Yamaha vs. Merc

[sschefer]

I'm getting ready to re-power my 18' Starcraft FS. Last year, all the rave was the Yamaha and I was pretty sure that's what I was going to buy. Now Merc releases the 150 supercharged Verado. I suspect they've done this because of the success of the bigger engines but it could be to compete with the Evenrude E-Tec.

I've been looking around at used Yamaha's and Merc's just to get an idea of how long people keep them and I'm seeing a lot of Yamaha's that are a year or two old going for slightly over half price. The Merc Verado's are few and far between so either nobodies buying them or everybody's happy with them.

Does anyone have any facts they can report on either of these 150 hp engines or other hp models.

Thanks in advance

Steve Schefer
Santa Rosa, CA.

 

[twostroke87]

Re: Yamaha vs. Merc

Well first off, the verado and the E-tec don't really compete. The verado is a supercharged 4 stroke, and the E-tec is a direct injected 2 stroke. Two totally different games. The verado was developed to give merc a leading edge over other companys 4 strokes, because of its ability to get out of the hole faster, and give more thrust and mid and high range RPM changes.

The E-tec competes mostly with Mercs Direct injected opti max, now I have to say when comparing the two, merc optis of any horsepower will usually blow out an e-tec, but the e-tecs are just a little bit quieter.

Now as for the difference between buying from either company the question is are you buying a 4 stroke or a two stroke?

If you are going with the 4 stroke then i'd pick the verado because its supercharged, and the other companies engines are not.

4 strokes are quieter, but cost more in maintenance (valve adjustments) and have more moving parts, and are also still a relatively new technology so they haven't worked all of the bugs out yet. Also contrary to popular believe and advertising, 4 strokes have better fuel economy than older designed two strokes, but not newer designed direct injected 2 strokes.

Newer 2 strokes are direct injected, which means that the fuel doesn't pass through the crankcase like a traditional two stroke, and means that there isn't fuel pooling in the crankcase compartments like old 2 strokes. The fuel arrives directly at the cylinder upon compression, meaning the engine gets just enough fuel that it needs, not extra to blow out the exhaust passage. There is also less moving parts and less maintenance on two strokes, also to be considered, new two stroke technology is an improved design on an older, already proven and tested technology. Like I said before 4 stroke outboard technology is relatively new. This is something to consider.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Yamaha vs. Merc

Thanks two stroke, great info!.

I have a 91 100hp two stroke Mariner now and I have an 18hp Nissan/Tohatsu 4 stroke on a 14' that is just plain sweet. There's a big difference between a push mower and a John Deer but for sake of argument, I like the four strokes and that's what I'm looking at buying.

I'm not a tourney fisherman or a water skier anymore I just go out and fish. However, if you've every been caught in rough weather by suprise you understand the need for reliable power.

To say that fuel economy is as good as a four stroke in the new two strokes are you including the cost of Optimax Oil as an add on to every gallon of gas? Last I checked the oil for the Optimax was listing at around 100.00 a gallon. You can get it for less if you shop around. Granted, it's 100:1 but to me that's just one more thing I have to do before I can go fishing.

 

[JUSTINTIME]

Re: Yamaha vs. Merc

you will never beat a 2 stroke in hole shot in the boat
your in Santa Rosa, not that many yam dealers up there that are certified
i would go merc

 

[sschefer]

Re: Yamaha vs. Merc

Justintime, absolutely. Guenter's is the only one unless I head into San Francisco or head up North, (I'd rather go North any day even if it means an extra 200 hundred miles).

Guenter's is only a 15 minute trip from the house and he's a pretty good guy once he thinks your serious.

 

[JUSTINTIME]

Re: Yamaha vs. Merc

Guenter's is not going to be there much longer, plus he never sends anybody to school, i would know because i go to all the update classes.
I would go to north river in saco, ask for TIM, he is the service manager there.
I'm based out of walnut creek Thursday-Monday, then Paso Robles the other days.

I work on in the yacht club in Richmond
Find out what you want i could help you out

 

[Faraway]

Re: Yamaha vs. Merc

I've owned only one Merc outboard in my boating life, and it is resting peacefully at the bottom of the Kentucky River where I kicked it off the boat on the first voyage. That bad first experience with Merc has kept me with Johnson and Evenrude for 35 years.

It could be my imagination but it seems whenever I see an outboard powered boat broken down on the water, it's usually a Merc.

Merc does make an outstanding I/O however.

Take that for what it's worth--just my personal opinion.

Boat Poor

 

[sschefer]

Re: Yamaha vs. Merc

Re: Guenter's - I don't know anything about his business. I know only that he's open on Saturday's and usually has what I need when nobody else does.

He's got an 08' F150 that the original owner overheated. I don't know what caused the overheating but Guenter say's it's back to factory specs and wants 6250.00 for it.

I've built engines both stock and not so stock and the one thing that ruins them for life is overheating. Unless the powehead was replaced, that thing is never going to be right. The way I figure it, if the owner ignored all the overtemp alarms he wouldn't have even brought it in unless it was siezed. It's an 08 with 66 hours on it. That's quite a bit for your average recreational boater in that short of time. I don't think this motor was lightly used.

I don't have the money to screw around with somebody elses problem child. I don't mind paying more for piece of mind.

 

[JUSTINTIME]

Re: Yamaha vs. Merc

i know, i lived up there and fixed a lot of his problems he could not fix
we are not in a recession yet

 

[sschefer]

Re: Yamaha vs. Merc

O.K. My friend Val, a guide up at Eagle Lake just made me spend a lot of money. Women always do that to me.. Seriously though, she's been through 7 bad Honda's and finally switched over to a Yamaha 115. She's got 45 hours on it without so much as a whimper. She's say's they all seem to have a vibration between 600 and 700 RPM but it goes away at 800. Could be the high altitude because folks down on the flats don't report it.

So, it's a Fresh Yamaha F150, should be ready for install after the first of the year.

Thanks to everyone that responded.

Steve

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Yamaha vs. Merc

I've run the course with outboards. Have had boats since the seventies with every popular motor. They all broke or died slow agonizing deaths after ingesting a fair amount of money. In 1986 I bought my first new Yamaha. It was a 90 and mounted on a 19' CC. I ran that rig hard for ten years. All I ever did to that motor was plugs, lu oil and impellers every other year. I never touched the carbs, oil injection, charging system, propshaft or anything, and it was used exclusively in salt water. I will never own another brand of motor, I don't care how fast, quiet, noisy, cheap or expensive. I think you have made a good call.

 

[JUSTINTIME]

Re: Yamaha vs. Merc

yes the 115 had problems with it, but it is FI

F150 is there better motor