Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

[DECK SWABBER 58]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

I think what needs to be addressed now is, which is the best oil to use in a Mercury v/s a Evinrude. :facepalm:

 

[jmw129]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

I think what needs to be addressed now is, which is the best oil to use in a Mercury v/s a Evinrude. :facepalm:

Had regular maintance done on my 1988 Evinrude 120 V4. I asked him about the type of oil he recommends and said that he personally liked the regular QuickSilver for 2-strokes unless the manufacturer called for a synthetic oil.

He also said that Evinrude engine's are very reliable, typically don't require much maintance / work from his experience and had nothing but good to say about Evinrude.

He even went on to say that Mercury parts were in fact hard to find compared to plently of parts available for Evinrude BUT he said BRP is starting to become very expensive lately.

 

[mjhach]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

Have to say Optimax is a sweet choice, but like one of the responders said, are you loyal to Dodge, Ford, GM or foreign. It all depends.

 

[pecheux]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

The very best outboards ever made were the 3 to 4.5HP twins made by OMC from the 50s to the 80s. I guess that means Evinrude, but

There are and have been so many models of both brands that your question is sort of like asking if blondes are better looking than redheads.

I do think that the ETEC series are the best outboards currently available, but that is a technology evaluation, it doesn't speak to reliability, user friendliness, etc.

Anyway, it is just an old guy's opinion.

On the other hand, I know for a stone hard fact that Ford makes better trucks than Chebby.

I agree with you 90% I owned the 4 hp 1969 model with the angled prop shaft and I loved it. The following year needing a little extra power I traded for a 6 hp Fisherman and tought it was quite a jewel ... and still is. Today my 9.9 Johnson 1981, never been touched by a tool is the best as far as I am concerned. LOL
Have a great day.

PS: Owned a 4 hp Mercury that ran good, but heavy and difficult to carry by hand.

 

[nwcove]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

mercs look a whole lot better than "some omcs" with the cowl on.......but to actually see a merc with the cowl on......is as rare as a sasquatch sighting! lol

 

[fishmasterinvt]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

I've owned Evinrudes that ran real sweet, a 1957 Merc. Mark 25 that was the best engine I've owned, a Johnson 60 VRO that was a dud. Since the Johnson VRO fiasco, I've owned Mercs and been very happy. I love these questions because they are carryovers from bar discussions that usually end up with upset drunks. They're all good if they don't die on you.

 

[HollaGeo]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

Mercury's are more plentiful. I don't know if that means they are "better".

 

[crablegs]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

If there was one outboard that was better than the others then why wouldnt everyone use that one?

 

[nwcove]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

If there was one outboard that was better than the others then why wouldnt everyone use that one?

.......because they cant......its here in my basement! 57 johnson!

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

OK, since many of these opinions are purely subjective how about a comparison backed up by numbers.

Quiz time - Anyone know what brand of outboard holds the speed record for outboard powered boats?

 

[nwcove]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

dunno bout the speed record......but i would guess merc! maybe im wrong! but any manufactuer, can hop up an engine, to make two runs downs a one mile course for a radar run, but that means nothing for long term reliability and cost of general maintenance. modern engines....in my opinion, are all the same....ya get a good one, or ya get a bad one.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

......but i would guess merc! maybe im wrong!

Well, half right (in that you're wrong ). In 1989 Bob Wartinger drove a 3 point hydro to an average of 176.55 mph with a V8 OMC on the back. Hey, I realize there's nothing wrong with Mercs, but since (for no particular reason) I've only owned Johnsons I just gotta' rag on Merc guys whenever I can.

 

[nwcove]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

lol......guess i should've googled before i typed!!!! (i like to razz the merc guys too!)

 

[silveraire]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

IF you could keep them running for more than 10 min. at a time.

 

[nwcove]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

now theres a nice engine! (not sure why outboards are refered to as motors.....motors are electric). those race props are pieces of art!

 

[aerobat]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

i cannot comment anything about older carbed evinrudes but as a 2000 150hp ficht owner i would say they are avantages and disadvantages like in every engine.

in germany the spare parts situation and the help from trained mechanics on a ficht are catastrophic. in europe the 2 strokes seems to die, you hardly see a ficht ar an etec. suzuki, honda and yamaha dominate, mercury less but you see them more than evinrudes. it becomes worse because the ficht, even when it overall runs and seems to be machanically robust ( i have the upgraded "ram" ) , its not troublefree. i had issues with it, but was able to sort it out and most of them were done by improper maintanance of the previous owner. i can directly compare it to a suzuki 140 4 stroke and the evinrude is without a doubt louder and smells more, runs more rough at trolling speeds , even when the suzuki is a 4 cyl and the rude a V6. my evinrude seemed never to be happy at trolling, his nature seems to be to run hard. fuel consumption - well, i think it more or less similar to other engines in this hp class, not better, not worse.

the other side- when it comes to power, torque and hole shot, the ficht ram is incredible. it seems to have TONS more of power than a 140 suzuki , much more difference than you would expect from a 10 hp spread on similar boats. all that power and 6 cylinders is put in below 200 kgs and on a small package- when it comes to power and weight i think its one of the best on the whole markt. the etecs surely also.

its all subjective, there is not any outboard which has the very best from all aspects in one single package .

cheers !

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

It's kind of funny cause if you fish (and want to get home) it seems you need a Evinrude or Yamaha, but if you want to go fast somewhere far away and get back for sure you buy a Mercury!

 

[coolguy147]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

i cannot comment anything about older carbed evinrudes but as a 2000 150hp ficht owner i would say they are avantages and disadvantages like in every engine.

in germany the spare parts situation and the help from trained mechanics on a ficht are catastrophic. in europe the 2 strokes seems to die, you hardly see a ficht ar an etec. suzuki, honda and yamaha dominate, mercury less but you see them more than evinrudes. it becomes worse because the ficht, even when it overall runs and seems to be machanically robust ( i have the upgraded "ram" ) , its not troublefree. i had issues with it, but was able to sort it out and most of them were done by improper maintanance of the previous owner. i can directly compare it to a suzuki 140 4 stroke and the evinrude is without a doubt louder and smells more, runs more rough at trolling speeds , even when the suzuki is a 4 cyl and the rude a V6. my evinrude seemed never to be happy at trolling, his nature seems to be to run hard. fuel consumption - well, i think it more or less similar to other engines in this hp class, not better, not worse.

the other side- when it comes to power, torque and hole shot, the ficht ram is incredible. it seems to have TONS more of power than a 140 suzuki , much more difference than you would expect from a 10 hp spread on similar boats. all that power and 6 cylinders is put in below 200 kgs and on a small package- when it comes to power and weight i think its one of the best on the whole markt. the etecs surely also.

its all subjective, there is not any outboard which has the very best from all aspects in one single package .

cheers !

i would say it's just the nature of a looper

poor idling characteristics. but it still runs good? right?

 

[aerobat]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

currently it runs like a hell, have no problems ! the only thing like said is that you feel that the engine is not happy at rpm in the 1200-1600 rpm. tha ficht technology is VERY comlicated and something might get wrong, than its expensive for sure.

but like said- if you are a speed freak, like pulling skiers etc, a direct injected evinrude might be the first choice.

 

[nwcove]

Re: Mercury Make a Better Outoard Than Evinrude? If No Please Explain

It's kind of funny cause if you fish (and want to get home) it seems you need a Evinrude or Yamaha, but if you want to go fast somewhere far away and get back for sure you buy a Mercury!

c'mon now, gettin somewhere far away fast can be done by a merc, but the long wait for the coastguard to come and tow you back makes it even out.....kinda like you never got there at all!