90 hp Honda vs. 90 hp Yamaha

beachbob

New member
I've found a good deal on a new 22' Cruiser that can be either Honda or Yamaha powered. With the Yamaha, it's a couple of thousand dollars less expensive. I had a 2005 200 hp Yamaha on a dual console boat and it performed really well. Both 90hp engines are fuel injected and weigh within 10 pounds or so of each other. Are there good reasons, beyond looks, to pay extra for a Honda? Thank you.
 
I would say keep your $$. The one weakness we have seen with Honda's is that they seem slightly more prone to have electrolysis problems. Certainly the new injected Hondas are a better engine--and more HP than the older carb engines.

I believe that the Yahama 70 and 90 are on the same block--not sure about current Hondas.

Either engine will be excellent on the CD 22--and give you many ;years of service. We observed in the last few days in Canada Gulf Islands that Yahama is the predominant brand.
 
Certainly the Yamahas are a better engine than the Honda. That is the view of folks around here anyway. Even if the price was even or more for the Yami. C.W.
 
I'd vote Yamaha, but then again, I'm biased... I agree with Bob's statement, that's what I heard 5 yrs ago when I got mine, maybe it's a thing of the past now though. Either engine should serve you fine. Might look at where you plan to have the engine serviced, distance, quality of work, etc, as another determining factor.
 
MY advice would be yamaha better price and better resale at least in florida Although if you could get a suzuki I would go with that .The Yamaha 75 and 90 are all based on the 1.6 litre eng the 115 yamaha is based on the 1.7 litre .By the way the older merc have the same block as the yamaha so might be more parts available ? .Ive had 2 f115 yamaha 's still have one of them on a cc-23 the 90 suzuki is on the cd-22 Duck Good Luck on your Quest. its a great boat
 
I've got a 2005 Yamaha EFI 90, the first year the Yamaha 90 and 70 became fuel injected, and it's been flawless.

As of 2007 or so, the aging Honda design got a new block based on a new auto engine they developed. It has less slightly less displacement than the old Honda and the Yamaha, but with fuel injection and some high tech modifications is said to develop about 105-108 hp in the Honda 90 package.

The extra H.P. might be a factor in your choice if you're a real hot rodder, but then if you were really concerned with speed, you wouldn't be buying a C-Dory style boat anyway! The extra H.P. would only get you 3-4 mph, in my guesstimation, but t would also eat more gas, by the way.

I'd by the Yamaha, if it were me.

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
I have the 90 Yamaha on my 22 and it is a wonderful engine. I am sure the Honda is good as well although all my experinece has been with yamaha engines and over the years they have served me well.


regards
Ryder
 
Sea Lion Ray (Mr. Fisherman) hung a Suzuki 90 on his Angler and was very happy with it. He regularly ran far offshore for halibut. As I recall it had a gear ratio that allowed the use of a larger diameter prop resulting in less slippage(greater efficiency).
 
Yes I have the 90 Suzuki with a 14by 18 pitch prop what a great combo It moves the Duck at 4500rpm about 23-mph great cruising getting about 4-5 mpg top speed is about 32-33mph.The suzi does have a bigger gear set also from what the mechanics tell me the suzi is a lot cheaper for repairs (from a dealer that sells both) Ive been very happy with this motor I got the 6 yr warranty only used it once for a trim pickup same crappy set up as yamaha plastic (pos) I will be sorry to see this boat and eng go . JIm on duck
 
beachbob":2o50jkgi said:
I've found a good deal on a new 22' Cruiser that can be either Honda or Yamaha powered. With the Yamaha, it's a couple of thousand dollars less expensive. I had a 2005 200 hp Yamaha on a dual console boat and it performed really well. Both 90hp engines are fuel injected and weigh within 10 pounds or so of each other. Are there good reasons, beyond looks, to pay extra for a Honda? Thank you.

YAMAHA!!
 
If I can make myself go ahead and get the boat, I'm going to save a little money and go with the Yamaha. I spoke with a marine mechanic who told me that all of the major OB manufacturers make good reliable engines these days and it's really hard to make a mistake by going with any of them. Retirement and being older is a real two-edged sword when it comes to major purchases. On one hand, you're afraid to spend or borrow that much money. On the other hand, the term "some day" has taken on a whole new meaning and while none of us know how much time is left on the clock, it's got to be less than it is when you're forty! But if, as is apparently the case, C-dorys hold their value well, it takes some of the fear out the deal. Anyway, thank you.
 
Another reason to go Yamaha -- a mechanic at the place where I had bottom painting done commented to me on how much he liked the sound of Yamaha 150s.

Warren
 
From my observation here at Deep Creek, Alaska. The Yamaha used to be predominant but in the last several years Honda is gaining fast for the charter boasts with big engines.
One operator went from Yam. to Merc's on his 4 large boats.

My 1997 90 HP carburated Honda is a real jewel and I would buy it again but it would be injected this time.
 
ive heard that yamaha holds over 70% of the world market in outboard sales, my travels around central america made me believe it too, down there it seemed like 98% of all the motors were yamaha, hard to find anything else, and when you consider that so many people down there depend on their boat to make a living and harvest most of their food, it makes you think they must really trust the motors...my next motor will be a yamaha
 
History Test:

Anybody else remember Red Fox extolling the virtues of Yamaha against Honda back when he first got the Yammi 115 for his '85 Classic ?

How about yours truly knocking the antiquated design features of the still carburetored fuel fed Honda a few years back (2005) when Yamaha first came out with fuel injection in the 90 and 75? (Suzuki already had fuel injection a few years earlier.)

Then there was the famous motor choice poll with Honda winning hands down:

Outboard Choice-Redux

So now Honda comes along with a more powerful, fully modernized fuel injected engine, and what's the overwhelming recommendation?

Yamaha!

Go Figure!

Joe. :lol: :thup
 
...and what's the overwhelming recommendation?

Naw, the Honda guys don't have to speak up. Their motors' reputation says enough. There's a reason they cost more. I have Honda motors on my boat, my small lawnmower, my small rototiller, my generator, and my pressure washer. Quite frankly, I cannot understand why anyone would buy a small four stroke that wasn't a Honda. They work that good.

If I recall, one of the main plusses in RF's mind for the Yamaha was the timing chain rather than Honda's belt. I am from the other school and think that the belt is superior. I would much rather have a dry belt that I can easily check and replace than a metal chain zinging around metal sprockets - horizontally, no less - grinding itself away in my oil. But that's just me.

But as everyone says, you can't really go wrong with either choice, and I agree that service availability should be a big factor in the decision. But then, my Hondas have never needed service beyond the minor routine stuff I can do myself with parts bought online.
 
TyBoo":1vhim7qr said:
If I recall, one of the main plusses in RF's mind for the Yamaha was the timing chain rather than Honda's belt. I am from the other school and think that the belt is superior.

Yamaha is Belt. Suzuki is /was chain :wink: :mrgreen: :beer
 
beachbob":n7gz0ijr said:
If I can make myself go ahead and get the boat, I'm going to save a little money and go with the Yamaha. Retirement and being older is a real two-edged sword when it comes to major purchases. On one hand, you're afraid to spend or borrow that much money. On the other hand, the term "some day" has taken on a whole new meaning and while none of us know how much time is left on the clock, it's got to be less than it is when you're forty! But if, as is apparently the case, C-dorys hold their value well, it takes some of the fear out the deal. Anyway, thank you.

Blessings on thee, little man,
Barefoot boy, with cheek of tan!
With thy turned-up pantaloons,
And thy merry whistles tunes;
With thy red lip, redder still
Kissed by strawberries on the hill;
With the sunshine on thy face,
Through thy torn brim's jaunty grace:
From my heart I give thee joy—
I was once a barefoot boy!

O, for boyhood's painless play,
Sleep that wakes in laughing day,
Health that mocks the doctor's rules,
Knowledge never learned of schools,

O, for boyhood's time of June,
Crowding years in one brief moon,
When all things I heard or saw
Me, their master, waited for.
I was rich in flowers and trees,
Humming-birds and honey bees;
Mine the sand-rimmed pickerel pond,
Mine the walnut slopes beyond,
Mine, on bending orchard trees,
Apples of Hesperides!

Cheerily, then, my little man,
Live and laugh, as boyhood can!
Though the flinty slopes be hard,
Stubble-speared the new-mown sward,
Every more shall lead thee through
Fresh baptisms of the dew;
Every evening from thy feet
Shall the cool wind kiss the heat:
All too soon these feet must hide
In the prison cells of pride,
Lose the freedom of the sod,
Like a colt's for work be shod,
Ah! that thou couldst know thy joy,
Ere it passes, barefoot boy!

"The Barefoot Boy" by John Greenleaf Whittier. 1855. Public domain.

Just happened to come across this poem after reading your post. There is no downside to owning a C-Dory.
 
Preliminary survey results thus far:


Yamaha 10

Honda 1

Suzuki 1

Question was between choosing Honda and Yamaha 4-strokes.

Evinrude e-tech, Mercury, Nissan (Tohatsu), Force (Chrysler), Faegol, Scott-Atwater, McCollouch, Homelite, Eska, SeaGull, Johnson, Sea King, Ted Williams, West Bend, Briggs and Stratton, Clinton, Champion, and others I can't remember right now were not on the ballot this time.) Some of these names bring back some interesting memories!

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
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