Have to replace my current 20 hp dinghy motor. Looking for opinions on what brand/type to buy. Not wedded to any specific size. All advice appreciated.
Opinions on “best” outboard motor brand
- Thread starter Don S/V ILLusion
- Start date
Definitely pick up a pair of twin 600 HP mercs - it's almost as good as Scotty beaming you to shore...
How about a little more context - no brand/type/size is pretty vague...
dj
I was very happy with my 4 stroke 9.9 hp Mercury on my H25.5 1984. It advertised that it starts on the first pull and it did. It was electric start and had an alternator to charge a battery.
I do not believe there is a significant difference between the brands.
Shop the local dealers who will service the motor.
Many of the "Mom and Pop" single storefront dealers are being pushed out and being replaced by corporate dealers. If that is the case where you are shop price.
Shop the local dealers who will service the motor.
Many of the "Mom and Pop" single storefront dealers are being pushed out and being replaced by corporate dealers. If that is the case where you are shop price.
@garymalmgren is that your British Seagull or just a random image? I was actually just looking at possibly getting one for my dinghy... But they are heavier than I remembered...
dj
Yep, DJ
the dreaded Seagull.
They are certainly not heavy, just as they are certainly not RELIABLE.
There are some Youtubes on the (many) upgrades that can make them easier to live with .
But as one who has owned one. Buyer BEWARE!!!
I guess the best word to describe a Seagull is Funky.
Gary
the dreaded Seagull.
They are certainly not heavy, just as they are certainly not RELIABLE.
There are some Youtubes on the (many) upgrades that can make them easier to live with .
But as one who has owned one. Buyer BEWARE!!!
I guess the best word to describe a Seagull is Funky.
Gary
I know them well. I used one for years many years ago. Reliability increases with the technical ability to fix it on the spot. I think they only have something like two moving parts, or something like that. Funky could be a word. Finicky could be another. Downright frustrating also come to mind although the one I had was one of the better ones... I wasn't always working on getting it to run... They also leaked gasoline as I recall, if they weren't perfectly upright...
So - not yours, just a random image?
dj
Not mine Dj.
Mine died in Singapore where I bought a 4 HP Japanese engine that lasted 35 years with no maintenance at all.
Leak gas. Yep almost every time you moved the thing.
It was the fouling plugs ( a unique type if I remember) and the exposure of the plug cap to the weather.
Nothing as basic as an engine cover for Seagull!!
Oh and no neutral. That was fun.
gary
Mine died in Singapore where I bought a 4 HP Japanese engine that lasted 35 years with no maintenance at all.
Leak gas. Yep almost every time you moved the thing.
It was the fouling plugs ( a unique type if I remember) and the exposure of the plug cap to the weather.
Nothing as basic as an engine cover for Seagull!!
Oh and no neutral. That was fun.
gary
I just ordered one of these:
www.epropulsion.com
I'm afraid it won't push the Don's dinghy. I'm replacing a 2.5 HP Lehr propane outboard, which will be for sale this spring. That won't move the Don's dinghy either, so I've got nothing for you. Mine is an 8' Portabote. The Elite should actually do fine for that. I do know that Honda makes a pretty reliable outboard, though.
eLite Electric Outboard Motor
eLite Electric Outboard Motors 500 W NEW Ideal for kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, dinghies and inflatables. eLiteElectric Outboard Motor 500 W NEW Ideal for kayaks,
www.epropulsion.com
I'm afraid it won't push the Don's dinghy. I'm replacing a 2.5 HP Lehr propane outboard, which will be for sale this spring. That won't move the Don's dinghy either, so I've got nothing for you. Mine is an 8' Portabote. The Elite should actually do fine for that. I do know that Honda makes a pretty reliable outboard, though.
The Suzuki 20 with fuel injection is a very nice engine. I like Tohatsu as well. My experience with Honda has not been good but others love them.
I like Yamaha but there isn't much difference between them, Suzuki, Tohatsu and Honda in that size range. I've heard that Tohatsu makes the Mercurys up to 25hp, so they are identical engines. They sure do look the same except for the cowlings.
I had to contend with one of those on my dad's Dragon for several years. I may be a bit of a masochist, but I kind of enjoyed the challenge of trying to keep it running. Sometimes I won, sometimes the Seagull did. Fortunately it isn't hard to paddle a Dragon.
Tohatsu, as mentioned by DArcy is a good brand to checkout. They actually make the lower HP Mercury outboards. I have a 3.5 HP which I am very happy with. Not the same as 20 HP but says something about the brand. If you are looking at 20 HP you might not be concerned with weight but something I learned looking at the 3.5 HP is manufactures use the same frame for HP ranges. For example a 4 HP might be the same frame and weight as a 6 HP.
Yes, Tahutsu makes Mercury, Evinrude, and Nissan. But they are not quite identical. Each makers has tiny differences, in addition to the badge. But I would not say they had any effect on basic reliability, having owned each of them.
Keep the gas DRY and use a proven anti-corrosion additive like Biobor EB, Merc Quick-Stor, or Stabil 360 marine (the blue stuff, not the red stuff which is actually quite different). Most of the others are snake oil (I've done a LOT of lab and field testing).
Big brands and fuel injected. after that..
I would go with popular. By that I mean, parts and service available in your cruising area.
Especially if you don't work on motors yourself.
I would go with popular. By that I mean, parts and service available in your cruising area.
Especially if you don't work on motors yourself.
Yep. They can be a bit different.
Replaced our 2001 20" Merc 9.9 with a 25" Merc 15 with power tilt a few years back. Tohatsu did not offer a similar spec. Honda did but it was more expensive.
Both our kickers have been 100% reliable (thus far). Stick an hour meter on it and do the year end service - should be fine for a long time.
Fuel injected is the only criteria. After that, your choices in 20hp are Yamaha, Suzuki, Tohatsu, and Mercury. Honda has resisted EFI for some reason.
Like mentioned, Tohatsu makes the Mercury OB for them. While they are almost identical in every way, the Mercury lists as 5lbs heavier than the Tohatsu. This may be for marketing reasons, as Tohatsu claims to be the lightest 20hp in its class.
Yamaha decided to make their small engine lines with the 20, and 25hp sharing the same base engine. Suzuki makes theirs as 9.9, 15, and 20hp sharing the same base engine, while Tohatsu/Mercury make theirs with the 15, and 20hp sharing the same base engine. So for any 20hp choice, the Yamaha will be 30lbs heavier than the Suzuki and Tohatsu/Mercury. If you step up to a 25hp, then Yamaha becomes the lighter engine, and if you step down to a 9.9hp, Suzuki will be the heaviest engine.
Between Suzuki and Tohatsu and Mercury, the Tohatsu is 2lbs lighter, than the Suzuki, and the Suzuki is 3lbs lighter than the Mercury, but this is not enough to matter on an engine this size.
The Suzuki has slightly better fuel consumption than the Tohatsu/Mercury, and the Yamaha has considerably worse than the others. Because it is based on a larger engine and uses a larger propeller, the Yamaha will have a better hole-shot.
Pricing is generally Suzuki<Tohatsu<Mercury<Yamaha, but this is only a range of ~$100-200. Maybe a bit more for the Yamaha.
Mark
Like mentioned, Tohatsu makes the Mercury OB for them. While they are almost identical in every way, the Mercury lists as 5lbs heavier than the Tohatsu. This may be for marketing reasons, as Tohatsu claims to be the lightest 20hp in its class.
Yamaha decided to make their small engine lines with the 20, and 25hp sharing the same base engine. Suzuki makes theirs as 9.9, 15, and 20hp sharing the same base engine, while Tohatsu/Mercury make theirs with the 15, and 20hp sharing the same base engine. So for any 20hp choice, the Yamaha will be 30lbs heavier than the Suzuki and Tohatsu/Mercury. If you step up to a 25hp, then Yamaha becomes the lighter engine, and if you step down to a 9.9hp, Suzuki will be the heaviest engine.
Between Suzuki and Tohatsu and Mercury, the Tohatsu is 2lbs lighter, than the Suzuki, and the Suzuki is 3lbs lighter than the Mercury, but this is not enough to matter on an engine this size.
The Suzuki has slightly better fuel consumption than the Tohatsu/Mercury, and the Yamaha has considerably worse than the others. Because it is based on a larger engine and uses a larger propeller, the Yamaha will have a better hole-shot.
Pricing is generally Suzuki<Tohatsu<Mercury<Yamaha, but this is only a range of ~$100-200. Maybe a bit more for the Yamaha.
Mark
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Evinrude and Nissan haven't made/sold outboards for several years now.
Ironically, the EFI engines are much less sensitive to fuel than carbureted ones. No need for additives, special order fuel, or any other worries. We routinely get gas in places where it gets syphoned out of dirty old barrels, keep tanks laying around for a year or more and still use the fuel, and store the engine full of fuel - where it starts up immediately after a long layup.
Mark
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