Merc vs. 'JohnnyRude' OR Ford vs. Chevy

[steam_mill]

Further to the topic about number of posts, what is the opinion of the longevity of current Mercs vs. JohnnyRudes?<br /><br />I always heard that if you want to go fast, get a Merc. If you want longevity, get a JohnnyRude.<br /><br />I used to have a '72 50 'rude. Ran like a top. Electric shift never gave me any problems. Rebuild carbs and water pump.<br /><br />I now have a '54 7.5 'Rude. Runs great.<br /><br />I also have a '03 90 HP Merc Classic. Runs great and fast.<br /><br />Opinions?<br /><br />Will I still be using (or someone) my '03 Merc in 2053?<br /><br />Joe

 

[DJ]

Re: Merc vs. 'JohnnyRude' OR Ford vs. Chevy

You probably will.<br /><br />You stole my thunder. I was going to post a question on whether, or not, we will be talking about Hondas, Suzukis and Yamahas in '53'.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Merc vs. 'JohnnyRude' OR Ford vs. Chevy

Sign in my garage/shop...<br /><br />Mercury ... When you gotta get there Fast.<br />Chrysler ... When you gotta get there Cheap.<br />Johnson ... When you gotta get there. Period!

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Merc vs. 'JohnnyRude' OR Ford vs. Chevy

Nobody will be using motors that are modern today in 2053. They all are s**t. Covered in plastic with computers and sensors nobody needs. My newly rebuilt Mercury inline 6; however, will be running just fine in '53 as long as I don't forget the oil again.

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: Merc vs. 'JohnnyRude' OR Ford vs. Chevy

I always thought/heard Mercs were fast and noisy but died under heavier loads and that Johnny/Rudes were more quiet but could handle the heavier loads at a good clip.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Merc vs. 'JohnnyRude' OR Ford vs. Chevy

Thats a tough one. I see mostly rigs with Johnnyrudes in the repair yards here, but that could be because there just may be more johnnyrudes in use up here, hard to say. All I know is Mercs run better in upper rpms, so if a person is running a heavy boat, he needs to prop accordingly. As to whether a johnnyrude handles a heavy load better, who knows. Prop it wrong and it'll die as well as far as I am concerned...

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: Merc vs. 'JohnnyRude' OR Ford vs. Chevy

its all in the user, 100 percent. point blank. discussion closed. nuff said. good bye<br /><br />EDIT : like zmoz,JasonJ,chris1956, and a host of others hear on this board, i have a 30 something year old mercury inline 6 tower of power that will be running when all the lil hondas and suzi's are corroded into salty rust in 2053.<br /><br />oops, i just opened the can now, didnt I?

 

[JB]

Re: Merc vs. 'JohnnyRude' OR Ford vs. Chevy

I agree with PMM.<br /><br />They are all good engines, and well maintained they will all last longer than you will.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Merc vs. 'JohnnyRude' OR Ford vs. Chevy

they are all decent engines. however I aint the maytag man and saltwater kills them all without regard. usually exhaust cover corrode through and destroy them<br /> good luck and take the cover bolts out periodically just in case

 

[mattsaks]

Re: Merc vs. 'JohnnyRude' OR Ford vs. Chevy

hey phatman mike, will your tohatsu's still be running in 2053?...

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: Merc vs. 'JohnnyRude' OR Ford vs. Chevy

Originally posted by mattsaks:<br /> hey phatman mike, will your tohatsu's still be running in 2053?...

doubt it, they'll probably corrode before that. the metal the use is much lighter and maybe that helps it corrode faster in the salt water, all my motors are full time salt water. to say their life is " hard " is to say the least.<br /> i know a guy with 6 motors and none are newer than 1970, all mercs and evinrudes, and all saltwater use. all run like new, with lots of loving care.<br /><br />to make a motor last is all in the user and what type of care is given to that motor.<br /><br />im sure you could trash a new yamaha 15horse in 3 years if you didnt take care of it.... who wants to be the on to try that, i dare ya

 

[Island864]

Re: Merc vs. 'JohnnyRude' OR Ford vs. Chevy

Originally posted by ZmOz:<br /> Nobody will be using motors that are modern today in 2053. They all are s**t. Covered in plastic with computers and sensors nobody needs. My newly rebuilt Mercury inline 6; however, will be running just fine in '53 as long as I don't forget the oil again.

 

[Island864]

Re: Merc vs. 'JohnnyRude' OR Ford vs. Chevy

Hear - hear. I grew up running Johnsons from the 1950s and never had any trouble. They had little knobs on the front to adjust fuel to air mixture. Simple and worked great. Now I have a 2002 Optimax. Runs great if I could just get the darn computer to leave me alone.

 

[BillP]

Re: Merc vs. 'JohnnyRude' OR Ford vs. Chevy

Old mercs didn't hold up in saltwater as well as old OMCs...it wasn't even close. Old OMCs out numbered old mercs on commercial boats by about 1000:1. What does that tell you? Nuff said.

 

[Coolmaker]

Re: Merc vs. 'JohnnyRude' OR Ford vs. Chevy

I live on the coast of South Carolina, and 95% of the commercial fishermen (crabbers) use Mercury, because they got tired of replacing powerheads on the OMC's, and fighing corrosion on the Jap motors!!!!!!!! <br />The Wildlife dept. all use Mercury, for the same reason!!!!!!

 

[BillP]

Re: Merc vs. 'JohnnyRude' OR Ford vs. Chevy

Originally posted by CoolMaker:<br /> I live on the coast of South Carolina, and 95% of the commercial fishermen (crabbers) use Mercury, because they got tired of replacing powerheads on the OMC's, and fighing corrosion on the Jap motors!!!!!!!! <br />The Wildlife dept. all use Mercury, for the same reason!!!!!!

Really? I'm not sure how many commercial guys you have actually talked to about OMC heads blowing and corroding before Mercs. You would be lucky to find an experienced crabber, marine patrol or SeaTow operator anywhere around Florida or Bahamas to agree. <br /><br />One minor detail on why mercs are NOW seen on commercial rigs...They started using mercs AFTER OMC went bankrupt and their commercial motors were no longer available. During that time there wasn't a merc made that would outlive an OMC commercial version...in reliability or corrosion resistance. Merc was just lucky the commercial line was discontinued by the Bomb.

 

[Pony]

Re: Merc vs. 'JohnnyRude' OR Ford vs. Chevy

To me I like a johhnyrude, but thats all i have ever run....so that might be a bit bias. when it comes to styling I have always enjoyed the look of the 70's OMC products. The tower of power look never really did it for me. but like it has been said any motor that is properly cared for can be a great one

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: Merc vs. 'JohnnyRude' OR Ford vs. Chevy

Briggs and Stratton Baby!

 

[b.gagnon]

Re: Merc vs. 'JohnnyRude' OR Ford vs. Chevy

I have never owned a foreign outboard so I can’t comment on them, but I have owned many merc and J/E’s salt water only. (pre 90’s)<br /><br />Mercury…..I don’t care what anyone says, for me they had much less corrosion and way more B@$$s than any J/E I have ever owned. Very reliable if maintained properly. But a total pain to work on!<br /><br />J/E …….Good, reliable, and simple to work on.<br /><br />Pre 1990 You can’t go wrong with either

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Merc vs. 'JohnnyRude' OR Ford vs. Chevy

Personally I like Ford. Particularly the GT.