Yamaha Outboard Experience?

[adk]

I'm looking to repower my fishing/duck boat and have been looking at a new 25 h.p. Yamaha 2 cycle. Anyone have any thoughts on the Yamaha's, good or bad? Thanks.

[Rifleman]

Have had 2 of the 4 strokes, excellent motors. One was a 40 hp and the other a 150hp, loved both of them.

[adk]

I've been looking at the 4 stroke engines and agree they have some nice advantages over the 2 stroke motors. The down side of the 4 stroke is their cost and weight. I'd have to go to a higher horse power,at least a 30 h.p. and maybe a 35 h.p. to get the same performance I'd get with the 2 stroke 25. With the increased h.p. and the inherently higher cost of the 4 cycle it would cost about $1,000.00 more for roughly the same performance I's get from the 2 stroke. I think I'll stick with a 2 stroke.
I've gone to a couple of the outboard motor forums but can't find much said about the 2 stroke Yamaha's. It looks like they are becoming a thing of the past?

[Rifleman]

I don't know, I have heard that the EPA wants to get rid of 2 strokes because of the exhaust has oil in it which gets in the water. But A 2 stroke is quicker, lighter and cheaper. However they are not as reliable in my opinion and not as quiet as a 4 stroke. If you troll much, a 4 stroke is the only way to go as far as I am concerned. However for most guys a 2 stroke does nicely. Regardless Yamaha makes a fine engine.

[adk]

All valid points Rifleman. Thanks for the input.

[huntingmike]

May 9, 2011 12:06:06 GMT -5 adk said:

I'm looking to repower my fishing/duck boat and have been looking at a new 25 h.p. Yamaha 2 cycle. Anyone have any thoughts on the Yamaha's, good or bad? Thanks.

I bought a 2 stroke 85 hp Yamaha wave venture in 1995 and it is still going strong. I kept a Yamaha 4 stroke 4 wheeler 22 years and then sold it for a little less than I had in it to up grade to a new Yamaha Grizzly 4x4. I am confident in the Yamaha brand.

Rev. Mike

[adk]

I have not heard very many bad things said about Yamaha, including the 2-stroke outboards. I'm pretty much convinced I'll go with the Yamaha. Thanks Mike.

[huntingmike]

You are welcome.

[dougedwards]

I had a 25 HP Yamaha 2 stroke for 12 years before I sold it with a 14 foot jon boat. I know the owner and it is still going strong for the 10 years that he has owned it. Now I have a 3.1L 225 HP Yamaha on my 20 foot Nitro bass boat and that thing is scary fast. I replaced a 150 Mercury that would get me 56 mph if I was in the boat by myself on smooth water. Now this Yamaha buries the speed gauge even with four people in the boat and I mean quickly!

I have chosen to purchase and drive only Nissans (back in the day when they were Datsun) and Toyotas for the past 30 years. Nothing out of the ordinary about that today but believe me, it was very unfashionable to be driving around any foreign made vehicle back in the 70's and 80's. I took some verbal abuse for it because I was not supporting the American labor force. My contention was that my first allegiance to the economy of my family before I could support American union members who were making three times my salary.

Now I am hearing that Honda is producing extremely quiet outboard motors but I am thinking that the pricing on these Japanese products will be hitting the roof now that production has been stifled by calamity. Maybe this will give the American production of autos and outboards a boost in sales that they so badly need. Regardless, if I were to buy a 25 hp outboard today it would be a Yamaha 2 cycle because I am confident that it will outlive me.

Doug

[rrb55]

I have had a Yamaha 25HP 4-stroke on my 13' whaler for several years. It has always started on the 1st turn, even after being stored over the winter. Reliable, well-mannered and quiet. I love it!