american outboards VS Foreign

I was cleaning fish on my dock yesterday and decided to take a count of the amount of foreign outboard motors vis a vis american made as they went by and I was amazed. Out of 50, 26 were Yammies, 17 were zukies, 5 were johonnyrudes and only 2 mercs. These guys were all fishing in the big blue and no wifie and kiddies on board so reliability was probably a big factor in why they run what they do way off shore. I had no idea that the ratio was that high and even though I will never buy another Merc because I had three lemons in a row, I do still like the old and new Johnnyrudes but for what ever reason they are losing ground big time. Everyone makes 4 strokes these days and prices cant be that far off. Are the foreign motors really that good? Am I missing something? I usually get 3,000 hours out of my johnnyrude 2 strokes...Frank

[Skools Out]

the newer suzuki's are made by JohnnyRudes so that helps lol Your count doesn't say much for the other Foreign ones such as Honda and Nissian lol

[TheTinMan]

Originally Posted by Skools Out

the newer suzuki's are made by JohnnyRudes

you sure about that??? I know Suzuki was making Johnson 4 strokes.

[phester]

those Yamaha's are tough to beat, carbed or injected they've got the lions share of the outboard market.

[Airslot]

THe Johnson 4 strokes were/are made by Zuki. That Zuki 175 would look real nice on my Welly.

Airslot

[Stinky_Hooker]

Yammiehammers are definitely the majority around here too. Regardless off the stroke or aspiration they are hard to beat.

When our club has a weigh in all you see is dozens of four banger yammies on bay boats, with the occasional zuki mized in.

Cept for the Hooker if she is in tow....im the only broke bastages runnin a Force. ;D

[TheTinMan]

Originally Posted by Airslot

That Zuki 175 would look real nice on my Welly.

Airslot

That's the engine I'd repower a V20 with.

[Stinky_Hooker]

Originally Posted by TheTinMan

That's the engine I'd repower a V20 with.

Roger that!!! I want a 150 for my 18 baaaaad!!!

When my buddys boat broke down and SeaTow pulled us in he was runnin twin Zuki 225s. I asked him how he liked em and he said "I have only had them 6 months and they have over 1000 hours on em. I havent had the first problem in that time. I have run all brands and these are without a doubt THE best outboards on the market IMO bar-none."


This man makes his living off his motors and literally puts his life and others' in their hands. Id say he should know. *8)


EDIT: BOTH of those 225s were quieter than my buddys 70 Johnson two stroke. ::)

[TheTinMan]

Originally Posted by Airslot

THe Johnson 4 strokes were/are made by Zuki.
Airslot

Not possitive, but I think Johnson is no longer selling the Johnzuki's. Their website only lists 25 and 30hp 4 strokes and carburated 2 strokes. Is their smaller 4 strokes made by Suzuki?

[TheTinMan]

Stinky, for your 18 I'd consider the small block 140, less weight than the 150 big block.

edit: just checked weights:

140 small block: 420 lbs.
150 big block: 474 lbs.

Both 25 inch shafts

There's probably more than a 10 hp difference too. The 140 is said to be a little overated, probably closer to the low 130's hp.