Best lightweight 50 HP

csvencer · #1 11-07-2011, 08:38 AM

Been looking at a ton of 50 HP 2 strokes for a 14' Mckee I am redoing and was hoping to pick everyone's brains. I have been looking for a late 80's on up 50 Johnson/Evinrude 2 cylinder mainly because I have had good luck with OMC and haven't heard anything really negative about them (once VRO is removed....obviously) or a Yamaha 50 cylinder. The 4 cylinder Merc 50 I had on there dropped a cylinder and was the old school mercruiser trim system so I parted it out. I wasn't planning on going back to the 4 cylinder merc but I am open to all ideas. Bottom line is what's got the best repuation..

4 Cylinder Merc classic 50
2 Cylinder OMC 50
3 Cylinder Yamaha 50
3 Cylinder Merc 50

Any input is appreciated. Thanks.

-Svence

randlemanboater · #2 11-07-2011, 09:07 AM

I had a Merc "Classic 50" on a Basstracker one time, it was the best 2-stroke motor I ever owned.

I have heard that people dont like the 2 cylinder OMC's but I dont have any experience with them.

THEFERMANATOR · #3 11-07-2011, 01:53 PM

For lightweight and toughness you'll be hard pressed to beat the 50HP OMC engine. They are by far not the fastest 50HP engine as the big 2 cylinder engines just don't have the grunt to them that the 3 and even 4 cylinder engines have to them, but they are tough and time tested designs. The YAMAHA is a good engine as well, but parts cost more and I believe they are a bit heavier and more difficult to work on wit hthe electronic ignition and primestart carbs. They run good when there right, but they can drive you nuts if your not good with multi-carb set-ups. I believe the older MERCURY engines(not the 4 cylinder ELPTO's) were also good engines, I don't have any real experience with the newer 4 cylinder ones though. For the most HP for it's size though, the 3 cylinder SUZUKI's will outrun the rest IMHO. I had a 25HP SUZUKI that would outrun most others 40 horse engines. And my grandfathers pontoon boat has over 1K hours on it's 85HP SUZUKI and still runs STRONG. It needs a set of carbs as the throttle shafts are worn out, but other than that it is all origanal and is still using the oil injection system.

For low cost and brute strength though, my vote goes to the 50HP OMC. Or if you want a good cheap screamer, step up to the 3 cylinder OMC 60HP and have one of the finest outboards ever built.

csvencer · #4 11-07-2011, 04:27 PM

What do you mean "older" and "newer" 4 cylinder mercs? I thought they were all pretty much the same throughout the years.

-Svence

THEFERMANATOR · #5 11-07-2011, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csvencer

What do you mean "older" and "newer" 4 cylinder mercs? I thought they were all pretty much the same throughout the years.

-Svence

I know at one time they offerred a 50HP in there old design cross flow I believe that was a 2 or 3 cylinder, then later on they had the small 4 cylinder models.

phatdaddy · #6 11-07-2011, 06:27 PM

i have a 40 hp tohatsu and have not been as happy as thought i would be with it. it always runs ok, but not great. and i bought it brand new 03 model. before that i had a 25hp mariner made by yamaha. it was a great motor, but no trim & tilt. i think they only went to 40 hp and then merc built the 50hp and up. 4 cyl merc run sweet and idle & accelerate real nice,2 & 3 cyl always seem like they don't like to idle to me.