Guide to buying your outboard engine

[harrison]

Currently running a Mariner 20 and also used to have a Suzuki 20.

Both great motors and bugger all difference in performance and economy tbh, but on balance would say the Suzuki is still king, by a whisker.

The Merc/Mariner fancy tiller is a joy to use but comes with a substantial weight penalty over the Suzuki, and also gets awkwardly in the way whilst carrying. Rather surprisingly the Merc/Mariner requires a much firmer/longer pull than the Suzuki to fire up the battery less efi. Regular first pull starts are a much more concentrated affair.

I do however prefer the look of the Merc/Mariners with their more current ‘edgy’ hood design...vain or what.

[Alan]

It may be vain but I feel the same way on the hood design. The styling and fancy tiller were enough to make me get a 20 hp Mercury. I got over the slight weight penalty with a 2 motor carts. one for general transportation that requires no lifting on and off the transom and a second taller one for the yearly winter maintenance.

[Martin]

I'm biased, I have the Suzuki 20efi ... Why?
Because i've had two other faultless Suzuki's prior to this one. (inc my 1978 smoker that still runs sweet)
The Suzuki range is first class for reliability, weight and fuel economy - Also the first manufacturer to add efi to portables. Tried and tested techno that others follow.
It does appear to be the outboard that doesn't cause the problems seen by other outboards on V Air floor sibs.

Tohatsu, great outboards - I'd have one tomorrow if Suzuki dissapeared off the face of the earth, for now .. Suzuki is KING

Martin

[Colin]

What about Parsun outboards?

[bun]

just got myself a 9;8 tohatsu 20hrs on the meter , great condition its about my limit to lift have a outboard trolley that im going to put wheels on the two arms then i can load it into the motor tilting it then rolling it in ,also had a 6 hp 4 stroke to hatsu done the jub but needed something better for tidal waters ,have a light ail floor 330 sib so i think it will manage 23 mph if i want to go that fast, could not lift a 15 ,20 hp or higher just to heavy for me to use