[lochwarden]

So, I’m going to treat myself to a new motor for my 16ft displacement hulled boat. I’m looking at 9-10 hp 4 stroke on remotes with electric start. I guess with modern engines there’s very little difference in reliability etc, especially with the smaller hp models. Just wondered if anyone has any experiences of any of these smaller motors, to help me decide. Thanks.

 

[TimFB]

A mate has a 10hp Honda and it is superb. I’ve had a 6hp Yamaha for years on a 12 ft Ali dinghy and it’s never missed a beat. But as you say there is little between them...more important to have good after sales, so choose the dealer with the best rep near you and go for whatever brand they do...if it is Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki or Mercury you wont go wrong

 

[OdysseyAngling]

As above, they are all good these days, but a good local dealer who can maintain it under the warranty requirements woukd be the clincher for me

 

[Clinker]

The aforementioned Honda is very smooth and quiet, but the first thing I’d look at would be the Suzuki 9.9B (I think) the only outboard of this size with fuel injection which in my experience is a significant improvement over a carb - I know 15hp would give you 5hp which you’d probably never use, but the Mercury 15 is also fuel injected (so presumably is the Mariner and Tohatsu as they’re all the same, made by Tohatsu below 30hp) and no heavier than the Suzuki.

 

[SiDfish]

All the ghillies here use 10-15hp Yamaha 4 strokes on 19 or 20ft lough boats. They're out in all weathers. You might need more than a 10 with your displacement hull, heading across a strong tide. My old 15ft displacement bass boat used to struggle a bit with a 10hp 2 stroke.

 

[JonD]

My own personal findings from hondas Ive owned has been regular service parts are far more expensive than other manufacturers. Both my 90 and 20 hondas allowed water in the fuel to get into the injection system without setting any alarms, funny enough the only two engines I've ever had water problems with.

Every 4 stroke Suzuki Ive owned has been pretty reliable ( with the exception of my current 140 ). I'm a little disappointed by the corrosion around each Suzuki Ive had, where even the so called stainless steel fittings have rusted.

Ive had a few Mercury engines and must admit the current one on the zodiac my daughter just bought has some nasty corrosion and paint peeling on the lower leg at just 38hrs of use. In saying that the Mercury seems the strongest and best on fuel with each one Ive owned compared to equal and even higher hp engines. The 60 Mercury out performs the f 70 Yamaha's Ive owned.

To me Yamaha have been the best engines for all round reliability and corrosion resistance, they are the cheapest Ive found to maintain and hold their value in reselling.

After all of that I would buy any of the above, any outboard mechanic should be able to service all of them without any problem, you shouldn't have to take a Yamaha to a Yamaha dealer if you have a Suzuki dealer on your doorstep. The only engine that envolves more specialised work tends to be etec and they are out of the equation now.

 

[lochwarden]

My own personal findings from hondas Ive owned has been regular service parts are far more expensive than other manufacturers. Both my 90 and 20 hondas allowed water in the fuel to get into the injection system without setting any alarms, funny enough the only two engines I've ever had water problems with.

Every 4 stroke Suzuki Ive owned has been pretty reliable ( with the exception of my current 140 ). I'm a little disappointed by the corrosion around each Suzuki Ive had, where even the so called stainless steel fittings have rusted.

Ive had a few Mercury engines and must admit the current one on the zodiac my daughter just bought has some nasty corrosion and paint peeling on the lower leg at just 38hrs of use. In saying that the Mercury seems the strongest and best on fuel with each one Ive owned compared to equal and even higher hp engines. The 60 Mercury out performs the f 70 Yamaha's Ive owned.

To me Yamaha have been the best engines for all round reliability and corrosion resistance, they are the cheapest Ive found to maintain and hold their value in reselling.

After all of that I would buy any of the above, any outboard mechanic should be able to service all of them without any problem, you shouldn't have to take a Yamaha to a Yamaha dealer if you have a Suzuki dealer on your doorstep. The only engine that envolves more specialised work tends to be etec and they are out of the equation now.

I agree with you about the Yamaha. I’ve had an 8hp 2 stroke Yamaha on the boat for years and it just keeps on going and going. It’s old and noisy though, hence the need for a new 4 stroke. I’ll check out the new Yamaha engines.

 

[lochwarden]

The aforementioned Honda is very smooth and quiet, but the first thing I’d look at would be the Suzuki 9.9B (I think) the only outboard of this size with fuel injection which in my experience is a significant improvement over a carb - I know 15hp would give you 5hp which you’d probably never use, but the Mercury 15 is also fuel injected (so presumably is the Mariner and Tohatsu as they’re all the same, made by Tohatsu below 30hp) and no heavier than the Suzuki.

I do like the sound of the Suzuki, with it being fuel injected. A bit more expensive than the other brands of the same size though, but I suppose that’s to be expected with fuel injection as opposed to carburettor.

 

[BostonWhaler]

Traditionally Yamaha won’t put an engine out for sale until it is thoroughly sorted. Suzuki seem to rush to market, and then often have service recalls and updates, where as it is very rare for a Yamaha to require updates.
I worked at a Yamaha main dealer for many years, although we did also sell the odd Suzuki, however almost all Suzukis we sold had something go wrong. 2x F225, both had cylinder heads rot out. New F115 milky oil after an hour running. F40 incorrectly line bored crankcase, seized up on journal. F140 gearbox let got. Early F115 countless electrical issues and revised parts. We sold 50 times as many Yamaha’s and although some obviously had issues, it was nothing like the Suzuki’s.

 

[Clinker]

I do like the sound of the Suzuki, with it being fuel injected. A bit more expensive than the other brands of the same size though, but I suppose that’s to be expected with fuel injection as opposed to carburettor.

How does it compare with the price of the fuel injected 15 Mercury / Mariner / Tohatsu? As I said earlier it would give you a probably ‘wasted’ 5hp, but it’s the same weight as 9.9 Suzuki so no real penalty if the price is good - in my experience they are brands with more offers in the price - try Bill Higham Marine - I got a great deal on my engine and they were the only dealer who would take mine in part ex - excellent advice and service from them too - including arranging collection of my old engine.

 

[lochwarden]

How does it compare with the price of the fuel injected 15 Mercury / Mariner / Tohatsu? As I said earlier it would give you a probably ‘wasted’ 5hp, but it’s the same weight as 9.9 Suzuki so no real penalty if the price is good - in my experience they are brands with more offers in the price - try Bill Higham Marine - I got a great deal on my engine and they were the only dealer who would take mine in part ex - excellent advice and service from them too - including arranging collection of my old engine.

Thanks for the info. I do really only need the 9.9 hp, due to the kind of inboard position of the outboard, I’d struggle to fit a larger engine. My boat is a 16.5ft TS Marine Sea Nymph.

 

[SiDfish]

If you're going for a Yamaha, the 9.9 and 15 were always the same motor. Don't know if they've changed in the last few years?