Most reliable outboard?

[Dover]

For some it is not a Rude FICHT but the one I had never left me stranded and fired up with just a click of the key...... I would say the new Rude ETEC series is making a strong debut....... tight lines

[djbm88]

yamaha makes the most dependable motors out there hands down. I have had mercury as well but the most trouble free are the yamaha

[Lowerider]

sorry to say it, but i'll always have a silver motor at the back of my boat. there's a reason you'll see 10 times as many 1985 Accords on the road compared to 1985 Cavaliers.

just my 2 cents (sorry dad).

[BarkelyPup]

For some it is not a Rude FICHT but the one I had never left me stranded and fired up with just a click of the key...... I would say the new Rude ETEC series is making a strong debut....... tight lines

A friend of mine was fishing with a guy who had a 2 week old new ETECH on his boat. It was over the smaller Horse variety and He was in his boat running behind his buddy and said that the ETech litteraly blew up (exploded) right in front of him. He said you could feel the percusion from it. He took some pictures it blew that motor all to peices.

BP

[Dave Stewart]

I probably put more hours on engines than most anyone you can find since I am on the water virtually every day from March thru November. I also communicate regularly with individuals that put a lot of hours on their engines like other guides and tournament anglers as well as communicating with with servicing personnel. From all that here is my take on outboards:

1. You can have problems with any outboard engine no matter what brand you buy. It is like buying a car...sometimes you just get a lemon no matter how good the track record of that model.

2. If you don't do the required maintenance on your engine you are just asking for problems...just like any car or other item you buy with an engine on it.

3. If you run your engine like you are in the Indy 500 all the time your engine will last about as long as the engines in those cars do unless you have a full time team of mechanics checking your engine every day and replacing parts that are getting borderline.

4. The more complicated the engine the more likely you are to have problems with it until the factory gets the bugs worked out....don't jump on a new model until it has been out for 2 or 3 years. Newer model engines are all complicated...they have to be to meet the new EPA standards.

5. Buy your engine from a reputable dealer that has a great service reputation...they will do whatever they can to work with you and your engine company to take care of any problems you have...trying to work directly with big companies on your own when you are only buying one engine as compared to a dealer who is buying hundreds does not carry much weight.

Having said all that, I put a new ETEC HO on my boat in June. I now have over 200 hours on it with no problems. Most new engines if they are not good ones will develop problems early on...within the first 100 hours...no matter which brand you buy. No matter which engine you buy...make sure you get a warranty...driving a new outboard without a warrenty that will take you thru the first hundred hours of so of use is like playing with a loaded gun...so you need to figure out how much you use your boat and buy your warranty accordingly.

[mhall]

Yamaha man myself..

[VMAXX]

This is like an oxymoron It's not if motors blow but when...That being said, I'm a yamaha man myself.

Best post yet

[Bobby Headrick]

I have a 1998 Tracker by Merc, 90hp, it is a little cold collard, but like said above if you let it warm a little it never fails,it does flood easily, but that is my doing. Just keep em serviced and do not RWO all the time. Just show some love and they will love you back.

[stockcars6]

personally, i don't own a big motor, but i have talked to about twice as many people that have problems with mercs as opposed to yamaha. with that said, i do build some large race (car) motors, and just because you can run 8000 rpms, doesn't mean you need to, but you do need to keep it in it's power range, normally 10-12 % less rpm's than its capable of. i service my outboard every other month and have never blown one
150-200hp- i would go yamaha
5-90- i would go tohatsu

[billm_usa1]

My favorite is the Evirude Johnson v-4 from 1977 thru 1989.
It is a very simple motor easy to wrok on.
Readily avalable parts from the crank to gaskets and pistons and bearings.
Carburators, no computer, can get to all the spark plugs.
The 85 thru 140 use all the same basic parts (Crank rods and pistons block...)
This means the 85 & 115 motors are made with the 140hp components really stout.

[lured away]

personally, i don't own a big motor, but i have talked to about twice as many people that have problems with mercs as opposed to yamaha

Do you think this is because there are probably twice as many Mercs on the water as there are yamahas (or any one paricular brand for that matter)

[stockcars6]

that is very true!