Best Buys in 25hp. motors

[Dock-Boy]

I'm interested in getting as much info as I can from you "experts" on the best type of 25hp motor. What are the best running, fastest, quietest, & less polluting outboards for a reasonable price? I have seen the 25 suzuki when I have been in the Ely area, towing canoe parties of 4 men plus gear & 2 canoes yet, still outrun most other fishing boats on the lake.(25hp. maximum) Maybe the towing company "plays" with the motors to get them to run that fast. Thanks for the help!!

[Bob G2]

The Suzuki you referred to is a 3 cyl. engine, most of the rest are 2 cyl. You are asking a mouthful when you ask what is the best running, smoothest, fastest, less polluting, and BTW, the most reasonable. Different manufacturers have high points in different areas, but a standout?

I think they compared 25hp's in a back issue of Bass and Walleye
Boats. Check there if you want exact measures on comparisons.

[D.B.]

I know that each manufacturer has high points/low points but I wanted to get as much of others experiences as possible,so I don't spend $2000-$3000 and kick myself (with my wife's help) on not being happy with my motor. Thanks for the info on the magazine article I will try to look it up.

[Bob G2]

I have owned 2 25 hp motors in my life. I had an '88 Yamaha and a
92' Merc. When I bought the Yamaha, one consideration I had was the weight. Since I didnot have a boat, nor did I have a vehicle that could really tow one, the Yamaha was the lightest in the class. What I liked about it back then was it had a separate oil reservoir (no mixing), it had what I think was a flywheel kickdown so that when you pulled the rope it was like a 6 hp, just no effort at all. Seemed to run real clean and was quiet. Fuel economy wasn't bad and I could run away from comparable Johnsons and Mariners. It had the shift on the tiller and back then that was something new.

The Merc that I now own on my jon boat runs smooth and so far is dependable. It has the gear shift built into the throttle of the
tiller so you need to pay attention when using the throttle. One thing that I don't like is that it will start in gear when you pull the cord, so you have to be doubly careful. Also, when comparing parts, fit/finish, it doesn't stack up to the Yamaha.
This motor, though, has been a good runner so far.

Alot of guys are going into the 4 cycle engines now. They are cleaner and quieter, also more thrifty on fuel. However, they do weigh more and cost more. They supposedly should hold up better, but time will tell.

The Suzuki the tow operators use is supposed to be a nice motor.
Whether or not they changed cowlings with the 35hp model (same engine) is not known by me. While I would urge you to find that article in B&WB, I think I remember them saying the Tohatsu offered good bang for the buck. But since I seem to suffer more from CRS (Cant Remember Sh^t) syndrome, I would urge you to pay due diligence to your choice. Also check some of the other boards here and the archives, if you haven't already.

Take your time and get what you really want is most important. Happy shopping.

[Airwave(OH)]

To be honest you won't go wrong in any of the choices I see listed here so far. Suzuki,Yamaha or Merc. These are all comparable motors and will greatly depend on how you care for it. I speaking of proper servicing.. Good Luck