WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

brianmerc · Feb 25, 2003

My friends and I had a debate the other night on which outboard engine was the best. So...Which outboard engine performs the best? What is the best overall outboard engine?

DJ · Feb 25, 2003

Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

There are almost 20,000 memebers of this board. I believe you'll get about that many differing opinions.

JasonJ · Feb 25, 2003

Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

Thats easy. Its the one that you maintain properly, and the one that gets you out and back every time with no worry. Thats being said, I'm a Merc fan, so Mercs are the best in my opinion....

SpinnerBait_Nut · Feb 25, 2003

Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

If you take care of them, about any of them are good. It is all on how you treat them. I am a Merc/Mariner person myself. I like both. I have also had Johnny/rudes that were good also. I just like my Mariner. "Nothing can be finer than your inliner"

dmessy · Feb 25, 2003

Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

If Sears don't make it, you don't need it

Reel Appeal · Feb 25, 2003

Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

Hmmm,thats kind of a loaded question.My picks would be Johnson first with Mercury a close second.Both are high quality motors.Alot depends on application and maintenance.Mercury leans towards higher performance,where Johnson is ruggedly built for dependability. The BEST outboard is a good pair of oars!

papasage · Feb 25, 2003

Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

loaded gun

.i have onley owned johnson&evinrude untill reasentley. havent got the merc .fixed yet .iknow the merc. useto be rated different than omc and some other brands . i understand that they are rated the same now. i have 6 motors merc. omc & chrysler. ilike them all they are paidfor. they will git me out on the lake . well my merc will as soon as i git a piston .

RJS · Feb 25, 2003

Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

I think most outboards today are pretty good. I don't think it's right to say one brand is better than another. Outboard manufacturers produce an engine line-up that spans from portable to large 6 cylinders. Each manufacture has strengths and weaknesses in their line-up. It all boils down to wants, needs, and the particular application. No manufacturer makes the best engine for all applications

Jack Shellac · Feb 25, 2003

Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

For saltwater use: In older motors, OMC's because of their proven record for holding up. For a new motor, I'd have to go with Yamaha.

miloman · Feb 25, 2003

Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

hands down a new rude etec if your buying new it is the best motor design I have ever seen

RJS · Feb 25, 2003

Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

Milo, Were you able to test ride with the E-tech? Are these available? I would love to get a look at these first hand, they look and sound pretty cool.

rolmops · Feb 25, 2003

Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

I like the ones that not only get me out on the lake,but then even if the electronics break down have the possibility to wrap a rope around a flywheel and start her that way to get back. So my answer would be the omc engines of the seventies and eighties.

Forktail · Feb 25, 2003

Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

Most definitely one that gets you out and back over and over again. So that would be a Yamaha.

flatsman · Feb 25, 2003

Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

Buy American Made products ----- Rice burners are late comers to the game ----- anyway we need to keep jobs at home. American Manufacturers can beat the competition . Plus parts avalibilty is much better. note; I personally find the fact that american manufacturers that are putting their logo on engines made out of the country sicking . MY Thoughts exactly ---Amen

S.T. Marine · Feb 25, 2003

Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

New evinrude Fuel injected motors are great. Have almost the same emmisionsas honda 4 strokes. they are 3 star motors now.

45_red · Feb 25, 2003

Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

Best would be the brand carried by a local dealer you know and trust.

NOSLEEP · Feb 25, 2003

Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

I like the new Evinrude / Bombardier with direct injection. fastest, cleanest and lightest. More Gooder.

roscoe · Feb 25, 2003

Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

I don't know which is best, but if I find a bright yellow one with green striping, I'm gonna buy it.

Skinnywater · Feb 25, 2003

Re: WHAT IS THE BEST OUTBOARD ENGINE TO BUY??

Ditto with what 45-red said. Just happend to spend my American dollars at an American boat dealer that was owned by an American that employs Americans that carried a Japanese name (Honda) that has a corporate office in America that bought American aluminum and steel to manufacture it and paid a share of American taxes and dutys to bring it here. Next year an American company may paint it bright yellow with green striping and put an American name on it.