(weight-performance-economy-and ease of servicing and backup-parts will all have a bearing)...and a Biggie these days of 5yr warrantys across the board is what DEAL you can get!
If you really have to ask the question...you need to do some more Homework IMO.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

For performance & ease of maintenance you can't beat an Etec.



.....sh1t happens.......

Begs the question PD!
Why did you engine you're new RIB with a Suzuki?

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Maximus

Begs the question PD!
Why did you engine you're new RIB with a Suzuki?

I keep asking meself the same question I was offered a deal I couldn't refuse

[two stroke mick]

I think you are looking at this problem backward. All of the main engines are good now a days. The main factor I would consider is the ease to getting the engine to a proper repair shop if some thing goes wrong. I have an ETec it has been very good thus far. I have one dealer circa 35 miles away whom I do not trust and a dealer circa 100miles away who I do trust. There is a suzi dealer circa 15miles away and a good Yam dealer circa 40 miles away. If I was buying again I would probably by a yam just because there is a good dealer not that far away. I am now starting to service the etec myself which is also a good thing as you get to know your own engine properly.

TSM

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by two stroke mick

I think you are looking at this problem backward. All of the main engines are good now a days. The main factor I would consider is the ease to getting the engine to a proper repair shop if some thing goes wrong. I have an ETec it has been very good thus far. I have one dealer circa 35 miles away whom I do not trust and a dealer circa 100miles away who I do trust. There is a suzi dealer circa 15miles away and a good Yam dealer circa 40 miles away. If I was buying again I would probably by a yam just because there is a good dealer not that far away. I am now starting to service the etec myself which is also a good thing as you get to know your own engine properly.



TSM

Very good point


.....sh1t happens.......

[Xk59D]

This isn't as simple as it might appear.

Big yams have flywheel and exhaust corrosion issues.

Zuke 140 has a plug on the block that corrodes and needs a good welder to fix it.

Mercs, etec and Honda all have issues depending on the size in question, you would be better asking what is best outboard in X size. Once you rule out people voting for their own you may have some usable info.

[headdamage]

1990's vintage OMC outboards Nice and simple and keep running, not so good on fuel.

[jeffstevens763@g]

On my 5th Suzuki 25,40,4,90,25
Had two yams 4 & 60
1 rude 50
1mariner 40
2 Johnson 4& 15
Didn't like rude or Johnson ,mariner bullet proof, yam and Suzuki brilliant latest Suzuki 25 lean burn and as yet very frugal on fuel

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Xk59D

This isn't as simple as it might appear.

Big yams have flywheel and exhaust corrosion issues.

Zuke 140 has a plug on the block that corrodes and needs a good welder to fix it.

Mercs, etec and Honda all have issues depending on the size in question, you would be better asking what is best outboard in X size. Once you rule out people voting for their own you may have some usable info.

You're right about "BIG" YAM's The 250 on Landlords 7m was Bloody Huge!! Looked like he was Towing a Caravan!

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Xk59D

This isn't as simple as it might appear.

Big yams have flywheel and exhaust corrosion issues.

Zuke 140 has a plug on the block that corrodes and needs a good welder to fix it.

Mercs, etec and Honda all have issues depending on the size in question, you would be better asking what is best outboard in X size. Once you rule out people voting for their own you may have some usable info.

You're right about "BIG" YAM's The 250 on Landlords 7m was Bloody HUGE!! Looked like he was Towing a Caravan!

[uncle al]

when I worked the boat shows, before I retired, and was asked that quest.I always gave the same answer. It was decide what you want out of the obm, get brochures and talk to people, and the one that comes closest to what you want is the one you buy.

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

I keep asking meself the same question I was offered a deal I couldn't refuse

The cheapest is rarely the bestest, but then, they've got to shift 'em somehow.

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Maximus

You're right about "BIG" YAM's The 250 on Landlords 7m was Bloody Huge!!

Umm, fink he meant 'big' in number of geegees, not feet and inches.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Mollers

Umm, fink he meant 'big' in number of geegees, not feet and inches.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Mollers

The cheapest is rarely the bestest, but then, they've got to shift 'em somehow.

You obviously don't know Pikey very well!