Most reliable 50-60 horse 4-stroke EFI motor?

brettm · Dec 10, 2004

I'm in the market for the above detailed motor (Mercury, Honda, Yamaha) and am looking for input from those of you with experience with this type of boat motor. thanks for your input.

JB · Dec 10, 2004

Re: Most reliable 50-60 horse 4-stroke EFI motor?

You are not going to find many EFI engines in that range, Brett, but any you do find will be reliable. There isn't any junk for sale these days. Moving to Outboard Non-repair.

C-RAVEN · Dec 10, 2004

Re: Most reliable 50-60 horse 4-stroke EFI motor?

my understanding is that the honda and yamaha motors are carbureted and the merc and suzuki are efi. i do not have experience with the latter, but i know lots of people who are happy with the japanaese motors. they are quiet ,smoke free and fuel efficient. the question is, where is the best and closest dealer to you ?

radar750 · Dec 11, 2004

Re: Most reliable 50-60 horse 4-stroke EFI motor?

Bret--- I have a 2002 Merc 60hp efi 4 strk. It has been a great motor, I have not had any problems of any kind. I got the Merc because the dealer is 5 min away and more dealers within 30 min. I waited for the boat show special around March to get the 5 year warranty. At the time the only other efi 4 strokes in the 50-70hp range were Suzuki. And at that time there were some issues with there parts availabilty. JB is right on about the new ones all being good these days so go with a good dealer near you that will treat you good.

rodbolt · Dec 11, 2004

Re: Most reliable 50-60 horse 4-stroke EFI motor?

hello they are all reliable. I rely on them to break and pay my bills every month. course usually the customer is much more reliable to neglect it than the motor is to break

_.

bossee · Dec 11, 2004

Re: Most reliable 50-60 horse 4-stroke EFI motor?

Mercury 50 or 60 EFI. Yamaha F50 or F60 EFI (EFI is new for 2005 on these). Suzuki/Johnson 50 hp 4-stroke is EFI, the 60 hp is EFI also but heavier. If You want a 60 hp 4-stroke EFI I suggest the Mercury or Yamaha since they are lighter then Suzuki/Johnson 60 hp 4-stroke EFI. Use a Yamaha EFI 4-stroke myself (F115). /Bo

phatmanmike · Dec 11, 2004

Re: Most reliable 50-60 horse 4-stroke EFI motor?

if you want the suzuki technology but are worried about parts availability, get a johnson 4stroke. you can get them serviced at the evinrude/johnson dealers, but are actually made by suzuki... ...which by the way seem to have taken lead of the pack on 4stroke efi outboards, of ANY sizehp!!!

walleyehed · Dec 11, 2004

Re: Most reliable 50-60 horse 4-stroke EFI motor?

I also believe the Merc 4-stroke (except the Verado)is a Yamaha powerhead.

brettm · Dec 12, 2004

Re: Most reliable 50-60 horse 4-stroke EFI motor?

Originally posted by Bo: Mercury 50 or 60 EFI. Yamaha F50 or F60 EFI (EFI is new for 2005 on these). Suzuki/Johnson 50 hp 4-stroke is EFI, the 60 hp is EFI also but heavier. If You want a 60 hp 4-stroke EFI I suggest the Mercury or Yamaha since they are lighter then Suzuki/Johnson 60 hp 4-stroke EFI. Use a Yamaha EFI 4-stroke myself (F115). /Bo

brettm · Dec 12, 2004

Re: Most reliable 50-60 horse 4-stroke EFI motor?

Thanks to all for the info, I do appreciate it. Bo, can you ballpark your gallons per hour useage with your Yamaha EFI 4-stroke 115hp. Does it suck the gas? I've actually been looking at that very same motor this weekend but no one would speak to fuel useage...is that a bad sign?

bossee · Dec 13, 2004

Re: Most reliable 50-60 horse 4-stroke EFI motor?

Hi, I can give You fuel consumtion in liter/hour and liter/nautical mile. I have it at home. I will post it here as soon as I come home. The Yamaha F115 is EFI 4-stroke it is very fuel efficent, as other EFI 4-strokes. I can tell You that Yamaha F115 and Suzuki DF 115/Johnson 115 4-stroke is very similar in fuel consumtion. My best guess is that Mercury 115 EFI 4-stroke is also very similar to these mentioned outboards regarding fuel consumtion. Yamaha F115 came out on the market in 1999. I have a 2003 model. Pictures of my boat and outboard As far as I know it has not been modified until 2004 season when it became CARB 3-star rated (was 2-star rated before). Note sure the actual fuel consumption became lower because it was 3-star rated 2004 but the emission levels was since there is quite a difference between 2- and 3-star rating: 2-star - Engines meeting these standards have 20% lower emissions than One Star Low-Emission engines. 3-star - Engines meeting these standards have 65% lower emissions than One Star Low-Emission engines.

BillP · Dec 13, 2004

Re: Most reliable 50-60 horse 4-stroke EFI motor?

brettm, I've been out lately on a friends new 25'CC (Bluewater) with twin 150hp 4 stroke Yamahas with the Yamaha fuel management system. Best fuel burn on this rig is 2.3 mpg at 3800 rpms and 40 mph in flatwater. The motors have less than 50 hrs so it may get better. In contrast, the previous boat was a 24'CC (Pursuit)with twin 130hp carbed Yamaha 2 strokes. It didn't have fuel management but normally burned 85-90 gals for a day of fishing offshore. We logged approx 750 hrs on it so know the consumption is accurate. The new 150 4 strokes burned 58 gals to do the same trip...but we only have one trip and the mgt system to go by.

tee-boy · Dec 13, 2004

Re: Most reliable 50-60 horse 4-stroke EFI motor?

I agree with these guys. Put more time into researching your dealer than researching the manufacturer. Fuel consumption differences on a recreational 60hp o/b are insignificant in terms of savings per year. Just make sure you have a tank that holds more gasonline then you think you will ever burn on a trip.

bossee · Dec 13, 2004

Re: Most reliable 50-60 horse 4-stroke EFI motor?

Hi, Here is the fuel consumtion: Example 1: Boat: RIB 700 Unlimited (500 kg). Load: 2 persons (180 kg). Yamaha F115 2002. Prop: Yamaha steel 3 blade 23 inch. Max RMP in test 6000 rpm. Knots: At max RPM: 48,7 kt Minus 500 RMP: 44,7 kt Minus 1000 RPM: 39,8 kt Minus 1500 RPM: 34,5 kt Minus 2000 RPM: 30,3 kt Liter/hour: At max RPM: 39,7 l/h Minus 500 RMP: 31,0 l/h Minus 1000 RPM: 26,5 l/h Minus 1500 RPM: 21,8 l/h Minus 2000 RPM: 16,5 l/h Liter/nautical mile: At max RPM: 0,82 l/nm Minus 500 RMP: 0,69 l/nm Minus 1000 RPM: 0,67 l/nm Minus 1500 RPM: 0,63 l/nm Minus 2000 RPM: 0,54 l/nm Example 2: My boat, Yamarin 5820 (5,70 x 2,20 meter, 720 kg empty weight, with outboard and gas about 1050 kg). Plus 2 persons onboard. Yamaha F115 (2002 in test, I have a 2003). Prop: Yamaha 13x19 steel, 3 blade. Knots: At 5900 RPM: 39 kt At 5400 RPM: 35 kt At 4900 RPM: 31,4 kt A 4400 RPM: 27,4 kt Liter/hour: At 5900 RPM: 38,6 l/h At 5400 RPM: 28,8 l/h At 4900 RPM: 23,8 l/h At 4400 RPM: 18,5 l/h Liter/nautical mile: At 5900 RPM: 0,99 l/nm At 5400 RPM: 0,82 l/nm At 4900 RPM: 0,76 l/nm At 4400 RPM: 0,68 l/nm I have a fuel managment guage in my boat, a Navman Fuel 4100, that is connected to my GPS so I get fuel economy. I get about same liter/hour at cruise (around 4500 RPM) as above. I also get nautical mile/liter (not liter/nautcal mile) so the higher value You get the longer distance You travel per liter of fuel (fuel economy). It is around 1.4 nm/liter at cruise RPM (4500-5000 RPM). My advice: any 115 hp 4-stroke EFI is very fuel efficient. So do not worry to much about that part. No new 4-stroke EFI in this seize will be cheap and they are still rather expensive on the second hand market since they have been on the market not so many years. But make sure it has been serviced if second hand and documented in servicemanual. There is one difference between Yamaha F115 and Suzuki DF115/Johnson 115 4-stroke that might be of interest and that is the timing belt, rubber for Yamaha F115 and metal chain in Suzuki DF115/Johnson 115 4-stroke. Perhaps the Suzuki/Johnson chain is a little more reliable but if the Yamaha timing belt is changed at recommended service intervalls (every 1000 hour or 5 year whichever comes first) I see no reason not choose a Yamaha F115.

brettm · Dec 13, 2004

Re: Most reliable 50-60 horse 4-stroke EFI motor?

Originally posted by Bo: Hi, Here is the fuel consumtion: Example 1: Boat: RIB 700 Unlimited (500 kg). Load: 2 persons (180 kg). Yamaha F115 2002. Prop: Yamaha steel 3 blade 23 inch. Max RMP in test 6000 rpm. Knots: At max RPM: 48,7 kt Minus 500 RMP: 44,7 kt Minus 1000 RPM: 39,8 kt Minus 1500 RPM: 34,5 kt Minus 2000 RPM: 30,3 kt Liter/hour: At max RPM: 39,7 l/h Minus 500 RMP: 31,0 l/h Minus 1000 RPM: 26,5 l/h Minus 1500 RPM: 21,8 l/h Minus 2000 RPM: 16,5 l/h Liter/nautical mile: At max RPM: 0,82 l/nm Minus 500 RMP: 0,69 l/nm Minus 1000 RPM: 0,67 l/nm Minus 1500 RPM: 0,63 l/nm Minus 2000 RPM: 0,54 l/nm Example 2: My boat, Yamarin 5820 (5,70 x 2,20 meter, 720 kg empty weight, with outboard and gas about 1050 kg). Plus 2 persons onboard. Yamaha F115 (2002 in test, I have a 2003). Prop: Yamaha 13x19 steel, 3 blade. Knots: At 5900 RPM: 39 kt At 5400 RPM: 35 kt At 4900 RPM: 31,4 kt A 4400 RPM: 27,4 kt Liter/hour: At 5900 RPM: 38,6 l/h At 5400 RPM: 28,8 l/h At 4900 RPM: 23,8 l/h At 4400 RPM: 18,5 l/h Liter/nautical mile: At 5900 RPM: 0,99 l/nm At 5400 RPM: 0,82 l/nm At 4900 RPM: 0,76 l/nm At 4400 RPM: 0,68 l/nm I have a fuel managment guage in my boat, a Navman Fuel 4100, that is connected to my GPS so I get fuel economy. I get about same liter/hour at cruise (around 4500 RPM) as above. I also get nautical mile/liter (not liter/nautcal mile) so the higher value You get the longer distance You travel per liter of fuel (fuel economy). It is around 1.4 nm/liter at cruise RPM (4500-5000 RPM). My advice: any 115 hp 4-stroke EFI is very fuel efficient. So do not worry to much about that part. No new 4-stroke EFI in this seize will be cheap and they are still rather expensive on the second hand market since they have been on the market not so many years. But make sure it has been serviced if second hand and documented in servicemanual. There is one difference between Yamaha F115 and Suzuki DF115/Johnson 115 4-stroke that might be of interest and that is the timing belt, rubber for Yamaha F115 and metal chain in Suzuki DF115/Johnson 115 4-stroke. Perhaps the Suzuki/Johnson chain is a little more reliable but if the Yamaha timing belt is changed at recommended service intervalls (every 1000 hour or 5 year whichever comes first) I see no reason not choose a Yamaha F115.

brettm · Dec 13, 2004

Re: Most reliable 50-60 horse 4-stroke EFI motor?

Bo, Thank you very much for the reply. I appreciate the detailed information and the effort. Your boat looks great and I'm sure you've got plenty of scenic waterways to choose from in Sweden. Merry Christmas to all and I appreciate everybodys input.

Most reliable 50-60 horse 4-stroke EFI motor?

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