4 Stroke Ratings

[Ted in DSM, IA]

I would like to start a new thread-every one who has purchased or used (alot) a 4 stroke (35hp ) please compare it to a 2 and to other 4's you have seen. What made you buy the make/brand you bought? Do you wish you could change something (5hp more, Yamaha, not Yamaha, back to a 2)

I REALLY want to buy a new 4, I need a 40hp-55hp tiller. I am partial to Honda-only because I have not used any other type. They are so expensive and not popular in my area-thanx for any info.

[drh]

I have purchased a 50 4-stroke from Merc. I love it so far. I had a 40hp merc before. This thing is awesome. It has way more power than the 40 I had, like about 8 mph faster, and uses so little gas. I went on a three day trip earlier this season and only used 6 gallons of gas the whole time. I don't think I shut the motor off for more than a few minutes the whole time. This thing is so quiet. I have had a few times when I didn't even know it was on. I really love this thing and their si no doupt I would buy another one if I was ever to upgrade my boat!

Good luck, my only suggestion is buy something that you have a dea;er close by. Case you for some odd reason do have a problem. All the brand are great motors!

[chrism]

I have a 50 Honda. I went with it because of their good ratings I read in a magazine article comparing the Merc/Yam/Honda 4stkes (- the author favoured the Honda) and by an aquaintance's experience and mainly by price. The Honda was and still is the cheapest in my area - Remember, a Honda comes fully equipped when you buy it - ie -prop, cables, tach, trim guage. When I was shopping I checked all of this out with the Mercs/Suzuki/Yamaha and Evinrude 4 strokes - None but the Honda were fully equiped, the Yamaha included everything but cables and prop, and the Evin/Suzukis were without prop, and the Mercs came as a motor only, no prop/cables/tach/trim guage. Again, these were console models!
When they were all compared equally with the dealers around my hometown, the Honda was the cheapest followed by the yam/ev/suz and merc.
However, I think they've tweaked them enough that they are all relatively trouble free and almost all equally as reliable.
Hope this helps

[Buck]

Ted - I too live in DSM and bought a Honda 75 from Albert Lea RV and Marine. The dealer use to manage a DSM Hy-Vee store. That told me he knows how to price competively, because Hy-Vee lets all their manager's set price. I couldn't find a better Honda deal than what they gave me. I rationalized that Honda is a dependable motor and problems would be infrequent. Also if I did have problems, Albert Lea isn't that far away. I felt that Merc's entry into the 4-stroke market is too new, but Honda has been doing the 4-stroke thing a long time. Good Luck.

[Pat]

Ted I'm in Ankeny and recently bought a 75 HP Honda from Algona Marine, I'm very pleased with it. All the research I did also pointed to Honda being on top for four stroke outboards, they've been making them for 20 years. Others are starting to catch up but they are pretty new in the four stroke market, just the last few years. Good luck in our search.

[toptec]

I would look at a 50 hp suzuki. As far as I know they are the only turnkey start due to fuel injection.