hey jeff, can give a pretty good comparo of the honda and yammie 200 four stroke. I would say both are pretty much on par reliability wise. Mate and I have the same boats, his with a honda and me with a yammie. Granted he has a four blade prop but I am sure that does not make that big a difference. At top speed both boats are pretty much the same, about 65-70litres per hour, but in that mid range 22-26knot area that most of us cruise in he uses at least 6-8 l/h less with the honda. For trolling up in exxy I think the etec actually has a fair case for slow trolling, ie livies or downriggers, as my old 150etec on the same boat used about 5 litre/hour less than the current 200 yammie, BUt at marlin troll speeds they are about the same. If you want anymore info drop us a PM. Will be up your way in feb, will catch up for a beer or two and a fish.

I've owned a verado - good. Currently run a Honda 4 stroke - good. Both have been super fuel efficient with the hull they've been attached to.

I personally wouldn't look at a Yam HDPI & Salt Water series.

Merc labelled a few motors with the Blue Water name: Carby 2 stroke, EFI 2 stroke & DI 2 stroke (optimax). They're all early model motors that'll drink plenty of fuel.

All the modern day DI 2 strokes are superb (Optimax & ETEC).

What type of boat are you looking at?

hi mate, in the past 5 years i"ve had honda,suzuki, verado,and regularmerc 4 strokes (115/175hp)and the suzuki was the most fuel efficient by a fair margin, the verado was the sweetest shifting and instantly powerful but the suzuki was the most fuel efficient hands down (all good motors though!!)    cheers

i have a 175 honda 4 stroke

mate has a 200 yammy 4 stroke

both good.

don't think you'd go far wrong with any 4 stroke honda/yammy/suzuki

Well from time to time when I have been at the ramp and 50% of that I have seen Verado's been towed in so on that I would not get one.

Best motors I think to go for are Suzuki and Yammy

If you are getting your boat over/seas why not get your motor there

I got my 250DF suzuki from USA brand new for $10k

Recon all the latest 4 strokes are excellent, Suzi seems to have the best rep, but probably most expensive.

Optimax and E-Tec have benefits over 4 stroke (generally lighter, much less complicated, cheaper service) but a few negatives (noisier, slightly higher fuel consumption) but are an order of magnitude better than the old 2 strokes.

The verado is one magnificent peice of engineering, very quiet and apparently excellent throttle response.....but......do you really want multi valve, spoercharged complexity on a boat motor? They are like a full race motor, and maybe just too advanced?

I have an E-tec, very happy, but would consider any of the neew 4 strokes or direct inject 2 strokes on the next boat I get.....will probably stay away from Verado....but I really would like one if someone else was gonna pay to fix it.

Stay away from the Optimax. They have a problem with there compressors. What makes them so fuel efficient also makes them unreliable. Have just replaced my second one in 8 years ($2500 repair bill) and have heard a lot of other people have had the same problem.

Any of the 4 strocks are all on par.I am very happy with my honda200 she is out there every chance I get never had any trouble done 230hours in 18 months.

Seeing as Waddy is the only real boat mechanic in town, I'd check to see what 4 stroke motors he can service (warranty too??) otherwise you may be making trips to Karratha more often than you'd like.  I know he doesn't do a few of the brands, so may pay to check that first mate.

Most US boats will have a Merc or Yammie. For some reason they seem to love the Yammie HPDI's whereas they are not popular here. And the 4 stroke 225 Yammies have a bad rep in the US but seen as bulletproof in Aus....

Suzuki are gradually getting a bigger market share but still rare to find a secondhand boat with one. Ditto for Hondas, although I think not making anything over 225 has hurt them.

Im still looking for a 24 Cape Horn with a single 300 Suzuki. Pretty much my perfect rig.

thank you all for the in put ,it sounds like any of the 4 strokes are the go or an etex ish

Ads i didnt think of that mate i will do that ,that for sure

Simon c thanks mate will diffenentle catch up for a beer when you get up here mate

Brendon is that a major problen on the optmax the compressor???

thanks again all for the reples

jeff

thanks Marble that is good to know mate ,we are a long way from any where get to some where else ...

jeff

Accept no substitutes!

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/outboard/vmax_micro/

Jeff IMO , i would look at the main brand 4 strokes but you will pay more and servicing balances out at the end of the day , but i would find out what your local service tech can handle, otherwise my next prefernce would be the Etec,   the main factor is what boat its going on as well and how you expect to drive the rig in what conditions and whether you over power it or just enough power.

If the rig is going hard and on a glass boat i would probably go more the Etec as the 2 st dont mind working hard, if your on the 4 st you will need extra hp for when it needs to perform,  my present rig had a 150 hp Optimax 2st , very economical fuel and oil with plenty of power right through the range,  just to noisy on the alli hull, i now have a 150 4 st Yammy after much tossing about the Etec with oil smells, ( Etec was close to $ 3 k cheaper which is alot of fuel.i choose the 4st yammy

The yammy uses very little at trolling , and at speed 1lt a N mile at 25 knots /cruising up to around 4200 rpm after that it goes up to about 1.35 lt/1.5 lt n/m  wot 5800 rpm 42 knot.  I have heard good reports about all the other 4 st with the only complaint being price for the Suzis,  the other point to look at is the changes in design in the motors as the 225 Yammy is a lot better engine design than the 200 when i last looked but it gets back to $$$$

i just recently went through all this, and ended up with a suzuki. very, very happy with the descision.  super quiet, and fuel efficiency has more than doubled from the 2 banger johnno.

the verados were the most expensive, then yammys, then etecs and hondas, suzuki next, follwed by the mercurys being the cheapest (although i got mine fitted for free, so that knocked a few bob off).

i think the yammys have the best rep, but are therefore more expensive. honda has a decent rep, but were still out of my range. i wouldnt touch an etec with my dogs dick, and mercs were constantly put down on a thread i created askin for peoples opinions. the verados are a supreme peice of machinery, but are in a price bracket of their own.

also, check your pm's.

mate, best way to get up to date on all the motors and get access to a huge data base is to subscribe to F&B magazine online. They know their beans and have reviews going back over the years of most outboard models and makes. Peter Webster calls a spade a spade, and I like him for that!

http://www.seamedia.com.au/publications/index.php?id=4
http://www.seamedia.com.au/sea_library/engines_drives.php

buy the house . definatly go 4 stroke or e tech. 2 stroke are thirsty which ever way you go.even my 350 chev is cheaper than a 2 stroke if you want power. from all reports i have read over the time on here there are 3 to look at, honda, suzuki and yammy. altho evinrude arent too bad

Went out on the neighbours boat a few times and they had the Suzuki 200hp on a 6.7 genesis. Went like a shower of shit, sounded great and didn't use too much juice either. Great all round really. That said, they now have yammies on their Markham dominator cat and they go alright on all of the above counts as well. Reckon it comes down to price and if you can get 'em serviced down there.

Cheers

Mullows

thanks again for all the info that is great ,im going to spend alought of time looking at all this thanks HuggyB,Tony,Mullows and ever one ,this is so much more than i expected as in fuel consumption ,my old girl is drinking it
thanks Scotto i got the pm mate thanks for that mate

jeff