Motor Preference

[blount8]

My last post got a lot of feedback and got a little heated so maybe this will go more smooth. LOL

I will be buying a new boat after next tournament season. I currently have a 200 Mecury Pro XS Optimax. I have heard great things about the SHO's from dealers that work on both Yamaha and Mercury. I also heard it will save you a bunch of money on buying oil. I want to see what some of you guys think that have had experience with both.

Note: Evinude is not an option. We owned a '96 Envinude growing up and it was a great motor. However we bought a 2009 E-TEC and 4 lower units later I can't trust them anymore.

[J Risco]

Dont have to buy oil but SHO cost more up front. There are other small $ differences but in the end the $ will work out to be close enough that it shouldnt be a deciding factor.

It really comes down to what do you prefer, or have confidence in, 2 stroke or 4 stroke. Assuming you have a dealer close for whatever you choose just in case. IMO the SHO is a better engine.

[blount8]

Dont have to buy oil but SHO cost more up front. There are other small $ differences but in the end the $ will work out to be close enough that it shouldnt be a deciding factor.

It really comes down to what do you prefer, or have confidence in, 2 stroke or 4 stroke. Assuming you have a dealer close for whatever you choose just in case. IMO the SHO is a better engine.

Thanks! I have a Yamaha dealer about 5 minutes from my house however Mercury dealer is about an hour and a half drive.

[retiredmechanic]

One that don't cost an arm and leg, runs like a turpentined cat and don't blow up!!!

[kry29]

I really think cost, fuel mileage, speed, all that's pretty much a wash between the two. Dealer support is the biggest factor and personal preference. I love not dealing with 2 stroke oil, a quiet running engine that doesn't smoke, and all the power I need when I hit the throttle

[bgibson]

Thanks! I have a Yamaha dealer about 5 minutes from my house however Mercury dealer is about an hour and a half drive.

You just answered your own question with that statement! I have had 3 Mercury Optimax (150hp, 200hp, 200hp) and I have a Yamaha SHO (250hp) now, hands down Yamaha!

[Silkstringz]

I currently have a 200 Pro XS that runs like a bastard ape. Gas mileage is pretty much unbelievable but I believe a lot of that is in part because of all the prop work. I would get whatever is closest to you. They are both fine engines. With that said, I've rode in them all and the next one I buy will probably be a G2. You're only short changing yourself by not looking at them. They're bad.

[Yakalong]

I wouldn't shy away from either, both are great motors, but it seems there are more Mercury dealers around so I would give them the nod.

[TritonTRXV8]

Merc for me love my optimax.

[Jeff Hahn]

I had an Opti on my last Ranger and had a problem with the seal at the bottom of the head leaking oil. This is a part that should never need to be replaced in the life of an outboard. Even though the warranty on the motor was about to expire when this started leaking, it took writing the President of Merc a letter for them to honor the warranty. That was the first time it leaked and I had to pay two other times to have that part replaced.

When I went looking for a new motor for my Lund, there was only one choice. (Even though our family had owned nothing but Johnsons or Evinrude up to that point, there was no way I was buying a Ficht and have steered clear ever since.) So, I bought an F Series Yamaha 4 stroke. Yammy had some issues with the SHO over the years, but recently I have not heard of many. However, if I were buying a new motor now, there is no question that I would buy an F Series 4 stroke Yammy.

[jarhead175]

I think you should Honda to the list. They aren't speed demon's but they get great fuel economy and last.

[Rick McFaul]

I have had both Mercury and Yamaha. I have been super impressed with my 250 Yamaha SHO. It was well worth the extra $1800

[Jb357]

The operating cost is pretty much a wash from what I've seen. Reliability on all the major engines are pretty much the same as well. If you can hitch a ride in a sho powered boat for an hour or so that will really give you a good idea if you like the performance of it.

I'd have any of the major 3 to be honest.

[Macsimus]

I currently have a 200 Pro XS that runs like a bastard ape. .

Is that faster or slower than a raped ape?

[blount8]

I wouldn't shy away from either, both are great motors, but it seems there are more Mercury dealers around so I would give them the nod.

As close as I am to the coast there are just as many Yamaha dealers as Mercury because most of the saltwater guys run Yamaha.

[blount8]

I had an Opti on my last Ranger and had a problem with the seal at the bottom of the head leaking oil. This is a part that should never need to be replaced in the life of an outboard. Even though the warranty on the motor was about to expire when this started leaking, it took writing the President of Merc a letter for them to honor the warranty. That was the first time it leaked and I had to pay two other times to have that part replaced.

When I went looking for a new motor for my Lund, there was only one choice. (Even though our family had owned nothing but Johnsons or Evinrude up to that point, there was no way I was buying a Ficht and have steered clear ever since.) So, I bought an F Series Yamaha 4 stroke. Yammy had some issues with the SHO over the years, but recently I have not heard of many. However, if I were buying a new motor now, there is no question that I would buy an F Series 4 stroke Yammy.

That adds up with what a mechanic told me about working with Yamaha versus Mercury. He said anytime he called Yamaha needing a part for warranty work they go it out to him no questions asked but Mercury was a different beast. Thanks for the response.

[blount8]

I think you should Honda to the list. They aren't speed demon's but they get great fuel economy and last.

I have considered Honda however I don't have any dealers nearby.

[Tfall]

My next motor will be a Honda or a Suzuki.

[jc2bg]

With that said, I've rode in them all and the next one I buy will probably be a G2. You're only short changing yourself by not looking at them. They're bad.

Have to agree here. The G1 Evinrude got a whole lot better after 2010--my last 3 have been excellent, and my 2014 is the best of the bunch--but considering every bit of available data, the G2 outshines them all at present. And 8-10 years factory warranty? Wow.

[blount8]

Have to agree here. The G1 Evinrude got a whole lot better after 2010--my last 3 have been excellent, and my 2014 is the best of the bunch--but considering every bit of available data, the G2 outshines them all at present. And 8-10 years factory warranty? Wow.

I love the Evinrude engines. That E-TEC engine itself was amazing but unless they fixed the problem, the lower units were not made to withstand the torque put out by the engine. I talked to other E-TEC owners who had also went through multiple lower units. It's hard to trust an Evinrude after losing 4 lower units in less than a year.