Who Makes the Best / Worst Outboards ?

[senormechanico]

I' got a Tohatsu 9.9 which we bought new, used for several years on our dink while cruising Mexico. It's not gotten much use since, and as a matter of fact I haven't even started it in almost a year. It sits on the dock, rain or shine. I ought to get around to starting it one of these days. I'll report back when I do.

[CSY Man]

Avoid Yamaha 4 hp... all the rubber rings deteriorated on the shaft in one year moderate use...

Would that be a 4 stroke...?

Here in the US they come with a 3 year warranty and the above would be a warranty issue.

Had mine for less than a year and no signs of any rubber ring deterioation so far.

[Passage50]

For over 30 years we have been using 9.9 and 15 hp. 2cycle Evinrudes and Johnson in my Business only in Freshwater I should mention. Very few problems, easy to maintain compact and not to heavy.

[okapi3]

Anybody out there with experience with the Torqueedo electric outboard? My back would be very interested in its 17 lb weight, plus 6 lb Li ion battery.

[sestina]

Worst outboard I've ever owned was a Honda 2hp four stroke. Brute to start, noisy as hell, hopeless range and the centrifugal clutch did nothing for your boat handling. Best bit was selling it to an unsuspecting Frenchman.

Seagulls will never start if the exhaust is deep underwater, too much back pressure.

[Hiracer]

Been using the same Yamaha 2 stroke 5 hp since 1997. Runs like new. I will buy Yamaha again--if I ever need to replace it, which I kind of wonder about.

[sarafina]

The impression I have gotten researching on our old 80's and 90's outboards is that for American manufactures they have all pretty much been made by the same plant, with different trim. Anyone know anything to corroborate or refute?

[RedBellies]

Definitely Yamaha. From 2.5 to 9.9 but the 8HO is my favorite. I have a 1957 British Seagull forty plus that has only failed to start once and that was a bad fuel issue.

I have a 1957 Johnson JW13 that would run like a scalded dog on the tank and as soon as you put it on the transom it was dead. Walk it back up the pier to the shop, put her in the tank, fire right up. She's still on the wall in my workshop with a skull hanging from her tiller handle.

My 1974 Evinrude Fisherman 6 has brought me from Kent Island to Nabbs Creek without a hiccup, and I sailed weekly and used less than one tank of fuel all last year, getting in and out of the Bodkin. She's getting an honorable retirement soon.

And I have a new Merc 9.9 and an early 70s 9.8. The 9.8 will push almost anything and the 9.9 only starts with a cocktail and a prayer.

So you never know.

[mesquaukee]

Have had Eninrudes (2 stroke, 2 to 18 hp), Honda (4 stroke, 9.9) and a Yamaha (4 stroke, 15hp). Both the Honda and Yamaha have gone swimming a few times. They are all good provided you know your way around them. The 4 strokes tend to have carburetor problems due to water (salt) in the gas which causes blockage of some extremely fine low speed idle jets. Using a large water separator on the fuel line reduces the occurrence of that problem.

[barnakiel]

Yamaha best.

Worst? We had a horrible Johnson once.

b.

[goboatingnow]

Worst outboard I've ever owned was a Honda 2hp four stroke

Amem to that, had a Honda 4.5Hp four stroke , brute, bought it new, impossible to start, very poor performance, bought a lovely little 9hp twin clyinder Johnson, so easy to start the kids could do it Now though I only use Yamaha.

[H Romberg]

I've had three Yamahas, an ancient Johnson, and a Merc. All two strokes except the current Yamaha.

Modern outboards are great. They just work. At least they do from Yamaha and Mercruiser. It's hard to say more than that. They work best if you don't leave fuel in the bowl, and if you flush em out frequently......and if you don't dunk the power head in salt water........