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Posts: 238
| Lots of brands of outboard motors out there these days. Just curious what you're using on your boat(s) you're muskie fishing out of. (If you run multiple motors, multiple votes are allowed.) Please add any I may have missed. Feel free to talk about your motor - what you like about it and what you don't. If you're running an older motor, what year was it made. Let's see who's running the oldest motor on their muskie boat (kicker motors count, too). |
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Posts: 238
| I run a 1991 25hp Evinrude on my muskie fishing boat (14' Northwood Classic) |
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Posts: 238
| I was just on Mercury's website and read that they have been making outboards for 75 years! (https://www.mercurymarine.com/en/us/about/heritage). They have a neat pic of an old boat and outboard motor. On another part of their site, there's a 9/29 news release stating they've produced 75,000 Verado V6 outboards! That's impressive.
For what it's worth, if anyone from the Milwaukee area is interested in hearing about Mercury on Wed night (TONIGHT), check out the post in the Muskie Club Forum for details about the MCW meeting. (http://muskie.outdoorsfirst.com/board/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=99654&posts=1&start=1) |
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Posts: 397
Location: Wisconsin | I have 3 boats with 3 different motors, never had any serious issue with any of them! I might be lucky, but I don't think you can go wrong with buying a good motor brand, and taking care of it...
My main water boat is a 5 year old 90hp evinrude. I love that thing, it has never gave me a problem, and is super easy to store. I've bought and sold a lot of motors, but the low HP evinrudes have treated me the best by far.
My V-portable boat has a 25 Merc, and it is great. Probably 8 years old but it runs like a champ. Again never gave me problems!
I also have a flatbottom John boat with a 15HP johnson on it. This thing is a pull start from the 70's, and it is a "1 pull-start" motor!. I lucked out with this puppy.... it has been around the block, but it is an absolute brut. Again, never had an issue. |
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Posts: 4269
Location: Ashland WI | I have a 1978 Evinrude. It starts and runs nice. |
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Location: SE Wisconsin | 1992 Johnson 40 hp. I would say it runs ok. No serious problems. Except this June when my boat sunk in a storm and water got in the gas but that's not the motors fault. |
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Posts: 1220
| For me, it's not just Mercury, it's Verado. My last three Verados are just like my last three GMC Yukons. I have never bought a pint of oil for either, hardly ever hear one of them running and never had a problem. They are a perfect, sophisticated and "elegant" thing. It just starts and runs like you expect in a modern automobile. It's a priveledge for the angler whose grown old enough to not want to hear a bucket of bolts rattling around in a pail, and whose kids are now (mostly) paying their own way. Cost more? Yes, is certainly does, but the "best" is seldom to be had on the cheap! |
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Posts: 32808
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Mercury 90 HP tiller 4 stroke and Mercury 50 HP two stroke. |
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Posts: 3475
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | 2003 Johnson (BRP) 2 stroke 90hp
2003 Johnson (BRP) 4 stroke 8 hp
1973 Johnson (OMC) 20hp
All purr like kittens.
Steve |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | I'm on my second boat powered by a Suzuki first 60hp 4 stroke now 70 hp 4 stroke. My next boat will probably have a Suzuki.
Choices of boats that don't come with Merc's is becoming limited.
I have a 4.5 hp |Johnson probably mid 80's on my 12 foot and a 3 hp 1958 Johnson for my canoe. |
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Posts: 1080
| 1997 Johnson 90hp two-stroke on the back of my 1997 Crestliner. Great motor and the boat floats. Reliable. And it's all been paid for eons ago. What more can one ask for?
I love the motor for it's reliability. I WOULD, however, if money was no object (which is obviously is...) like to have a four-stroke off the back of my boat as my 90hp two-stroke is just a bit louder than I'd care for, but it's not horrible, and smokes a bit more than the wife and kids care for when out for a family outing. Thing is...that 90hp Two-stroke will probably last a goooooood loooooooooooong time......tough to get rid of a running, reliable motor for a couple of luxury "wants" in the four-stroke line-up....
Edited by MACK 11/12/2014 9:51 AM
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Location: Contrarian Island | 2002 Merc 50 2 stroke on my Tuffy... no issues..a bit cold blooded is about it. 2008 Suzuki 175 4 stroke on my Ranger.. 400+ hours hasn't missed a beat...great motor.
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Posts: 1283
| 95 Merc 60 2 smoke. Only thing it ever needed was a new impeller and a stator. Besides being a bit cold blooded it has been great. always want more power though. |
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Posts: 270
Location: SE WISCONSIN | Current motor is a 2014 merc 150 4 stroke |
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | Yamaha F 150. |
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Posts: 106
| Just traded my Ranger 618t with a 90 Johnson (made by Suzuki) for a Skeeter MX1825 with a 150 Yamaha.
The 90 ran just as good now as when I bought it in 2004, I highly recommend Suzukis. I also have no doubt the Yamaha will prove just as dependable. |
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Posts: 1973
| 2010 Merc 250 Pro XS , kicker is 2004 Merc four stroke |
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Posts: 1191
| Current rig is an 08 Pro Guide, with a 90 Merc. Only my second year with the rig. No complaints at all. Everything I want it to be. Previous rig was Pro V, with a 70 horse Suzuki. Great motor. So quiet you had to be careful not to turn the key when it was already running. |
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Posts: 555
Location: Tennessee | Yamaha |
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Posts: 258
Location: Mayville, WI | I row one boat, other's got a Yamaha, but would have no issue with a Suzuki either.
The Johnson 4-strokes (suzuki) are great motors! |
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Posts: 455
| Bought a boat with an 1988 Johnson on it fully intending to replace the motor when I got it home. Runs so well I have no intention of replacing it now. Why waste the money? I don`t fish enough that I would ever make my money back in gas savings. |
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Posts: 1213
Location: Walker, MN | 2013 Yamaha F200 and a 1993 Mariner 40hp |
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Posts: 1082
Location: Aurora | muskyrat - 11/13/2014 8:45 AM
Bought a boat with an 1988 Johnson on it fully intending to replace the motor when I got it home. Runs so well I have no intention of replacing it now. Why waste the money? I don`t fish enough that I would ever make my money back in gas savings.
X2
86 Evinrude 30 horse on an 82 SuperHawk.
Starts, runs, & moves like jagger and the hawk takes 9'6" rods in lockable storage. |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | 90 Opti. It's a good motor. |
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Posts: 682
Location: Sycamore, IL | 1996 Johnson 50HP tiller...have put hundreds of hours on it since buying it used 5 years ago and has not skipped a beat. Great motor! |
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Posts: 667
Location: Wisconsin | MD75 - 11/14/2014 2:18 PM
1996 Johnson 50HP tiller...have put hundreds of hours on it since buying it used 5 years ago and has not skipped a beat. Great motor!
Hope to have good luck w/ my Johnson!!!
Had a Merc from new in 1988 until this winter and repowered with 60 tiller! |
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Posts: 267
| I run a 1987 Merc 115 Tower of Power on my old Ranger that runs like an angry dragon that hasnt had a drink for days. |
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Posts: 121
Location: Plymouth IA | 1985 mariner on the newer boat 85 Tuffy and 1955 Johnson on the old boat 55 caddilac. |
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Posts: 176
Location: Cohasset, MN | 1999 Johnson 115. Impellers, spark plugs, and LU oil is all it's ever needed. |
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Posts: 84
| I run 2008 Evinrude E-tec 250 HO and 9.8 Johnson kicker (Suzuki) both run great,its on a 620 Ranger |
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Posts: 76
Location: New Lenox, Illinois | 2013 Evinrude Etec 200 H/O. Its a screamer!!!!! |
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| ETEC |
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Posts: 427
Location: Planet Meltdown | 115 Optimax. Second season in, great so far. |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Yammy Hammer.
It's been a good motor so far. I had to replace the oil injector pump @ 720 hrs and The repair shop didn't tighten the bolts enough, so it worked loose in 2 weeks and blew holes in 3 pistons.....Long story short, They rebuilt the entire top end (powerhead) and now it runs great. has 1,100 hrs. on it. |
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Posts: 140
Location: Scandia MN | 2009 90 / 4 stroke Mercury. After years of making the sign of the cross before trying to start what ever used piece of dung I owned at the time I love this motor. I've been known to hug it occasionally which really embarrasses my daughters - - - - |
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Posts: 162
Location: Metro, MN | I run a 2002 yamaha 4stroke 150hp. Never one issue and still fires up as clean and quick as the first day off the lot! |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | tbaatz - 11/21/2014 10:42 AM
2009 90 / 4 stroke Mercury. After years of making the sign of the cross before trying to start what ever used piece of dung I owned at the time I love this motor. I've been known to hug it occasionally which really embarrasses my daughters - - - -
Now that's funny. |
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Posts: 309
Location: Elgin IL | 2009 150 Suzuki just hit 1000 HRs runs like a clock
Attachments ---------------- IMG_4110_1_1_1.JPG (146KB - 172 downloads)
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Posts: 455
| Most boat motors are great machines. Properly cared for they will last a lifetime. There were some hiccups when they first switched to oil injected 2 stroke motors but for the most part it`s hard to find a piece of junk. Most people I know who had problems messed with the factory settings and fubarred the motor because they know just enough to be dangerous. |
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Posts: 2752
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | Just installed new 2014 ETEC 150HO on ESOX Maniac this spring (replaced blown 1989 Johnson 150.... )
Pro's - Same Raker SS prop - she's now scary fast. Starts great & purrs. Gas useage is 1/3rd of old motor. Top GPS speed is now somewhere north of 65mph, but I haven't really opened it up yet (65 was good enough- still had lots of RPM's left.)
Con's - still in 10hr breakin - even after our week in Canada - they didn't tell me its 10 hrs at or above 3000 rpm until the oil usage automatically goes to normal. Found that out when I went in to make sure I had done winterizing correctly.
Don't know how long its going to take - 10 hrs @ 3000rpm is equivalent to ~300 mile up on plane - average day in Canada maybe 20-30 minutes/day. So, looks like I'll be doing some multi-species spring running & gunning on Mississippi R, the Pete & Castle Rock.
Hoping for a short winter!
Have fun!
Al
Edited by ESOX Maniac 11/23/2014 6:24 AM
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Posts: 1000
| '04 Honda 135 4 stroke. So long as I have the option, I'll never run anything but a Honda or a Yamaha ever again. They're so reliable, so quiet, and look so good on the back of a boat. |
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Posts: 68
| Love my Yamaha f60! |
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