Dinghy Outboard Motors: Mercury versus Johnson

[jviss]

I have two 15HP Mercury 2-stroke motors for my 9' RIB, the tender for our sailboat. I have been on the lookout for 15HP 2-strokes for a while, since they aren't made anymore. You can't beat the power to weight ratio of these. I'll make up my own metric, HP/hundred pounds. The Merc 2-strokes come in at about 21 (73 lb.) A new Merc 15HP 4-stroke is about 14 (107 lb.)

I see Johnson 15HP 2-strokes for sale. Are they any good? Serviceability? Parts availability?

Thanks,

jv

 

[capta]

I can only speak first hand about our 2007 Johnson 4 stroke 15hp. It has been an amazing engine. I expected no more than 2 years out of it and it's going on 11+ now of hard use and lots of neglect. The engine never gets a freshwater rinse, NEVER. We just bring it up on the davits with the Zodiac and that is it. I have sent emails to every outboard dealer on any lake I can find online who might get one in on trade in, and offered near new price for a pristine one since they aren't made any longer.
2 stroke outboards are still made, and sold, outside the US. If I were to buy a new 2 stroke, heaven forbid, it wouldn't be an Evinrude (Johnson is gone forever) or a Mercury, but a Yamaha, and only a Yamaha.

 

[FDL S2]

My personal experience:
In my garage right now I have a 1985 2stroke Merc that I used the crap out of on my rowboat and later an inflatable. I never had any problems with it. In there is also a 1975 2stroke Johnson 9.9 that was on my old sailboat and never had anything but problems with it. The age difference might have something to do with the reliability of them both, but I think it might have more to do with the fact that the Merc is run hard for long periods of time and put away wet every time it gets used and the Johnson was only used to get in and out of the harbor.
On my current sailboat I have a 1998 Yamaha 4stroke 9.9 that has never had any problems other than bad gas in 7 years.

 

[WayneH]

I've had a 2 stroke 1964 Johnson 6hp and I now have a 2001 Mercury 9.9hp. About the only difference between the two is the Mercury has a "softer" pull to start it. My dad was a JOHNSON man and is probably spinning in his grave because I bought a Merc.

Johnson and Evinrude are just different paint schemes. Parts are interchangeable. The parent company used to be OMC but I think Bombardier owns them now. It's hard to keep up with the players when you don't care.

You do know this thread will degrade into a "Cunniham vs Downhaul" argument?

 

[FastOlson]

I understand your point about design and motor weight, but have to say that one couple we know is really pleased with their propane-power OB. It's been a couple of seasons. Avoiding all the problems with modern gasoline is a huge plus. Other than that it seems to be much like any other 4-stroke OB.
The 2-stroke motors will always be a bit lighter, seems like...
Also, FWIW, I have seen a smaller RIB plane with a larger size electric OB. I imagine that range is still a concern, tho.

 

[jviss]

Avoiding all the problems with modern gasoline is a huge plus.

And discovering all the problems with modern propane distribution! Seriously, it's not all a bed of roses.

An electric that can plane a rib with two aboard is an $8,500 proposition, i.e, the Torqeedo Cruise 10.0 R.

I hear you, there are alternatives, but for ubiquity of fuel availability, power to weight, and cost, it's tough to beat a 2-stroke outboard.