Verado experiences, Grady and Angler...

[reelapeelin]

Frank, there are several ''truths'' in what you said, most important being having the right dealer in your corner...My buddy in Charleston has two 1999 Opti-Max 200s on his boat since new...for the most part they have been GREAT motors, although several issues have come up and been resolved in my friend's favor BECAUSE of his dealer...

When buyin' a new outboard, there's just no way to over-stress the importance of WHO you get it from...probably more important than who MADE it...when I got my motor in '04 we had a time w/ proppin' it...our 1st try had great numbers, but caused a ''rattle'' in the lower unit...not knowing what caused it at the time, my dealer had a Honda Tech in Spartanburg and hangin' off my transom goin' across the lake w/ in 3 days...yeah, I was impressed...but the DEALER is the guy who made it happen... ;) ...

I can think of several mercury techs that I would like to see hanging off my transom....Frank

[reelapeelin]

Betcha some would like to see some Merc dealers in same way!! ;) ...

[willy]

From what I am seeing around my area the Suzuki's have become what the Yamaha's were 15 years ago, knocking out the competition in a heads up comparison and standing by their product. Best warranty and everyone I know that has one is tickled pink by them. I got to tell you though everyone is jumping on them now with their new 4 strokes I have a 9.9 Suzuki from 1986. It has never skipped a beat, is built hell for stout and after being on three tin boats with me it is now serving back up trolling duties on Old School. And that little sucker pushes that V around like it is on steroids. One of the guys in town that just sold his boat had twin Zuki 250 two strokes on his 26 foot WA and he said even though he had over 900 hrs on them in the salt he had never had to do anything to them besides change the plugs and thermostats.

[phester]

nice Seacraft !

[Airslot]

One of these days...that 150 Zuke will be hangin around here I hope.

Airslot

[garycorbett]

Sorry, but the Merc experience is BAD BAD; verado is too expensive and too heavy. The Evinrude ETec is the one to get - easier on gas, faster and lighter than verado by a long shot. At idle the ETec burns no more fuel than a 9 hp at idle. Easier on gas than verado at full speed and faster too. And the Evinrudes sound like a motor! Always love the sound of them big V6 Evinrudes!

I talked to a guy the other day at the gas dock that had a new 90 E-tech and was very impressed. I was suprised as he used to run a yammie carbed 2 stroke 115 on his skiff . I wonder if they will be johnnyrudes or just an evinrude market deal or if any old johnson dealer can work on them. I wonder how much a 115 saltwater version would go for with controls etc. The zukie 4 strokes have really taken over down here in eastern north carolina with dealers everwhere, high customer satisfaction , 6 year warranties , excellent customer service that you dont need to take them to court over ( which I had to do with Merc) etc etc. Even the commercial on the water every day water men are running zukies with yammies a close second especially the 115 4 stroke.. A good friend of mine is a Merc dealer and I can get anything at his cost but after the last Opti 225( two catastropic power head failures in less than 150 hours and the second one was 26 miles off shore) I dont think I could ever run another Merc but thats just me..Frank

[Mac_Attack]

Evinrude e tec made in USA! Billy Mac ;D

[garycorbett]

I got a 2002 115 hp Ficht Evinrude and it is just a great motor; veryyyyyyyyy quiet; the pee stream out the back makes more noise at idle than the motor. Easy on gas - no troubles at all. Nice looking to. Stay away from Merc - all BAD