Suggestions on buying new outboard motor

TonyC

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I'm preparing to buy a new 25hp outboard motor. Manual start, short shaft for my little river boat - just looking to upgrade from my 9.9 Mercury.

I'll probably buy it from Cabela's, they are quoting $3,397 plus sales tax and a $100 license fee or paperwork fee I'm hoping to get out of.

That said, I am open to buying a yamaha or something else instead.

If I had more time to search I'd like to look and find a better deal used, but I've got 2 little kids and just want to get a super reliable (hence brand new) motor that will run well and last a long time.

Any suggestions on Mercury vs. Yamaha? Also, any thoughts on the price?

Thanks!
Tony
 


shorthairsrus

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Yamaha -would get my vote --- when you see working boats -- they have a yammy on the back.
 

riverview

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i bought a 25 hp yamaha ling shaft electric start last spring right around 4 grand, a friend of mine got a 25 suzuki long shaft elect start power trim for around 3500 off the internet shipped to his door.
 


AaronJ

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Yamaha, Merc, Suzuki, and Honda in that hp are all bulletproof. Pick the specs you want and make your purchase based on lrice and possible service quality available locally.
 

shorthairsrus

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If you're going to throw every brand out u might as well add Evinrude. No maintenance. Just as bullet proof as a Merc.
 

eyexer

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If your looking to save some money and not compromise on quality at all buy a suzuki. Look online too. Many will ship to your door and some for free I'd imagine.
 

nytebyte

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Tohatsu makes a lot of the smaller Mercs. I picked up a new Tohatsu 20hp efi last year. Great little motor! I looked at Suzuki but after a bit of research Tohatsu was more what I was looking for.
 

Migrator Man

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I'm preparing to buy a new 25hp outboard motor. Manual start, short shaft for my little river boat - just looking to upgrade from my 9.9 Mercury.

I'll probably buy it from Cabela's, they are quoting $3,397 plus sales tax and a $100 license fee or paperwork fee I'm hoping to get out of.

That said, I am open to buying a yamaha or something else instead.

If I had more time to search I'd like to look and find a better deal used, but I've got 2 little kids and just want to get a super reliable (hence brand new) motor that will run well and last a long time.

Any suggestions on Mercury vs. Yamaha? Also, any thoughts on the price?

Thanks!
Tony

Having a manual start is great when your battery is dead but I would really consider getting both electric and pull start on a new motor. Resale will be much better and if you decide you want an electric start you won’t have to buy a new motor
 


SDMF

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Whatever EFI motor falls within your price range. If you're already using a 9.9, I'd happily go 15 or 20 if it meant I saved enough to have EFI. It would be impossible for me to care less which name is on the hood of an EFI 4-stroke.
 

Rowdie

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I bought a 15 HP brand new Yamaha about 4 years ago. I looked and looked for used, but in the end I got new. THEY HOLD THEIR VALUE! It runs like a champ! Can't say the other brands won't. I paid about what your're paying and your getting a 25, what brand is that price?
 

2400

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Having a manual start is great when your battery is dead but I would really consider getting both electric and pull start on a new motor. Resale will be much better and if you decide you want an electric start you won’t have to buy a new motor

This is good advice.
 


riverview

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one thing that p___ed me off was i didnt get a gas tank with my yamaha 25. when i bought it i got it still in the shipping box, there was a place in the stryofoam container for a gas tank but no tank. when i asked the dealer about it he said it didint come with a tank. I have never bought a small outboard with out a tank coming with it.
 

NDSportsman

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How big is your boat and what's it rated for? 4-strokes are heavier and less powerful than 2-strokes so keep that in mind. My 30 horse 4-stroke is a bigger dog then an older 15 horse 2 stroke. Obviously they are quieter and more economical then a 2 stroke as well. I don't think brand means a whole lot now days as they are all pretty much the same.
 

Rowdie

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one thing that p___ed me off was i didnt get a gas tank with my yamaha 25. when i bought it i got it still in the shipping box, there was a place in the stryofoam container for a gas tank but no tank. when i asked the dealer about it he said it didint come with a tank. I have never bought a small outboard with out a tank coming with it.

Your best bet is to find and old metal tank on ebay or bisman. These new tanks they have SUCK! I switched mine out right away. If you know of anyone with and old metal tank, make them an offer.
 

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