Outboard Manufacturer with the best overall reputation

[Hot Rod]

A quick review of the past decade for the big 3...

OMC Ficht bankrupted the company

Early Mercury Optimax nearly as bad with fuel rail problems

Yamaha big block HPDI's*remain to be seen as to how bad the situation will get

Suzuki... hmmm... let's see, I couldn't break a 1986 200 I bought. In fact it was such a good motor I traded it in for a new 1993 225 EFI that I put 996 hours on without any problem. I also had Dusky put a 225 EFI on a 2001 256FC they built for me. It still runs great for the third owner. Suzuki is looking awfully good for the underdog *

[Mumblerone]

Lets look to the future...I'll pick Verado! Past is easy.

[Glen E]

If the rumors are true and Mercury is going to offer all verado owners a 50 hp upgrade by merely tweaking their software, Merc will go down in history as a very forward thinking company....at least on this project....

Think of it - take your 250's in for the 300 hour check and get them back generating an add'l 50 hp each for a cost you can live with (I hope)

[Cracker]

Biggest problem with Suzuki is service and dealer network

[autobaun70]

Glen, have you heard if this mod is going to require the use of 93 octane?

[Bullshipper]

I started a thread a while back saying I thought the Susy gave the best bang for your buck, and boy did I get beat up. Didn't change my mind though.

But for overall reliability, its hard to beat Honda IMHO.

[Glen E]

autobaun70 - 8/2/2005 8:37 AM

Glen, have you heard if this mod is going to require the use of 93 octane?

no idea - but I'll do it for the increase - biggest problem for a lot of people will be new props needed, I'm guessing - Seeing as how merc is sold out on 275's and they fully admit that they are big, heavy , powerful motors with great hole shot, their owners surveys are showing that the customers could give a damn about what the octane required is....I understand it is vitally iimportatnt to some people shopping but not to verado owners according to my sources..they would like it to be lower, but it's not a dealbreaker when the sign on for the engones...

[Tireless]

Bullshipper - 8/2/2005 8:51 AM I started a thread a while back saying I thought the Susy gave the best bang for your buck, and boy did I get beat up. Didn't change my mind though. But for overall reliability, its hard to beat Honda IMHO.

On some subjects I do not think a lobotomy would change your mind......

[Whaler27]

Glen E - 8/2/2005 8:55 AM

no idea - but I'll do it for the increase - biggest problem for a lot of people will be new props needed, I'm guessing - Seeing as how merc is sold out on 275's and they fully admit that they are big, heavy , powerful motors with great hole shot, their owners surveys are showing that the customers could give a damn about what the octane required is....I understand it is vitally iimportatnt to some people shopping but not to verado owners according to my sources..they would like it to be lower, but it's not a dealbreaker when the sign on for the engones...

If the V has such a great holeshot, why do the Whaler performance reports always run the Verado equipped boats with a half or less fuel tank and the Optimax equipped boats with a full fuel tank? For the price paid for a V, they ought to give an extra 50 HP for free.

[Got Salt?]

how ironic. i had a friend ask me just this morning about the suzi's of late. i told him that honestly i had not heard of any chronic issues with any of the suzukis. there are problems, just as with any motor. each mfg has their strong points and weak points, just as different models have their issues. some may be fast and furious, but have a less than stellar repair background, and there are others that make great family sedan motors and just may last longer than mankind itself, but they are still as slow as maine molases. some have a historic reputation to overcome, but have the engineering of a new mother company to do just that. some have built themselves upon a rock that they think may never slide, but are seeing rapid erosion from all the great new technology out there. and then there are the quiet ones that seem to be puttering along in the middle of the channel, doing just fine either way! its a great market for the consumer, no matter how you slice it!

[Wet-n-Wiley]

Honda?

[Seacat FL]

Wet-n-Wiley - 8/2/2005 10:05 AM

Honda?

[Afishinado]

IMHO
In the 21 years Yamaha has been in the US, they built only two models that were/are less than perfect. AND NOT ALL OF THOSE MOTORS HAVE PROBLEMS..
Nobody else can say that. Possibly Suzy, they just got into the the game recently, same with Honda.

[SeaJay]

"built only two models that were/are less than perfect."

Are we supposed to infer that all models other than those two had 0% problems??

Perhaps very good, but no motor model has been "perfect"

[Seacat FL]

My neighbor had a Honda 4 stroke outboard in 1986. Reliable & Quiet!

[steveyacht]

"Outboard Manufacturer with the best overall reputation"

To address this question directly and in it's entirety, it would be tought to not say Mercury. With all the different performance records, longivity, innovation, variety, Race wins, tournament wins (salt water and fresh water), Speed records, dealer Network,....etc I believe it would be difficult to choose another OB builder with a better "overall" reputation than Mercury. Even those that are not boaters recognize the name and percieved reputation of Mercury Outboards.

[rockn n rollin]

tough question. see more yamahas on the water than any other brand.

[Cincinnati]

I have a Honda, would buy another. But the biggest motor offered is the BF225.

[SCAngler]

Afishinado...while i have great respect for the product that yamaha builds(my last ten engines were yamaha's) perfect there not...good they are .

[GeoffD]

How about British Seagull? They were always so simple that they never died.