Which brand?

[Will-C]

Jazzmaniac,
I thought you had a rough weekend a while back and had to get towed in? StarCraft Tom came to your aid as I remember Blown fuse or something on your engines ignition? Maybe it was someone else.
D.D.

[Jazzmanic]

[Sea Wolf]

Does Toyota make outboards under another name (like Yamaha)?

The Ford/Chevy/Dodge debate goes somewhat differently when you include Nissan and, particularly, Toyota.

Toyota Truck owners are far and away more loyal and brand conscious than Nissan, Suzuki, Subaru, Jeep, Ford, Chevy, Dodge, etc. Their claim: 300k-400k mile Toyota Trucks (!)

Are any of the Toyota engines running around in outboard engine cowls?

We know that most of the Hondas, Suzukis, etc. are automobile motors stood on end and converted to marine use.

Is the Yamaha a Toyota in disguise?

Joe.

[Larry H]

Joe,

Yamahas are not based on car engines. They are designed and built as outboards, by Yamaha.

[Will-C]

Joe,
I have not had any issues with floor mats or my outboards throttle sticking wide open. So I'm guessing Toyota does not build Yamaha outboards or pianos.
D.D.

[Sea Wolf]

Hey Larry, Dave:

Thanks for the answers and humor!

Believe it or not, I was reflecting on this question about a half hour after writing it, and seem to remember asking it, or something like it before (!) De Ja' Vu !!!

Our Journey Around the Great Circle of Boating Questions Continues!

Joe.

[T.R. Bauer]

[hardee]

Give someone a good product and 1 out of 10 will talk about it.
Give someone a bad product and 9 out of 10 will talk about it.



What ever is back there, if there are 2, there is half the chance of getting stranded.

Harvey
SleepyC

[Will-C]

Jazzmaniac,
You mentioned Suzuki's mechanical challenges, not pick on Suzuki but some might be interested in what these challeges were. I agree the the new 4 stroke outboards all seem to be pretty well built. Now days I say the little things make the difference. For one changing my oil on our 150 Yamaha is a mess unless you use one of those oil extractors. But the oil filter change is easy.
D.D.

[Jazzmanic]

Will-C,

Honestly, I don't know of any mechanical challenges with Suzuki. My point was that all engines at one time or another may have a mechanical challenge because they are machines and not built to last forever and that Suzuki is no different than any other brand in that respect.

[Matt Gurnsey]

[mjsiega]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Tohatsu. I've had their smaller 4 stroke engines and think they are better than Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, all of which I have had or used extensively, and hear nothing but excellent comments on their larger low pressure direct injection two strokes. Relatively clean burning, light weight, and less expensive than the more complicated fuel injected four strokes. For long term durability I would stay away from fuel injected four strokes.

[SPrice]

You all are amazing! Thank you all so much for all your great comments and knowledge.

Summary of all comments:
So it looks like today’s outboards are more reliable than yesterdays. It depends on your relationship with your local mechanic if you stay close to your home area on your boat. If you cruise - then dealer network is more important and you should carry extra parts anyway.

Yamaha seems to have great dealer support in the NW to Alaska. Honda not so much but they too have reliable engines.

We should get all the manufacturers to unleash their propriety lock on parts, tools and diagnostic equipment! Then a good mechanic can work on any of them!! Dealers would make more money too!!

Just like my autos!! I have 2 mechanics. 1 for my gas engine autos and 1 for my diesel engines. All different manufacturers. If they break down anywhere I don’t have to go to the manufacture to get them fixed.

Another note.., I have been looking at many different brands of closed cabin boats. This C-Brats forum and group is an excellent source of information and comradeship! It makes buying a C-Dory easier!

So.., this is what she is and the 2 options I have come to;

The boat has 850 hours on her 2004 Honda 4 stroke BF150 with hydraulic steering and a Yamaha kicker. Trade in value is good for the Honda 150 says the dealer. I can keep her as is and feel good about the Honda’s reliability, power, etc., or.., I can re-power her. I would get a single Yamaha 150 (negotiating power should be good with the economy and that 2011’s are still available) for lower fuel cost and less maintenance cost than twin engines (even though twins look really cool!). I would also have to get all new Yamaha controls. If I go on a long cruise the Yamaha network is great and I’ll get a 2nd Yamaha kicker for safety and redundancy. My initial thoughts would be to keep her as is with the Honda main power and get a 2nd Yamaha kicker when we cruise into SE Alaska. Hmmm..,

Like my father always told me..,
"A wise man learns from experience..,
But a wiser man learns from experience of others!"
Thank s again for all your help. Happy New Year and safe boating to all.

Thank s again for all the help. Happy New Year and safe boating to all.

[hardee]

SPrice said,

[Yellowstone]

Matt - "ugh" and "dark side" about Merc. outboards? Is it the black paint you don't like? Need to give you some good natured teasing on that one. Had a bunch of lower powered Mercs over the years. Very satisfactory when they were maintained regularly. Also have had Johnsons, Evinrudes, and many Hondas from 2hp up to the carb 90 HP. Liked them all.

My 115 Mercury is my first EFI. (Merc. claims they wrote the book on EFIs) I mentioned in an earlier post that the 115 had a Yamaha block , the last year (2006) Mercury outsourced that motor.. It has about 400 hours and has been with out exception utterly reliable.

Listening and talking to others about their experiences seems to reflect the general opinion that some models within a line are simply more or
less reliable than others. There are cars like that. Remember the Edsel?

There is a mechanic at Yellowstone Lake who has serviced all kinds of outboards, 2 and 4 cycle for a number of years for visiting boaters. He works in the off season with ATVs and snow mobiles, a steady diet of mechanical work
I confer with him during the summers and he shares his opinions based on his considerable experience. Following are some.

Xanterra, the concessionaire in the Park, has a number of outboards on a variety of boats. They have 10 rental Gregors 16' with 40 HP carb Hondas. They were used during the summer season and used hard by tourists who often know little about how to run an outboard. The Honda 40 is the most reliable motor he has every serviced. Virtually "bullet proof" according to him. A pair of twin Honda 225s used to push a big utility boat have had problems. His assessment is that the boat is too heavy and needs more horsepower in order to go on plane and stay there.
But Xanterra won't spring for an appropriate size motor. The problem repeats itself.

A new Grady White 22' was added to the fleet of guide boats this past summer. The older Gradys are inboards. The new one was designed for an outboard. A new Yamaha 150 was installed. It promptly blew up after several weeks of service. From that single experience would it be rational to conclude the Yamaha 150 was iffy? I don't think so. Nor do I think you do either.

This is Lund country here in Montana, Mercs and Yamahas seemed to be the motors of choice. It is a marketing function, IMO. Anyway, as you stated, we have our biases. I certainly do.

IMO, picking a reliable four cycle for a C-Dory in today's market is what I call a "happy problem."