Outboard motor fu? Anybody?

My b-i-l needs a new outboard motor. His preference as of now would be an Evinrude, 15-inch shaft, tiller steering, electric start. He can get that in 25 hp, but not 30 hp. No electric start on the 30 hp, just rope. Why?

Also, as far as he and I can figure out from the specs on the Evinrude site, the motors are identical (size, rpm range, etc.), so where does the difference in power come from? My first thought was compression ratio, but they both run on 87 octane, so that seems unlikely.

I'm out of my depth here (pun unavoidable, sorry) so I'm open to suggestions, both about the basic questions and about other good motor sources he should look at. Thanks.

Does the one with the starter have a generator ? Could be some of the difference but that is a lot of difference. Or maybe it's just labels.

The difference is in carbs and timing if there is one. That has always been the Evinrude/Johnson trick.

My advice is get the 25 hp. When the warranty expires throw you a set of 30 carbs on it and advance the timing.

Or you can shave the head, rework the exhaust port, cut a low water pickup, go to a 24 volt system on the starter, drop the tiller for a dual cable set up and sit on the front of piece of plywood for fun.

wow.. soon as you mentioned evenrude, I could remember hearing one start and run. I was never too enthused on them. An outboard mercury or honda would be MUCH better

mad_machine wrote: wow.. soon as you mentioned evenrude, I could remember hearing one start and run. I was never too enthused on them. An outboard mercury or honda would be MUCH better

Umm no

Small engines get an Evinrude, performance large engines get a Merc or Yamaha, although the newer Rudes are getting better. The FICHT system is gone replace with the new DI. They are the cleanest emissions engines available. Yamaha does a neat trick when they rate their larger engines. They rate them at a lower than redline RPM. So a 150 is actually a 170. Evinrude is fighting back with the 150 SS. Just a hod rodded 150 but actually comes out closer to 175.

Bigger putter around engines get a Honda or a Yamaha 4 stroke. Cheap engines look at a Tohatsu (There are some chinese engines coming but I am not one to take the risk when a few miles of swimming is involved.)

Great runner ups: Suzuki - they are coming, a little down on performance and a little up on fuel but are almost dead nuts reliable in the 45+ HP range. Nissan - They will run forever, if the transom can handle the shake. Mercury smalls -<45 hpThey have always been heavy and more particular than the Evinrudes.

Honda are great for Pontoons where speed isn't a focus and need the 4 stroke torque profile. Super engines but are maintenance intensive (down side to the 4 stroke setup)

The maintenance on a Honda is enough to eliminate it from usefulness in most small outboard application. Don't get me wrong, Honda builds a great motor, but you will pay up front when you buy it and down the road when you maintain it. The Evinrude is simple, keep proper Oil and Gas mix, change the lower unit oil, fuel filter and spark plug once a year.

Never think twice.

Rude is the best choice in the small engine application. It is as reliable as the Honda and as simple as your weedeater. You want a great runabout, get the Honda.

Source: I is a Marine Product Engineer.

FlightService wrote:

mad_machine wrote: wow.. soon as you mentioned evenrude, I could remember hearing one start and run. I was never too enthused on them. An outboard mercury or honda would be MUCH better

Umm no Small engines get an Evinrude, performance large engines get a Merc or Yamaha, although the newer Rudes are getting better. The FICHT system is gone replace with the new DI. They are the cleanest emissions engines available. Yamaha does a neat trick when they rate their larger engines. They rate them at a lower than redline RPM. So a 150 is actually a 170. Evinrude is fighting back with the 150 SS. Just a hod rodded 150 but actually comes out closer to 175. Bigger putter around engines get a Honda or a Yamaha 4 stroke. Cheap engines look at a Tohatsu (There are some chinese engines coming but I am not one to take the risk when a few miles of swimming is involved.) Great runner ups: Suzuki - they are coming, a little down on performance and a little up on fuel but are almost dead nuts reliable in the 45+ HP range. Nissan - They will run forever, if the transom can handle the shake. Mercury smalls -<45 hpThey have always been heavy and more particular than the Evinrudes. Honda are great for Pontoons where speed isn't a focus and need the 4 stroke torque profile. Super engines but are maintenance intensive (down side to the 4 stroke setup) The maintenance on a Honda is enough to eliminate it from usefulness in most small outboard application. Don't get me wrong, Honda builds a great motor, but you will pay up front when you buy it and down the road when you maintain it. The Evinrude is simple, keep proper Oil and Gas mix, change the lower unit oil, fuel filter and spark plug once a year. Never think twice. Rude is the best choice in the small engine application. It is as reliable as the Honda and as simple as your weedeater. You want a great runabout, get the Honda. Source: I is a Marine Product Engineer.

sounds good... I will admit, it has been 20 years since I puttered about with outboards.. or powerboats at all. Had a few sailboats, but those never used anything more than a 2.5 hp kicker to get in and out of the mooring

Difference is in the tuning if they are E-TEC Evinrudes.

Tohatsu makes all Nissan outboards, and most of the small Mercurys.

Where did I see the picture of the LS on a stick? "Thats an outboard, Mate."

Thanks, everybody.

My Tohatsu was great. In 99 I bought a 16 foot Sears game fisher for $500 with a 50hp (i think) motor of unknown age. I replaced the floor, fixed cracks in the hull, and pulled some seats from a dumpster behind a marina, Some freah gas, new plugs and a battery and it fired right up. It continued to do so 4-5 times a week for the next 5 years with me or my Dad and his friend using it constantly in the water around long Island. After 5 years we sold it fo $600 and last i heard the motor was still going.

mad_machine wrote: wow.. soon as you mentioned evenrude, I could remember hearing one start and run. I was never too enthused on them. An outboard mercury or honda would be MUCH better

LOL... Outboard engine preferences are worse than Chevy vs. Ford.

I like Mercs personally, but that is only because I know them. Meh.

Streetwiseguy wrote: Where did I see the picture of the LS on a stick? "Thats an outboard, Mate."

It's called the 557 from Seven Marine. I am very interested to see it in the durability area.

I've got an '84 2 stroke 15 horse Mercury/Mariner, and I understand that my engine and Yamaha both used a Tohatsu sourced top end.

I love that engine because I can pick it up and carry it easily. My new boat is going is rated up to 65 horse outboard in 1968 rating. I'm not sure what kind of engine I'm going to pick up for it, but I'm probably going to try and source another 2 stroke for it.

I've had them all. Right now I have a Merc 25, a Yamaha 50, a Merc 70 (freshly rebuilt ) and some random smatterings like a 'rude 6 horse, a Johnson 38 special, yadda yadda. ... and no proper boater's garage would be complete without a 9.9 OMC, but mine's upped to about 18 hp with the 15-horse carb, aftermarket reed valves, and some additional timing to help it rev a bit higher.

I've sorta steered away from OMC since they were bought by Bombadier, but the newer ones are getting better.

If you're looking for used, get whatever you want. Mercs in that size were phenomenal until the mid-late 90s, then they started having some troubles during the switch to 4-stroke, but now they're back on track. OMC up to about 2000 are great. My Merc 25 is a 1993 and I use it hard. Never missed a lick. I let it sit for three years once and it fired immediately and idled like it loved me. Same thing goes for the Johnson 20 hp (1976) that it replaced. Only reason I replaced that old Johnson was for the electric start and power upgrade.

I've got an OMC 70, getting some 75 carbs for it and gonna shave the head and rework the exhaust port.

Nice to have a 100 HP 3 cylinder.