bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

I am putting a kicker on my Klamath 17 this week for safety purposes. I often take the boat out on Puget Sound. As I get older I have come to the conclusion that I need a backup to my 60 hp. Merc bigfoot.
I am looking for opinions. The motor will be a long shaft with electric start and power tilt. Thanks

Doug Lemmon Loc: Rochester Mills, PA

First, they are all good motors..

Second, what does your local dealer sell and service? (I wouldn't run an extra 100mi for one over the other)

If you have a Merc on the boat now, and if you have a local shop service it, I'd probably go with another Merc. Kind of a one stop for service kind of thing.


Third, if they are all available locally, then price?? As I said earlier, they are all good motors.

Lastly, if you do your own service.. Price.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

I agree totally with J.
They are all good motors. So price and convenience of service are gonna be the main factors. 🤠👍

Loveatightline Loc: Nv

All are good moters but the Hondas I have been around run much quieter than my mercurys.

GLA Loc: WA State

Agree. I've had positive personal experience with Honda and Yamaha. I like the suggestion to see what services are available nearby.

Harris T. Fudpucker Loc: Lafayette, Louisiana

Also look at 'Tohatsu' the merc motor is made by them, and you might get a better price.

Edfisher Loc: Athens, WI and Sultan, WA

I would never put another Merc on a boat. I had a late 2000s 9.9 long shaft. It was much heavier than its competition and I had a lot of corrosion issues in the saltwater.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

I owned a Honda 25 HP 4 stroke and it was a wonderful motor. It AND the boat was stolen from me before I got my Tracker.
I had a 60HP 4 stroke Merc on the Tracker and it ran beautifully every day that I owned the boat. Even the day before I sold it. It was 20 years old and I owned it for 18 of those years. We figured it had close to 9000 hours on that motor too. I LOVED THAT BOAT !

Bigbum Loc: Washington

Heres my 2 cents.
In 2017 I bought a 2015 9.9 Suzuki for a kicker on my 19'6" Northwood that had a 4.3 Merc V6 main drive. The Suzi was like new and we ran it prior to my purchase. So I used it until 2021 but it had an annoying habit of not wanting to start on arrival to water destination. This progressively got worse. I changes filters, checked fuel lines, float bowl, etc. Priming, starter fluid, check spark plugs had little effect, but after a vigorous workout it would pop, then start. The saving grace was that for the rest of the day it started flawlessly on 1 pull, even if it sat for a couple hours (WTF)
First trip to Riffe in spring 21 we spent 45 minutes at launch pulling our guts out. The Suzuki was soon to become a big black anchor or fish habitat. Finally we got it going and we were set for the rest of the day, but I made a resolution- I was done with it- at 67 years old I had enough. So when I got home I started shopping around for a new unit. At that time the COVID had totally disrupted supply chains and new 9.9 outboards were in very limited supply. I was set on electric start and power tilt would be nice but not a deal breaker. I found one 9.9 hp in stock in whole south sound area. Went and checked it out but it wasn't electric start. I told the salesman I needed electric start. He said "No, you don't. It's a Honda". My past experiences with Hondas were parallel with what he was saying. Done deal. Now I wow my buddies- cold startup first thing on the water, squeeze the fuel line bulb to prime the carb, pull out choke, 1 pull and she's running and pissing like a racehorse. Buddies are impressed. Love the Honda. The Suzi was a great motor other then..........................

I did take the carb apart before selling it and found some minor debris near a jet. It was still a little stubborn cold starting for the prospective buyer but got it going and he took it for what I was asking.

Chuckay Loc: Central Florida

Like everyone's said all good motors but when you see mostly Yamaha on the back of boats down here in Florida especially in the saltwater 🎣
I have had them all in the past but for me it's Yamaha 😂 (JMO) as Mr. Robert would say🎣🎣

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

Thanks for the input. I have a manual 8 hp Honda. It runs great, but a bear to start. I am to old to fight the pull cord. The Merc. deler sucks. I have been forced to use him a few times. I had a Yamaha on my charter boat and loved it though it is more expensive than the other motors. Yamaha is having a sale this month with several hundred off and a warranty that is extended from three to seven years.

Bottom line: I am going to buy the Yamaha 9.9 long shaft with electric start and power tilt. Thanks all for the input. It helped with my decision.

Chuckay Loc: Central Florida

bapabear, I think you made the right decision 🎣🎣🎣

Jarheadfishnfool Loc: Woodlake/Tulare ,Ca.

I've had a Honda 9.9 on my Gregor 15' for about 14years Bapa, she has purred & trolled from 1mph with a troll master flap up to 3.5 mph steady, and most of all quiet , good luck with your choice Sir 🍀

harleypiker Loc: WA

You did good. Yamaha are so nice and sooo quiet. My 8 hp Honda kicker runs perfect but hard starting in the morning sometimes. It stalled once in 20 years. I was sitting on the fuel line!
No mercs for me!!

Doug Lemmon Loc: Rochester Mills, PA

I think you've made a good decision. Not that I'm biased.. but ya did good!