On Wed, 16 Mar 2005 04:14:23 GMT, bo jangles wrote:

I'm looking for a new or used boat in the 18-22' range for inshore
sal****er use and the motor is a big concern of mine. What are the
late model motors to avoid? I've heard 4 strokes in general are the
way to go - and 4 strokes are dogs but if you go with a 4 stroke get
Yamaha or, get a Honda - Yamahas are junk. I've heard to get DI 2
stroke. I've heard that Mercs are the worst and the best; however,
I've also heard of many new Mercs being returned and Mercs on recall.
I've heard of Merc "smart" systems screwing up and having to be
disabled. One dealer swore by the new Evenrude DI (they have "smart"
systems too) and I have seen the above as well as Suzuki and Johnson
on the boats I'm looking at. Are there brands, sizes, types (2 or 4
stroke, carb, efi, di) to avoid? I'd appreciate some help.

I understand the problem - you hear one thing, you hear another - it's
a freakin' jungle out there. :)

With respect to Honda, they are great engines - no doubt about it.
However, when they break, it can become problematic finding somebody
to repair them properly. Honda believes in the "our engines don't
break, so we don't need technical information to the local level"
philosophy. Their marketing is somewhat suspect. We have a
contributor here who went around in circles over what should have been
a warranty issue. I've heard second hand stories (for what they are
worth) about Honda's sitting in a shop until they could get a Honda
technician from an auto shop to look at the engines.

Yamaha is also a great engine but replacement and warranty parts can
be a problem - the supply lines are very long and if the parts
actually exist, take a while to arrive. Not in all cases, however -
it just depends on what breaks. Yamaha is also playing tough with
American engines by dumping their products making deals with boat
manufacturers. Take that for what it's worth.

I wouldn't buy a Mercury if you paid me to. And not for the reason
you think - it's their warranty policies which suck. One day over the
warranty and you are screwed - big time. Or they will just ignore
their own warranty policies and leave you hanging - I've had personal
experience with that. Great engines, warranty polices suck. Optimax
has had some powerhead problems and were recalled, but overall they
are solid engines. I just won't own one.

The one engine that I don't know a lot about, but have heard really
good things about is Suzuki.

Despite Karen's negative obsession with two strokes, Bombardier is
actually leading the way in terms of technology. I've had FICHT
Evinrudes and nary a problem - I did have one problem, but it was
quickly solved to my satisfaction by Bombardier and they honestly
didn't have to. Haven't had a problem since. I know several folks in
the shelfish industry (clam bullrakers) over in RI and they have a
couple of thousand hours on them with no problems - and these were the
150 engines which were the recall engines.

I'm having E-TEC 225s mounted on my new Contender (this coming week in
fact) - I believe in them, I believe in the technology. Two strokes
are lighter, much better power to weight ratios, more efficient,
longer warranties. cleaner emissions, easier to maintain and with
Bombardier anyway, longer warranties, better acceleration, yada, yada,
yada. Two strokes have it all over four strokes any way you want to
measure it.

Sorry for the length - I get carried away sometimes. :)

Good luck - hope this helps a little.

Later,

Tom