I need your input on this situation. What outboard do you use and why? Also, drop a comment saying you would like to win one of the Vice Versa hats! 👊🏼
That is a super clean hat! I think that merc is the way to go. That g2 is a great motor but merc has done some super awesome things with their new 4strokes. Great power, hull shot, mid range and top end. Not to mention they sound awesome
I've ran just about every brand possible engine out there, and now days they are all pretty flawless. my opinion is for you to pick what is best for you and SMC.
@@cobia1794 really? not composites but plastic? Just finished a honda 200 with plastic everything. have done many fourstrokes since this video with composite intakes and carb bodies.... hmm....
no matter what anybody says the 4 stroke mercury is the best motor that has ever been made in my opinion. i have a 21ft 2020 triton and that motor has so much power to get those heavy hulls up and run a lot better and faster. i would imagine it would work really well with a ranger
i think when it comes to a motor it is what u hav the best luck with for me i had a ‘99 2 stroke yamaha 150 until 2011 and then i sold it to my cousin who still uses it to this day never had problems. then with my new boat in 2012 i got 150 merc 4 stroke and the 2 years that i had it it was in the shop 5 times thankful for the warranty and in 2015 went back to yamaha and havnt had any problems. now i get it i probably had a lemon and i understand they arnt all like that but it just left a bad taste and probably would never go back to mercury im still not bashing them just wouldnt b my choice thatz all
Scott, I run a 2019 Mercury 4.6L V8 Pro XS 250 on my ranger 620fs. I am very happy with the performance of this motor. For reliability time will tell.. so far no issues.. Awesome torque and light weight for a V8 four stroke. I have been very brand loyal to Evirude but decided to go with a higher performing 4 stroke due to having 3 Evinrudes in the past and all had VRO pumps fail as a result I blew the motors. My dad runs a Yamaha SHO 250 on a 620fs he has been very happy with it. All things equal "prop pitch and load" the Mercury has more torque and gets on plane quicker. Once on pad they run about equal. Based on my experience, you cannot go wrong with either Mercury or Yamaha. I will always be an Evinrude fan. Sad to see them go.
Keep running your Evinrude. You've got 8-10 years. If busting a lower unit worries you....carry a spare. I'm still running a 1989 XP for crying out loud 😅 Aside from it being a bit of a gas hog I certainly have no complaints. Evinrude always made solid motors that were built to last. So show everyone that you TRULY believe(d) in them. 👍
I have followed you Scott forever but just found your channel last week. Thank you for the videos, I stepped away from fishing for 9 years after my parents got a divorce. Well the past week I have had a line in the water for last last 6 days. You’re humble and a great person! Kelly Jordon is a great family friend who is another great pro I love. Thank you again Godbless and stay safe from COVID-19.
I’ve run pretty much all brands, including Evinrude, Johnson, Mercury and Yamaha. Yamaha is by far the most dependable motor I’ve ever owned. I’ve run the 250 on a Ranger Z20 and currently run a 50 on my G3. From the smaller engine I run now to the 250, Yamaha can’t be beat, as reliable as they come.
Back in 2004, I bought a new G-3 HP 170 bass boat with 115 Yamaha 2 stroke & stainless prop. That was by far the most dependable outboard I ever owned.......well, that and the tiny Tohatsu 3.5 I bought new in 2016 for my little Twin Troller. I hear a lot of great things about Suzuki lately.......for their bigger outboards anyway.
I've owned fresh water fishing boats of all sizes for almost 40 years. I've owned Johnson, Mercury, and Evinrude over the years, from 6hp up to 200hp. I'm currently running a Yamaha on my Skeeter (almost 10 years) and I have never run a more durable, reliable engine in my life. I tell my wife all the time, "please don't ever let me purchase any other outboard other than a Yamaha ever again". I feel that strongly about it. Just keep up with regular maintenance and I literally just turn the key and go. Never even have to think about it. That's my 2 cents Scott. Good luck with your decision.
@John I had the same in 50hp, upgraded to a 40 Yam 4stroke, the best thing I have ever done. Super quiet, you'll wish you had done it earlier, if you ever do! Don't quote me, but I believe Yam made powerheads for Merc for some time!
I've been an optimax guy for years. I repowered my boat almost 2 years ago and had the option to go with the 4 stroke pro xs or a 2 stroke pro xs. I went with the 2 stroke for the simple fact, as you said, it's tried a true and not a single issue in 140 hours of service! Mercurys 4 stroke was new to the market and there all always unforseen issues that pop up on any new model anything. Whether it's a car, truck, boat and on and on. At this moment, if I had to choose a 4 stroke for my rig, I'd probably go with Yamaha. Reason being, they've been in the 4 stroke world just a little longer. Now 2 years from now, after Mercury has ample time on the water, I'd stick with Mercury! I'm not bashing one over the other by any means. Both are great companies and have proven it for years. I know of a 250 SHO with well over a 1000 hours and not one significant problem. I also know of 2 stroke pro xs's with well over 1000 hours as well. Kinda like fishing! Nothing but time on the water will make you better! Just my 2 cents
Scott I was chartering on the Indian river in the Sebastian area. I ran a Yamaha 150. I put over 2500 hours on that motor with no problems at all, I eventually left chartering back in 2010 during the housing crash as chartering took a big. I actually sold the boat to a friend and he is still running that motor with over 3,000 hours. I have just started bass fishing and just bought a Bass Tracker 17 with a 50 horse Mercury. I was kind of really wanting a Yamaha but they come with the Mercs. Since having the boat the motor has been very good with over 100 hours no issues so far. The one thing that help sell me on the Merc was the warranty program and the ability to extend it out. I figured with the warranty they are offering and the extension they also off at a nominal price would keep me covered with no worries for years to come. I also would think with offering those long warranties they must have a real belief in the long term performance of the motors they manufacture. P.S. Thanks so much for all the videos you do on fishing g as they have helped my wife and I catch more bass and have shortened are learning curve. (J.C.) Henderson
Hey Scott, I would suggest Mercury. They have a long history of quality and reliability. Not to mention the fact that WHEN B. Lat's motor broke down they had him up and running by the next day so that he could continue the tournament.
Hey Scott I know, I don’t need to tell you anything about how to run a business. But I would go with who can offer the the best deal. You do this for a living so in the end it’s about what they can do to help you to keep being successful.
From personal experience I would probably go with a Mercury. With that being said Yamaha is great as well. I completely agree with you, that most motors now days are pretty solid. Can’t really go wrong with most of them. I hope you find a motor right for you! Can’t wait to see more content! Keep up the great work!
I have a 2005 225 HO eTec and I've never touched it except for preventative maintenance and computer updates. I'm waiting on a new prop now but it may be a while. My tech at Shoals Marine in North Alabama told me they had 18 deaths at the plant in Wisconsin due to covid 19 but they would open back up for parts. It's been a great motor and i'll run it until it falls apart.
Hey Scott!!! Yeah my heart sank when i heard there will no longer be an Evinrude outboard ever! They've been around for well over 100 years. I've ran one my entire life, and I've been on the water for over 40 years. That said, if you're going to re power, I would highly recommend Mercury. At least they've been in the business for years and know outboards. Not knocking the other brands, they learned from the best. And I'm sure Mercury would be an awesome sponsor...just saying. Thanks for the videos... Mike from Ontario, Canada
I have owned Evinrude and Johnson since the mid 70's . One classic I continued to run for 35 yrs. I would always choose an American brand name and I think the G1 and G2 technology is great. It is sad to seen a legendary name name go down, not to mention all dedicated experienced personnel. I know their hearts and souls were in this product and likely were multi-generational employees. Sad for the communities where these families lived. I will continue to run my ETEC until either it or I give up the ghost.
SHO. Yamaha has always had the most dependable motor with a great support service. That’s one reason I’ve always bought Skeeters. From bow to motor, all the same company.
Well from an all salt water standpoint, there is a lot of choices like you said and for me I’d have to say Suzuki outboards. I have twin 2007 175hp Suzuki outboards on our 25ft offshore boat and they have just surpassed 1,100 hours on each motor. The only problems that we have had with them was the throttle cable snapped while 20 miles offshore and one of the latches froze up and would not open to remove the cowling. But we never replaced the cable for a long time till it snapped and it was original from 07.
Running an old 98 johnson 115hp. No fuel injection, just carbs and cold natured as can be. After it warms up thought it runs great. Has the primers for the carbs instead of chokes. Was very annoying for me to try and prime by pushing in the key switch while i'm turning the key switch to start it, so I put me a foot control switch on the floorboard under the console , just to activate the primer, and it's whole lot easier that way for me.
Talking about motor brands, I’ve never had any major problems that weren’t my fault with any Yamaha motor I’ve owned. We have a sea hunt bx24 with a 08 Yamaha I believe, and it’s been on there since we bought the boat used and never had a single problem. Also I have a 2018 skeeter zx200 with a Yamaha vmax SHO that has also never had a single problem. However the previous bass boat I had was an ‘00 nitro nx750 with a ‘01 mercury tracker motor, the starter went out. And even though it was an older used motor it still happened and for me I’ll never run anything other than a Yamaha. It’s like the Chevy and Ford of boat motors, it’s truly whatever you like better, they both are strong right now and both are good options, I just prefer the Yamaha (and chevy)
yamaha makes good stuff. Growing up I always had Kawasaki, but now I have almost all yamaha. I have a YXZ, Waverunner, boat, and even the outboard on my bass boat are all yamaha. Never really had problems with any of them.
I could have put a Suzuki on the transome for less. But that thought never crossed my mind. But, .maybe the comment about going with the best price is generally true. Sad stuff.
Been an Evinrude guy all my life. Last year, purchased a used boat with a Mercury (2-stroke) on it. That had more to do with the boat brand & model at the right price for me than the motor itself. My older boat with an Evinrude 48 SPL recently, acquired lower unit issues so, old faithful is down. I believe You will do your diligence and research the avenues that apply to your situation and make the best decision possible for you, your business and your family. Respectfully, JM
I had a Evinrude and Johnson on my boat for 35 year and never wanted to change . I then moved to Fl and I had to change over to Yamaha for better salt water protection and I love it. I would not change. They also stand behind their product. I would suggest you look at Yamaha.
I'm an Evinrude guy, but after having high hopes when they introduced the G2 and saw the price, I was expecting this, In my opinion you don't come with a high tech two stroke with a bad stigma from the resent past and a market focusing on four stroke only with the highest prices in the industry, I honestly thought that Evinrude was going to attack the market like Suzuki did , till people got used to the new two stroke and have people talk about it and to build up the trust and pick up a market share, but no, they just came out with the most expensive out board in the market, while every body and their cousin was still tacking about the Ficht every time some one mentioned an evinrude, well good luck to all the customers with the new and abandoned G-2, i hope soon they can start again with at least a new 4 stroke but with a better price and marketing idea, because even if they start rebranding Yamahas the competition will be calling it two strokes to keep up with the bad stigma they had. Folks that is only my opinion.
We’ve ran a yamaha on our boats for as long as I can remember. I could say that the SHO is the best motor out there right now. In my opinion they are the most reliable motors and have great service!
Yamaha is amazing they have a lot of power and I’ve never had a problem with them they make great freshwater and saltwater engines as well. That blue and gray hat looks great btw
FYI, the SHO from 200 hp through 300 hp are essentially the same engine with a different ECU flash. Considering your fleet of engines, support and spare parts may be virtually interchangeable reducing your overall costs. Love my 200 SHO.
Many years ago the first bass boat I owned was a Triton with a Mercury 125. Thanks to your endorsement I'm waiting on a Skeeter with the Yamaha 250 and I'm very excited to get on it!
Scott you didn't mention the Honda outboards to consider. The only experience I have is the coast guard towed us in from the Galveston /Bolivar jetties one night with an inflated boat with Honda 90 outboard and we were in a 20'deep hull Wellcraft and you could not hear their engine run. Worth consideration. Their cars are among the highest resale on the market.
Choosing a new motor, I went with a Yamaha SHO due to their reliability reputation. For some reason I feel you're going to go Suzuki as they're growing in popularity and looking for big names to represent their product. Evinrude was in your heart and we can see that. Continue to follow it.
Mercs are junk .. you’ll see that the commercial salt water guys all buy Suzuki or Yamaha only ,cause their livelihood depends on it .. salt kills these motors and the last two years Flw ,and bass pros have had more break downs than the g2 ..
Scott my man, Like you I have been a Johnson / Evinrude brand fan boy most of my 63 years. But my last 2 outboards have been Mercury's and I must say that if asked NOW I would say I'm a Mercury fan boy. The 2 I owned have not given me any trouble at all. I just ran OMC for nearly 20 years like you and they never gave me a reason to complain. I think your statement in the video is correct. They are all very good now a day's. Good luck my friend.
I bought a 2003 Skeeter with a 2003 Yamaha HPDI 175 hp motor brand new. I fish 1-3 times a week including cold weather. I truly can say I’ve never had any problems out of that motor and I am hell on equipment! Wide ass open from point a to b!!! It may break down tomorrow but I would go buy another one in a heartbeat!!!!!
My recommendation to you is 100% the Yamaha SHO VMAX for Bass tournaments then the sliver chrome Yamaha for saltwater . Right now i run a 2004 Yamaha 0x66 3.1 L but the next boat i will for sure be running the Yamaha SHO VMAX either 225 or 250 hp you'll be glad you did. Also my marine mechanic shop is a Yamaha dealer. With that said i myself wouldn't run my boats any other way. several reasons are 1. faster hull shot, 2. lighter physical weight, 3. Best protection against saltwater corrosion, 4. Highest top speed, 5. Highest reliability reputation, 6 best service reputation.
Sorry to hear about your loss with evinrude. I think you should run whichever motor company you feel best suits your needs and makes your life better for you and your family. Personally all the motor brands are great platforms and both Yamaha and mercury both fit your needs for bass, inshore, and offshore fishing. I’m a die hard Yamaha guy and run a 250 Vmax Sho and absolutely love the motor. Good on fuel and jumps out the hull great and has great top end and mid range. They also make the new 425 offshore which would go great on the back of the freeman. Also they make the 300 saltwater which would go good on the back of your bay ranger
There is only 1 brand of outboard motor-Mercury. When we had boat racing-and I'm talking 40' cats in the ocean to 18' cats going around in circles-what brand dominated the whole field? What brand and what manufacturer helped racing more? Only 1. Talk to Earl Bents and his buddy who started the big ocean speed boats. They started in the 1950's racing in a NC river. I wish I could remember that guys name but you can find it. Any way they are innovators. TheSe guys are real gear heads. Hell I am also into Hot Rods, Mercury Marine sells a Mercury marine sells a V-8 that puts out over a 1000HP that me or Any body else who has the $ can buy and put in there car. Complete engine. Plug and play. Listen to Me. Other brands want to make share holders $. And yes Mercury wants to make $. But that is not there sole purpose. They have Government contracts that make them $. I'm done preaching. Just buy a Mercury. I'm be the first guy to put a 400R on a bass boat!!!🤣🤣
Scott Martin, I don't follow the tournament fishing world so I don't know you yet. By watching your "now what" you tube segment today. I do know you. You are just like one of us hard working folks just trying to provide for his family. Your profession just happen to be something that we all wish we could do. You are a teacher to all that fishes and some will follow in your footsteps. Your situation, look! You have all these great tools (boat, motor clothing whatever divorcements) that had propelled you to where you are. You have grown attached to it. Now that these tools are no longer available. You are bewildered. "It's normal" you are human. You have so many people on here that shows great support for you. Already giving you great tips and they don't want to see "their guy bug down". Get your hand on this book. "Who Moved My Cheese" (It is the light switch that you are looking for.)
I’m running a Suzuki and I Absolutely Love it. No issues whatsoever super quiet, fuel efficient, and plenty of bottom! I think they are making a come up in the 4 stroke world. I know they are in the Catfishing tournament scene.
I can’t say anything negative about the other brands because I have not ran them, but I can tell you that I have been with Yamaha since 1997, and in 23 years, I’ve not had a failure outside of break in. My past 2 engines being 4 stroke Sho models have been absolutely flawless. Ran the previous 2012 SHO 250 for 5 years with over 400 hrs zero issues. Pushed that Z521 74mph @ 6100 rpm. Currently running a 2019 Phoenix 20PHX with SHO 250 77mph @ 6200. Well over 100 hrs hrs with zero issues. All of today’s outboards are good engines so it’s hard to make a bad choice and I’m sure any of them would jump at the chance to get the Martin’s on board. The only advice I can offer is this: Follow your heart and choose whichever engine that best fits your needs.
Hey scott. I'm a little late to comment but my dad has been fishing since he was a child and has been a bout owner since he was 27 years old and he is now 68 years old and the only thing that hasn't changed is his out board choice of Yamaha. He loves it, great customer service and jus great all around and very dependable for his tournaments. I think it's a great choice. I actually jus bot him a Yamaha pro fishing goody for his birthday and he loves that too..
Even though I already seen u in a tournament running a Yamaha but I jus wanted to give u my opinion. Good luck going forward scott. As always I will be rooting for u
Hey Scott I've been fishing now for around forty years. Most of that time was while I was growing up, fishing with my Dad. He always ran Johnsons and Evinrudes motors. Just like you said never had any problems with them. I myself now have had I think 6 different boats. All of them had Mercurys on them, both 2 stroke and 4 stroke and so far not one problem. So I guess I'm saying go with Mercurys. If I'm not just plum crazy I think they have been around more than the other guys. Oh yeah I really enjoy watching your videos and would love to have a hat. Tommy Gage Arkansas Fan.
I bought a Skeeter in Nov 19 selling my 2018 Nitro Z9 250 ProXS. I love Mercury and i have ran them since the EFI back in the day. I really loved my 2 stroke 250 ProXS that i have owned 6 of them (i swap boats every year). I ran the v8 250 ProXS on the nitro and prior to that it was 2 stroke only. I really enjoyed the 18 250 ProXS but when i ran in a 20XD that was running a 250SHO i fell in love (we still own a 2015 Bullet 20XDC 250 ProXS and love it but it's our play boat and not our tourney rig). I have always wanted a Skeeter but running Nitro since Jan 2016 bullet from 2010 to 2015... So i decided to buy a 2019 ZX250 in Jan 2020. I have totally loved the SHO (i personally like it better then the ProXS 250 4 stroke) and the Skeeter hull. To be honest the SHO is just so crisp and smooth (not saying the ProXS isn't but the 2 stroke ProXS has a feel that the new ProXS lacks and the SHO feels very much like the optimax based ProXS 250 that i love so much) Im sure you have ran in SHO powered hulls and I'm also sure that you love the 2stroke feel that you have been used to. You will truly love the SHO as its very very familiar vs the v8 merc lacks that even tho it's a beast and the torque is amazing but it just lacks the feel that I'm used to with the opti based 250 XS. Hubby and I are used to running high performance hulls (spending years in Bullet Hull as our full time bass rigs then changing to Nitro but still keeping a Bullet as a fun run boat) and we are very used to the power delivery and feel of the opti based motors and the new XS lack that feel (again please don't think im saying the V8 ProXS isn't an amazing outboard as it is. We run twin 400R on our Yellow fin and wouldn't change them for the world it's just a feel we are used to on bass rigs that turned us off to the New XS for that use) and the SHO feels as close to it as you can get, it's extremely responsive , revs high, sounds great, has a very high performance 2stroke like feel in the mid range (the part that made us go SHO) very good on fuel, super crisp trim response and quick. A 250SHO powered 20XD with 2 people and about 20 gallons of fuel was running 91MPH and our 2stroke 250ProXS Bullet with about the same fuel and loaded weight will run about 94mph so top end is close and believe it or not the SHO is slightly quicker from 30 to 70mph and so so so responsive in that range making the boat a total pleasure to run when the water vets nasty. I really hate that i can't slap a brand new 250 ProXS 2 stroke on another rig as if i could i wouldn't run anything else but i can't so for now it's SHO... I really never thought the outboard hanging off the jack plate would ever be anything other then Mercury.
I have a 2019 mercury 4 stroke on my current boat. It's spent a couple weeks in the shop since I've had it. Alternator went out, and it's had spurts of rough idle and even shutting off a couple times. My dad has a Yamaha Sho on his 721 with close to 400 hrs and no problems. When I order my new boat next year I'll be going Yamaha.
Ridden in and driven boats with all 3 of the brands you mentioned in the past couple of years. All seem to be good motors, the best in my opinion is the Mercury. It is the smoothest, most powerful, best looking and BY FAR the quietest of the 3 which I appreciate. The Mercury Verado is my personal favorite because of all of the reasons I just mentioned. I personally run a Merc Pro XS 115 on my pontoon and it is a great motor, not as quiet as the Verado line but still an excellent engine for my boat. If I needed more power I wouldn't think twice about the Verado.
Had issues with Mercury in the past. I ran the snot out of a Spirit (early Suzuki) with no issues that I didn't cause and had good service out of my Johnsons of different sizes. Looks like I'll be back with Suzuki but will have to replace everything.
Ran Evinrudes in the 80's and 90's with multiple issues, from 2000 until today its been Yamaha. Only seen a shop for a tune up and water pump replacement. Love my Yamaha but my fishing buddy of 40 years loves his Mercs although his has seen more shop time than mine. Boils down to which makes you the best deal and provides the commitment to you that they will stand behind you. Plus way more Yamahas running in salt water than any other brand.
I would put quad 300 Yamaha on the freeman. We have a 202 30 foot seahunt with twin 300s and they push the boat to low 60s. They are fuel efficient and super quiet. Then we have a 2019 22 express with a 175 sho and that motor pushes the boat to low 60s also. So I think that’d be. The choice.
No disrespect meant, but where have you been? Because BRP has been the parent company of Mercury, Evinrude, and Tohatsu FOR YEARS. And when it comes to the tiny outboards, if you buy a Mercury or Evinrude, you're actually getting 100% Tohatsu, ( same with the Evinrude 3.5, it's actually a 4-stroke Tohatsu ) and for good reason. When it comes to the small outboards, Tohatsu can't be beat. Tohatsu is the oldest Japanese outboard manufacturer........even older than Yamaha. But they were only known for smaller to mid size outboards. I bought a 2016 Mercury 3.5 new for my little Twin Troller, and it's 100% Tohatsu, they simply slapped a Mercury decal on the cowl cover, no kidding. Love this little motor. Starts right up every time, and never once has it sputtered, missed, or popped. Other than a Yamaha 115 two stroke I bought new in 2004 as a G-3 bass boat, motor, trailer package, it has been the most dependable outboard I've ever owned......and I've owned quite a few outboard brands & sizes over the years, including Evinrude and Mercury, in sizes from 115, 90, 50, and 40 hp. The only 2 that never gave me any trouble whatsoever was my Yamaha 115 and this tiny Tohatsu.
@@howabouthetruth2157 BRP is not a parent company of Mercury or Tohatsu. Mercury and BRP have just had Tohatsu make some of their smaller motors under their own brand name. Primarily due to cost, Tohatsu pumps out a lot of the smaller motors at a low cost. Doesn't really pay for Mercury and Evinrude to make their own that small.
I was in denial that this day would come, but it was inevitable ever since the Ficht debacle and OMCs bankruptcy. It is unfortunate that BRP couldn’t or wouldn’t spend the cash necessary to compete with Yamaha and Mercury because it really was a great product. Most of the small dealers got shafted by OMC and ran straight into the arms of Yamaha and never came back. In lake markets, where small motors rule, the BRPs were Tohatsu so you might as well save a few $ and buy a merc from bass pro. In saltwater, BRP was slow on tech like joysticks and never developed the high hp motors everyone wants now. I guess you just can’t make a profit with pontoon motors.
@@sdvten Ya know, I got Brunswick confused with BRP, lol. But don't assume "the only reason for "Mercatsu" and "Evintsu" small outboards exist, due solely to cost"........because everyone knows who has been manufacturing the very best small outboards for years. My outboard tech ( Barry of Barry's Boat Works. Everyone in or near Brevard Co Florida who uses Barry once for ANY outboard, never does business with anyone else again ) says Tohatsu is the only company who "went the other way" when it came to their approach for engineering small outboards. They didn't obsess with "lets make the best fuel economy in the market".........We're talking about tiny motors to begin with. My buddy sees more small Honda's & Suzuki's come into his shop ( among the tiny outboards ) all the time with problems of not running or hard starting. He said their ports & carbs are so ridiculously small, he doesn't see how the hell they run to begin with. But Tohatsu allows their small designs to actually breathe, with bigger ports & carbs on the same size motors. I swear by my little 3.5 "Mercatsu". This damned thing is as reliable as my 2004 Yamaha 115 was. You can run this tiny motor all day, and you'll never hear it miss once. Let it sit for 4 months, and the damned thing starts on the 3rd or 4th pull, no joke. Once it's warmed up.......1st start, every time. And I run regular Sunoco. Not "ethanol free". But I do use fuel stabilizer, as everyone should.
I had a yamaha 90 for years ran the hell out of it here in the texas coast. Sold it to another friend that put it on a aluminum center console an with just plugs an regular tuneups still running like the day i bought it in 2000! I now have a 115 yamaha sho and will never use another brand. 8 out of 10 guides run yamahas
The company I work for has been running Honda 4-strokes for over 15 years. We have 17 work boats (various size and weights) that all have twin Honda (90s up to 250s). Our boats are heavy aluminum work boats plus all the equipment and are on the water 3-4 days a week on average. We do all of our own maintenance and mechanical work on them. Most of the issues/problems that do arise are 95% operator error and not the motors fault. I don't know how many hours we run them before replacing them, but I have seen several with 2000 hours and still running strong. Usually replace them every 3 years. Honda may not be the high reeving go fast motors, but they are dependable.
Hi Scott, oh I am so sorry to hear about Evinrude I was thinking about putting one on my next boat. I wouldn’t mind you for whatever decision you make because you are your own person but you ask the public for our opinion. I would love to see you keep your money in our country I hope I worded this right so I did not offend anybody. Best of luck to you Scott.
Mercury has been the only motor I’ve gone with, on all my boats love them. Hopefully make down to Oklahoma and see you in action, sure would be cool to win a Vice versa hat
Scott, I have been running the new mercury 4 stroke behind my boat and it runs amazing! The motor itself is just super quiet compared to other motors, the fuel efficiency on it is amazing and very easy to get in the motor to change oil or work on it! I will run it to the dam and down to War Eagle on Beaver Lake and only use a half a tank! It makes for such a smooth ride and just an all around good motor. I also ran evinrude before this new mercury and loved the evinrude and wanted to give the mercury a shot and have absolutely loved it ever since! It’s a really good motor!! But regardless, I love the channel and will keep watching all the videos because your content is amazing! Can’t wait to see you fishing bass tournaments again! One of my favorite professional anglers along with Jimmy and Roland!! Good luck with everything and wish you the best Scott!!
yamaha should be anyones 1st choice salt or frest water if money isnt a issue - also resell with yamahas is much better at least here in the midwest used boats with yamahas might last a couple days anything else likely to sit a while
Yamaha resale is always good holds its price yet you will never have an issue with it its a no brainer. Suzuki they have corrosion problems. merc most seem good and no doubt they are but my mate has 2018 250hp merc an broke down at 150hours. an had a oil leak. I've owned many Yamahas and never had an issue if you want power an yet the very best reliability go yammy
"Yammys" perform pretty bad if you compare them to competitors. They are much louder, they are uglier, parts are expensive, they have worse fuel economy than a mercury with an extra cylinder (3cyl and 4 cyl), insurance is pricier and they are much more likely to get stolen. Is your reliability worth it?
@@quavolaz6826 dunno where your from but if your engine gets stolen of the back of your boat your pretty bloody unlucky lol. i don't think there any louder than other engines but I would say suzuki is better for fuel economy but reliability or better fuel? i know the one I would go for over an over. an comparing my mates 250 merc an my 250 yam they are pretty much the same fuel economy
@@tides4298 I have personally owned one Yamaha and don't get me wrong I was pretty happy with it but yet these facts I brought up made me not wanna buy a Yamaha again and just stick to Mercury. I'm comparing around 50 hp range. I've driven a Yamaha 200 on a 25 foot boat and it was much louder than the 175 pro xs Mercury. It's very common where I live that people drive around and steal outboards
This is obviously a day late, and of course a dollar short, but this boils down to a matter of personal preference. That being said though, I would highly recommend Yamaha. My current motor is a late 2001 model Yamaha Vmax 150 two stroke that came with my 2002 Skeeter ZX190. All I have done is perform the recommended maintenance on the boat and motor since the day they were purchased and both still look and perform beyond my expectations. As far as the hats, well the cap with the dark blue front, white logo, and white mesh is definitely a sharp lid. God Bless and Let's go fishing!
Trust me on this.. Hondas, Etechs and Mercs are the shitheap of outboards. Suzuki and Yamaha are hands down the best motors. I f you gave me a Honda outboard I would throw it away. They make the best pressure washers though. Mercs are like a bipolar woman.. Etechs are laughable. Suzys and Yams are damn near bulletproof dude. Suzuki takes it hands down over the Yam in my opinion.
Why doesn’t anyone run Honda Marine, everyone runs them everywhere else in the world. They’re reliable and their new models of 3.6 liter Vtec engines look real nice.
Hi I was always an evinrude fan. The whole Ole Evinrude story captivated me as a kid. I just had to own one. My first at 15 years of age i saved up and bought a 9.9. At 17 a 60 at 21 a110. These never ever let me down. The fellow whom sold and serviced these was my boating legend since i was about 7 years old Hassleing him at boat shows. He is now retired and we are still good friends. All modern motors scare me as too complcated and too costly. I do doubt their long gevity. I recently had to fit a new motor to our boat. Sadly i left Evinrude as i could see this coming. I chose a yamaha 2 175 hp stroke. I can service it myself unlike modern ones. It should last me 30 years like my Evinrudes have. I know it uses more fuel but i dont mind that. As a side note. I started collecting Evinrude catalogues in 1973 through to the fight and early etecs. I still read them. I must be a boating nerd. A sad day indeed. RIP Ole Evinrude. And thanks for having made the worlds besr outboard motors
Mercury is your fit scott! Tons of power that will plant ya in your seat. And the resale and reliability like what your were talking about is awesome. Never had a problem with a Mercury.
Tristan Wood then I suggest SMC to stay out of a racist place like that. You’ll never see that on the main stream media. Blacks killing whites because of their skin color.
I work at a boat yard and have seen all motors, Yamaha and Suzuki are what I would go with, Mercury seems to have the most issues but they by far have the best customer service and will fix your motor really fast. Also I would love a hat.
Scott, when I swapped motor brands 4 years ago, I had ran evinrude s on last 4 rangers I have owned. I looked at commercial captains, law enforcement, and guides at saltwater marinas. The reason was these people were going out into the ocean, they had to have a dependable motor to get back to land. Overwhelming was the number of Yamaha motors that were on these folks boats. I have been very satisfied with my Yamaha, good luck the rest of the year.
I have been running mercury for over 20 years. No regrets whatsoever. Excellent engines with great performance and reliability. Sorry to hear about Evinrude!! Hate it for everyone who lost jobs!
I was a big Johnson/Evinrude guy back in the day with Stratos.. I have been running Mercury now for 19 years, and absolutely love the performance, especially now with the V8 250! You won’t be disappointed either way you go I believe.? Anyway, Scott good luck with his year!
Mercury and Yamaha are both great with minimal issues. That being said Mercury hit a home run with their new line of 4-strokes. I feel the torque these new engines produce is far and beyond what Yamaha has right now and they are also considerably lighter than the Yamaha. As far as your Free man goes Yamahas 425 Xto is close to 1k pounds where Mercs new 450r is 606 if I’m not mistaken. Have to admit I’m a little biased my family has always ran Mercury and I’m also a Mercury technician.
For me running a 2 stroke has a huge benefit in the power to weight ratio. I am running a jet boat where the number one factor in drive-ability is weight. Weight determines how shallow I run, how fast and so on. One thing I found in my research and testing is that the new mercury pro xs's provided really close power to weight ratio but one thing we found to be the limiting factor was for whatever reason they could not maintain the same top end speed that my evinrude did with various load weights. Yamaha for my boat and running was able to keep the same top end speed and was not as weight sensitive but did not have the bottom end torque or power that the evinrude did. We have good dealer service near us for both brands so that was not a factor, so in the end we are going Yamaha. The Suzuki's are truly to heavy for us. Same power rating is almost 100lbs more, for that weight difference we can go up in HP for Mercury or Yamaha.
Scott I'm sorry for you and the other Pro Anglers that are running Evinrude and now HAVE TO CHANGE. I've ran Johnson, Evinrude, Yamaha, and Mercury, both two and four stroke in the Merc. My 150 four stroke is a running machine and I love it. That being said, you mentioned salt water. My last salt water fishing trip out of Pensacola last year, they ran Suzuki. I asked why, the Capt said their Mechanic would put Suzuki up against anyone! No questions. Mercury is made to run, run all out, you don't always do that on salt water, you Chase fish in forward, and reverse often. The Captain stated that the Mercury just didn't take that kind of abuse, no comparison to the Suzuki! So Scott, with all your equipment, I'd probably go with Suzuki. I would have instead of my Mercury on my boat, there aren't many Suzuki dealerships in my area without driving quite aways. I love my Merc, it's been crazy solid, that being said,I'd go with the Suzuki.Best of luck.
Hi Scott, I have been a fan of Roland since the 1980s and have enjoyed following you(and your Dad) on UA-cam and FLW tourneys over the years as well. I've ran Evinrude and Johnson for years. But have ran Mercurys (250 Pro XS now) since the 1990s. You know the saying "Once you go Phantom Black you don't go back" 😁 Although, I hate to see Evinrude go out. I would love a camo ViceVersa hat!
250 Yamaha Vmax Sho on a Z521C Ranger It Has a Lot Of Power does 70MPH Fuel Mileage Is Great and Its Dependability it is a 2015 And It Has 515 Hours NO PROBLEMS!!!! Yamaha Sho Vmax 4 Stroke 250 PERFECT WAY TO GO
I need your input on this situation. What outboard do you use and why?
Also, drop a comment saying you would like to win one of the Vice Versa hats! 👊🏼
Me and my dad used Mercury 150, we never have any problems with it!
Mercury they are high quality fast and reliable
I would buy the blue one
That is a super clean hat! I think that merc is the way to go. That g2 is a great motor but merc has done some super awesome things with their new 4strokes. Great power, hull shot, mid range and top end. Not to mention they sound awesome
Biggest fan right here
I've ran just about every brand possible engine out there, and now days they are all pretty flawless. my opinion is for you to pick what is best for you and SMC.
Very well said Scott and Kenny
Not if you work on them... I'm retired and help out at a shop when I feel like it, many out there with plastic carbs? Junk Yam all the way...
@@cobia1794 really? not composites but plastic? Just finished a honda 200 with plastic everything. have done many fourstrokes since this video with composite intakes and carb bodies.... hmm....
no matter what anybody says the 4 stroke mercury is the best motor that has ever been made in my opinion. i have a 21ft 2020 triton and that motor has so much power to get those heavy hulls up and run a lot better and faster. i would imagine it would work really well with a ranger
Tru dat I have a 14 ft Jon boat and a 9.9 mercury the thing is a 2004 and it runs real good and it’s fast 25 mph on a 14 ft Jon boa crazy !!
Noooooooo
Fishingthe 256 why do you think that
i think when it comes to a motor it is what u hav the best luck with for me i had a ‘99 2 stroke yamaha 150 until 2011 and then i sold it to my cousin who still uses it to this day never had problems. then with my new boat in 2012 i got 150 merc 4 stroke and the 2 years that i had it it was in the shop 5 times thankful for the warranty and in 2015 went back to yamaha and havnt had any problems. now i get it i probably had a lemon and i understand they arnt all like that but it just left a bad taste and probably would never go back to mercury im still not bashing them just wouldnt b my choice thatz all
Scott, I run a 2019 Mercury 4.6L V8 Pro XS 250 on my ranger 620fs. I am very happy with the performance of this motor. For reliability time will tell.. so far no issues.. Awesome torque and light weight for a V8 four stroke. I have been very brand loyal to Evirude but decided to go with a higher performing 4 stroke due to having 3 Evinrudes in the past and all had VRO pumps fail as a result I blew the motors.
My dad runs a Yamaha SHO 250 on a 620fs he has been very happy with it. All things equal "prop pitch and load" the Mercury has more torque and gets on plane quicker. Once on pad they run about equal. Based on my experience, you cannot go wrong with either Mercury or Yamaha. I will always be an Evinrude fan. Sad to see them go.
Bull Shit four Strokes have been shoved down our throat 2 strokes are far Superior.
Keep running your Evinrude. You've got 8-10 years. If busting a lower unit worries you....carry a spare.
I'm still running a 1989 XP for crying out loud 😅
Aside from it being a bit of a gas hog I certainly have no complaints. Evinrude always made solid motors that were built to last. So show everyone that you TRULY believe(d) in them. 👍
I have followed you Scott forever but just found your channel last week. Thank you for the videos, I stepped away from fishing for 9 years after my parents got a divorce. Well the past week I have had a line in the water for last last 6 days. You’re humble and a great person! Kelly Jordon is a great family friend who is another great pro I love. Thank you again Godbless and stay safe from COVID-19.
I’ve run pretty much all brands, including Evinrude, Johnson, Mercury and Yamaha. Yamaha is by far the most dependable motor I’ve ever owned. I’ve run the 250 on a Ranger Z20 and currently run a 50 on my G3. From the smaller engine I run now to the 250, Yamaha can’t be beat, as reliable as they come.
Back in 2004, I bought a new G-3 HP 170 bass boat with 115 Yamaha 2 stroke & stainless prop. That was by far the most dependable outboard I ever owned.......well, that and the tiny Tohatsu 3.5 I bought new in 2016 for my little Twin Troller. I hear a lot of great things about Suzuki lately.......for their bigger outboards anyway.
I've owned fresh water fishing boats of all sizes for almost 40 years. I've owned Johnson, Mercury, and Evinrude over the years, from 6hp up to 200hp. I'm currently running a Yamaha on my Skeeter (almost 10 years) and I have never run a more durable, reliable engine in my life. I tell my wife all the time, "please don't ever let me purchase any other outboard other than a Yamaha ever again". I feel that strongly about it. Just keep up with regular maintenance and I literally just turn the key and go. Never even have to think about it. That's my 2 cents Scott. Good luck with your decision.
Nothing comes close to Yamaha👌🏻
@John I had the same in 50hp, upgraded to a 40 Yam 4stroke, the best thing I have ever done. Super quiet, you'll wish you had done it earlier, if you ever do! Don't quote me, but I believe Yam made powerheads for Merc for some time!
7 minutes in and still waiting for the eco rude info. FFS, come on man.
I've been an optimax guy for years. I repowered my boat almost 2 years ago and had the option to go with the 4 stroke pro xs or a 2 stroke pro xs. I went with the 2 stroke for the simple fact, as you said, it's tried a true and not a single issue in 140 hours of service! Mercurys 4 stroke was new to the market and there all always unforseen issues that pop up on any new model anything. Whether it's a car, truck, boat and on and on. At this moment, if I had to choose a 4 stroke for my rig, I'd probably go with Yamaha. Reason being, they've been in the 4 stroke world just a little longer. Now 2 years from now, after Mercury has ample time on the water, I'd stick with Mercury!
I'm not bashing one over the other by any means. Both are great companies and have proven it for years. I know of a 250 SHO with well over a 1000 hours and not one significant problem. I also know of 2 stroke pro xs's with well over 1000 hours as well.
Kinda like fishing! Nothing but time on the water will make you better!
Just my 2 cents
Scott I was chartering on the Indian river in the Sebastian area. I ran a Yamaha 150. I put over 2500 hours on that motor with no problems at all, I eventually left chartering back in 2010 during the housing crash as chartering took a big. I actually sold the boat to a friend and he is still running that motor with over 3,000 hours. I have just started bass fishing and just bought a Bass Tracker 17 with a 50 horse Mercury. I was kind of really wanting a Yamaha but they come with the Mercs. Since having the boat the motor has been very good with over 100 hours no issues so far. The one thing that help sell me on the Merc was the warranty program and the ability to extend it out. I figured with the warranty they are offering and the extension they also off at a nominal price would keep me covered with no worries for years to come. I also would think with offering those long warranties they must have a real belief in the long term performance of the motors they manufacture. P.S. Thanks so much for all the videos you do on fishing g as they have helped my wife and I catch more bass and have shortened are learning curve. (J.C.) Henderson
Hey Scott, I would suggest Mercury. They have a long history of quality and reliability. Not to mention the fact that WHEN B. Lat's motor broke down they had him up and running by the next day so that he could continue the tournament.
They suck
yah they have a history of specifically being unreliable ha
yamaha is what you meant to say lol
Uhhh b. Lat runs Yamaha now
I'm sure he I well aware of merc. After all his father Roland ran mercs years and years.
Hey Scott I know, I don’t need to tell you anything about how to run a business. But I would go with who can offer the the best deal. You do this for a living so in the end it’s about what they can do to help you to keep being successful.
From personal experience I would probably go with a Mercury. With that being said Yamaha is great as well. I completely agree with you, that most motors now days are pretty solid. Can’t really go wrong with most of them. I hope you find a motor right for you! Can’t wait to see more content! Keep up the great work!
I have a 2005 225 HO eTec and I've never touched it except for preventative maintenance and computer updates. I'm waiting on a new prop now but it may be a while. My tech at Shoals Marine in North Alabama told me they had 18 deaths at the plant in Wisconsin due to covid 19 but they would open back up for parts. It's been a great motor and i'll run it until it falls apart.
Hey Scott!!! Yeah my heart sank when i heard there will no longer be an Evinrude outboard ever! They've been around for well over 100 years. I've ran one my entire life, and I've been on the water for over 40 years. That said, if you're going to re power, I would highly recommend Mercury. At least they've been in the business for years and know outboards. Not knocking the other brands, they learned from the best. And I'm sure Mercury would be an awesome sponsor...just saying. Thanks for the videos... Mike from Ontario, Canada
I have owned Evinrude and Johnson since the mid 70's . One classic I continued to run for 35 yrs. I would always choose an American brand name and I think the G1 and G2 technology is great. It is sad to seen a legendary name name go down, not to mention all dedicated experienced personnel. I know their hearts and souls were in this product and likely were multi-generational employees. Sad for the communities where these families lived. I will continue to run my ETEC until either it or I give up the ghost.
💪 American made baby
SHO. Yamaha has always had the most dependable motor with a great support service. That’s one reason I’ve always bought Skeeters. From bow to motor, all the same company.
Well from an all salt water standpoint, there is a lot of choices like you said and for me I’d have to say Suzuki outboards. I have twin 2007 175hp Suzuki outboards on our 25ft offshore boat and they have just surpassed 1,100 hours on each motor. The only problems that we have had with them was the throttle cable snapped while 20 miles offshore and one of the latches froze up and would not open to remove the cowling. But we never replaced the cable for a long time till it snapped and it was original from 07.
Running an old 98 johnson 115hp. No fuel injection, just carbs and cold natured as can be. After it warms up thought it runs great. Has the primers for the carbs instead of chokes. Was very annoying for me to try and prime by pushing in the key switch while i'm turning the key switch to start it, so I put me a foot control switch on the floorboard under the console , just to activate the primer, and it's whole lot easier that way for me.
Talking about motor brands, I’ve never had any major problems that weren’t my fault with any Yamaha motor I’ve owned. We have a sea hunt bx24 with a 08 Yamaha I believe, and it’s been on there since we bought the boat used and never had a single problem. Also I have a 2018 skeeter zx200 with a Yamaha vmax SHO that has also never had a single problem. However the previous bass boat I had was an ‘00 nitro nx750 with a ‘01 mercury tracker motor, the starter went out. And even though it was an older used motor it still happened and for me I’ll never run anything other than a Yamaha. It’s like the Chevy and Ford of boat motors, it’s truly whatever you like better, they both are strong right now and both are good options, I just prefer the Yamaha (and chevy)
yamaha makes good stuff. Growing up I always had Kawasaki, but now I have almost all yamaha. I have a YXZ, Waverunner, boat, and even the outboard on my bass boat are all yamaha. Never really had problems with any of them.
Let's be honest. You will go with whoever gives you the best monetary deal.
I could have put a Suzuki on the transome for less. But that thought never crossed my mind.
But, .maybe the comment about going with the best price is generally true. Sad stuff.
I highly recommend Mercury. My dad and I have had ours about 10 years and it is still kicking! Definitely recommend!
And I would love a hat!!!!
I got a 83 mariner 150 it's still kicking very well
Been an Evinrude guy all my life. Last year, purchased a used boat with a Mercury (2-stroke) on it. That had more to do with the boat brand & model at the right price for me than the motor itself. My older boat with an Evinrude 48 SPL recently, acquired lower unit issues so, old faithful is down.
I believe You will do your diligence and research the avenues that apply to your situation and make the best decision possible for you, your business and your family.
Respectfully, JM
I had a Evinrude and Johnson on my boat for 35 year and never wanted to change . I then moved to Fl and I had to change over to Yamaha for better salt water protection and I love it. I would not change. They also stand behind their product. I would suggest you look at Yamaha.
I'm an Evinrude guy, but after having high hopes when they introduced the G2 and saw the price, I was expecting this, In my opinion you don't come with a high tech two stroke with a bad stigma from the resent past and a market focusing on four stroke only with the highest prices in the industry, I honestly thought that Evinrude was going to attack the market like Suzuki did , till people got used to the new two stroke and have people talk about it and to build up the trust and pick up a market share, but no, they just came out with the most expensive out board in the market, while every body and their cousin was still tacking about the Ficht every time some one mentioned an evinrude, well good luck to all the customers with the new and abandoned G-2, i hope soon they can start again with at least a new 4 stroke but with a better price and marketing idea, because even if they start rebranding Yamahas the competition will be calling it two strokes to keep up with the bad stigma they had. Folks that is only my opinion.
We’ve ran a yamaha on our boats for as long as I can remember. I could say that the SHO is the best motor out there right now. In my opinion they are the most reliable motors and have great service!
Never had issues with yamahas
Yamaha is amazing they have a lot of power and I’ve never had a problem with them they make great freshwater and saltwater engines as well. That blue and gray hat looks great btw
FYI, the SHO from 200 hp through 300 hp are essentially the same engine with a different ECU flash. Considering your fleet of engines, support and spare parts may be virtually interchangeable reducing your overall costs. Love my 200 SHO.
We got 3 Yamahas and they never have gave us any issue Yamaha is by far the best.
Many years ago the first bass boat I owned was a Triton with a Mercury 125. Thanks to your endorsement I'm waiting on a Skeeter with the Yamaha 250 and I'm very excited to get on it!
Scott you didn't mention the Honda outboards to consider. The only experience I have is the coast guard towed us in from the Galveston /Bolivar jetties one night with an inflated boat with Honda 90 outboard and we were in a 20'deep hull Wellcraft and you could not hear their engine run. Worth consideration. Their cars are among the highest resale on the market.
Choosing a new motor, I went with a Yamaha SHO due to their reliability reputation. For some reason I feel you're going to go Suzuki as they're growing in popularity and looking for big names to represent their product. Evinrude was in your heart and we can see that. Continue to follow it.
Definitely Suzuki everyone that has one I know says they are possibly the best outboards made and fuel economy is crazy good with this things too
I grew up with all my family having Mercury’s with 0 issues. I’m sure Yamaha is good too but I personally think mercury that new v8 is insane
Bass slayer 365 we are a Mercury family also. We had a Johnson 85 as kids in the 70’s but since then it has been Mercury.
Mercs are junk .. you’ll see that the commercial salt water guys all buy Suzuki or Yamaha only ,cause their livelihood depends on it .. salt kills these motors and the last two years Flw ,and bass pros have had more break downs than the g2 ..
I had a Yamaha for 10 years. Fished hard and it never let me down a single time. I had a couple issues with my Mercury.
Same but i had a evinrude and i just got a merc and second year we had it the whole motor blew
ive had 4 set on fire :(
Scott my man, Like you I have been a Johnson / Evinrude brand fan boy most of my 63 years. But my last 2 outboards have been Mercury's and I must say that if asked NOW I would say I'm a Mercury fan boy. The 2 I owned have not given me any trouble at all. I just ran OMC for nearly 20 years like you and they never gave me a reason to complain. I think your statement in the video is correct. They are all very good now a day's. Good luck my friend.
I bought a 2003 Skeeter with a 2003 Yamaha HPDI 175 hp motor brand new. I fish 1-3 times a week including cold weather. I truly can say I’ve never had any problems out of that motor and I am hell on equipment! Wide ass open from point a to b!!! It may break down tomorrow but I would go buy another one in a heartbeat!!!!!
The motor you got will last forever, I still have a 1983 Johnson that runs perfectly !
1982 Johnson 35 here runs like a mule!
I got Evinrude 48 SPL from 1987 👍
1983 15hp and 25hp still run like champs
Still running a 1972 lightwin 4
'79 Johnson 70HP with lots of life left
Honestly I've been evinrude my whole life however I am going to have switch to mercury. Seem to be killing it
Well my uncle won’t be happy after hearing this
My recommendation to you is 100% the Yamaha SHO VMAX for Bass tournaments then the sliver chrome Yamaha for saltwater . Right now i run a 2004 Yamaha 0x66 3.1 L but the next boat i will for sure be running the Yamaha SHO VMAX either 225 or 250 hp you'll be glad you did. Also my marine mechanic shop is a Yamaha dealer. With that said i myself wouldn't run my boats any other way. several reasons are 1. faster hull shot, 2. lighter physical weight, 3. Best protection against saltwater corrosion, 4. Highest top speed, 5. Highest reliability reputation, 6 best service reputation.
Sorry to hear about your loss with evinrude. I think you should run whichever motor company you feel best suits your needs and makes your life better for you and your family. Personally all the motor brands are great platforms and both Yamaha and mercury both fit your needs for bass, inshore, and offshore fishing. I’m a die hard Yamaha guy and run a 250 Vmax Sho and absolutely love the motor. Good on fuel and jumps out the hull great and has great top end and mid range. They also make the new 425 offshore which would go great on the back of the freeman. Also they make the 300 saltwater which would go good on the back of your bay ranger
Go w Yamaha, both of our motors are 04’s have 3100 hrs and both run flawlessly
Gotta Go American I mean I live in America so I wouldn't just say screw America USA or get the F out
@@randyyoung9892
Might not be American but it's made in America and hire American workers 👍
8 minutes of "buy my stuff..." come on SM get back to FISHING
Mercury there very smooth and plenty of power
I have one they have MORE than plenty of power😂
Yamaha better
There is only 1 brand of outboard motor-Mercury. When we had boat racing-and I'm talking 40' cats in the ocean to 18' cats going around in circles-what brand dominated the whole field? What brand and what manufacturer helped racing more? Only 1.
Talk to Earl Bents and his buddy who started the big ocean speed boats. They started in the 1950's racing in a NC river. I wish I could remember that guys name but you can find it.
Any way they are innovators. TheSe guys are real gear heads. Hell I am also into Hot Rods, Mercury Marine sells a Mercury marine sells a V-8 that puts out over a 1000HP that me or Any body else who has the $ can buy and put in there car. Complete engine. Plug and play.
Listen to Me.
Other brands want to make share holders $. And yes Mercury wants to make $. But that is not there sole purpose. They have Government contracts that make them $.
I'm done preaching.
Just buy a Mercury.
I'm be the first guy to put a 400R on a bass boat!!!🤣🤣
Monte my friends dad has a basscat Jaguar with a 450r
Scott Martin, I don't follow the tournament fishing world so I don't know you yet. By watching your "now what" you tube segment today. I do know you. You are just like one of us hard working folks just trying to provide for his family. Your profession just happen to be something that we all wish we could do. You are a teacher to all that fishes and some will follow in your footsteps.
Your situation, look!
You have all these great tools (boat, motor clothing whatever divorcements) that had propelled you to where you are. You have grown attached to it. Now that these tools are no longer available. You are bewildered. "It's normal" you are human. You have so many people on here that shows great support for you. Already giving you great tips and they don't want to see "their guy bug down".
Get your hand on this book. "Who Moved My Cheese" (It is the light switch that you are looking for.)
Thanks for that!!👊🏼
I’m running a Suzuki and I Absolutely Love it. No issues whatsoever super quiet, fuel efficient, and plenty of bottom! I think they are making a come up in the 4 stroke world. I know they are in the Catfishing tournament scene.
Any mercury four stroke is a good replacement I think.
Agree
I would have a Yamaha every time I watch someone on tv or on UA-cam Their mercury is broke down
I got a 250 sho on a skeeter fxr 20........one hell of a motor she is strong and reliable. ....
Let's hear some examples of all these broke down Mercs on youtube.
I’d go with mercury marine my dads a commercial fisherman and he has a mercury four stroke and he runs it every day and has no problems what so ever
Complete opposite results from what I have had. I have bought my first and last Mercury.
I can’t say anything negative about the other brands because I have not ran them, but I can tell you that I have been with Yamaha since 1997, and in 23 years, I’ve not had a failure outside of break in. My past 2 engines being 4 stroke Sho models have been absolutely flawless. Ran the previous 2012 SHO 250 for 5 years with over 400 hrs zero issues. Pushed that Z521 74mph @ 6100 rpm. Currently running a 2019 Phoenix 20PHX with SHO 250 77mph @ 6200. Well over 100 hrs hrs with zero issues. All of today’s outboards are good engines so it’s hard to make a bad choice and I’m sure any of them would jump at the chance to get the Martin’s on board. The only advice I can offer is this: Follow your heart and choose whichever engine that best fits your needs.
Hey scott. I'm a little late to comment but my dad has been fishing since he was a child and has been a bout owner since he was 27 years old and he is now 68 years old and the only thing that hasn't changed is his out board choice of Yamaha. He loves it, great customer service and jus great all around and very dependable for his tournaments. I think it's a great choice. I actually jus bot him a Yamaha pro fishing goody for his birthday and he loves that too..
Even though I already seen u in a tournament running a Yamaha but I jus wanted to give u my opinion. Good luck going forward scott. As always I will be rooting for u
Before I watch, I'm willing to bet your next motor will be a Mercury.
Amen. If you wanna go fast.....you gotta go black🤣🤣
Monte hell yes!
Hey Scott I've been fishing now for around forty years. Most of that time was while I was growing up, fishing with my Dad. He always ran Johnsons and Evinrudes motors. Just like you said never had any problems with them. I myself now have had I think 6 different boats. All of them had Mercurys on them, both 2 stroke and 4 stroke and so far not one problem. So I guess I'm saying go with Mercurys. If I'm not just plum crazy I think they have been around more than the other guys. Oh yeah I really enjoy watching your videos and would love to have a hat. Tommy Gage Arkansas Fan.
Mercury is what I run due to the fact it came on the boat ! Will be repowering to the proxs 250 V8 due to the fuel mileage an awesome reviews !!!
I bought a Skeeter in Nov 19 selling my 2018 Nitro Z9 250 ProXS. I love Mercury and i have ran them since the EFI back in the day. I really loved my 2 stroke 250 ProXS that i have owned 6 of them (i swap boats every year). I ran the v8 250 ProXS on the nitro and prior to that it was 2 stroke only. I really enjoyed the 18 250 ProXS but when i ran in a 20XD that was running a 250SHO i fell in love (we still own a 2015 Bullet 20XDC 250 ProXS and love it but it's our play boat and not our tourney rig). I have always wanted a Skeeter but running Nitro since Jan 2016 bullet from 2010 to 2015... So i decided to buy a 2019 ZX250 in Jan 2020. I have totally loved the SHO (i personally like it better then the ProXS 250 4 stroke) and the Skeeter hull. To be honest the SHO is just so crisp and smooth (not saying the ProXS isn't but the 2 stroke ProXS has a feel that the new ProXS lacks and the SHO feels very much like the optimax based ProXS 250 that i love so much)
Im sure you have ran in SHO powered hulls and I'm also sure that you love the 2stroke feel that you have been used to. You will truly love the SHO as its very very familiar vs the v8 merc lacks that even tho it's a beast and the torque is amazing but it just lacks the feel that I'm used to with the opti based 250 XS. Hubby and I are used to running high performance hulls (spending years in Bullet Hull as our full time bass rigs then changing to Nitro but still keeping a Bullet as a fun run boat) and we are very used to the power delivery and feel of the opti based motors and the new XS lack that feel (again please don't think im saying the V8 ProXS isn't an amazing outboard as it is. We run twin 400R on our Yellow fin and wouldn't change them for the world it's just a feel we are used to on bass rigs that turned us off to the New XS for that use) and the SHO feels as close to it as you can get, it's extremely responsive , revs high, sounds great, has a very high performance 2stroke like feel in the mid range (the part that made us go SHO) very good on fuel, super crisp trim response and quick. A 250SHO powered 20XD with 2 people and about 20 gallons of fuel was running 91MPH and our 2stroke 250ProXS Bullet with about the same fuel and loaded weight will run about 94mph so top end is close and believe it or not the SHO is slightly quicker from 30 to 70mph and so so so responsive in that range making the boat a total pleasure to run when the water vets nasty.
I really hate that i can't slap a brand new 250 ProXS 2 stroke on another rig as if i could i wouldn't run anything else but i can't so for now it's SHO... I really never thought the outboard hanging off the jack plate would ever be anything other then Mercury.
I have a 2019 mercury 4 stroke on my current boat. It's spent a couple weeks in the shop since I've had it. Alternator went out, and it's had spurts of rough idle and even shutting off a couple times. My dad has a Yamaha Sho on his 721 with close to 400 hrs and no problems. When I order my new boat next year I'll be going Yamaha.
Ridden in and driven boats with all 3 of the brands you mentioned in the past couple of years. All seem to be good motors, the best in my opinion is the Mercury. It is the smoothest, most powerful, best looking and BY FAR the quietest of the 3 which I appreciate. The Mercury Verado is my personal favorite because of all of the reasons I just mentioned. I personally run a Merc Pro XS 115 on my pontoon and it is a great motor, not as quiet as the Verado line but still an excellent engine for my boat. If I needed more power I wouldn't think twice about the Verado.
I love all your videos Scott. I’d love one of the vice-versa hats. You inspired me to start my own channel!
I’d go with a Mercury, good luck at the Bassmaster Open coming up! Cool hat Scott I would definitely wear one on my next fishing adventure!
I love my Yamaha SHO, I had used Mercury's for years but now Yamaha man. There fast, smooth, quite, and most of all reliable!
Yamaha or Suzuki.. only way to go.
Had issues with Mercury in the past. I ran the snot out of a Spirit (early Suzuki) with no issues that I didn't cause and had good service out of my Johnsons of different sizes. Looks like I'll be back with Suzuki but will have to replace everything.
Ran Evinrudes in the 80's and 90's with multiple issues, from 2000 until today its been Yamaha. Only seen a shop for a tune up and water pump replacement. Love my Yamaha but my fishing buddy of 40 years loves his Mercs although his has seen more shop time than mine. Boils down to which makes you the best deal and provides the commitment to you that they will stand behind you. Plus way more Yamahas running in salt water than any other brand.
I would put quad 300 Yamaha on the freeman. We have a 202 30 foot seahunt with twin 300s and they push the boat to low 60s. They are fuel efficient and super quiet. Then we have a 2019 22 express with a 175 sho and that motor pushes the boat to low 60s also. So I think that’d be. The choice.
I saw where BRP signed a contract with Mercury. Can’t go wrong with a Mercury !!
No disrespect meant, but where have you been? Because BRP has been the parent company of Mercury, Evinrude, and Tohatsu FOR YEARS. And when it comes to the tiny outboards, if you buy a Mercury or Evinrude, you're actually getting 100% Tohatsu, ( same with the Evinrude 3.5, it's actually a 4-stroke Tohatsu ) and for good reason. When it comes to the small outboards, Tohatsu can't be beat. Tohatsu is the oldest Japanese outboard manufacturer........even older than Yamaha. But they were only known for smaller to mid size outboards. I bought a 2016 Mercury 3.5 new for my little Twin Troller, and it's 100% Tohatsu, they simply slapped a Mercury decal on the cowl cover, no kidding. Love this little motor. Starts right up every time, and never once has it sputtered, missed, or popped. Other than a Yamaha 115 two stroke I bought new in 2004 as a G-3 bass boat, motor, trailer package, it has been the most dependable outboard I've ever owned......and I've owned quite a few outboard brands & sizes over the years, including Evinrude and Mercury, in sizes from 115, 90, 50, and 40 hp. The only 2 that never gave me any trouble whatsoever was my Yamaha 115 and this tiny Tohatsu.
@@howabouthetruth2157 BRP is not a parent company of Mercury or Tohatsu. Mercury and BRP have just had Tohatsu make some of their smaller motors under their own brand name. Primarily due to cost, Tohatsu pumps out a lot of the smaller motors at a low cost. Doesn't really pay for Mercury and Evinrude to make their own that small.
I was in denial that this day would come, but it was inevitable ever since the Ficht debacle and OMCs bankruptcy. It is unfortunate that BRP couldn’t or wouldn’t spend the cash necessary to compete with Yamaha and Mercury because it really was a great product.
Most of the small dealers got shafted by OMC and ran straight into the arms of Yamaha and never came back.
In lake markets, where small motors rule, the BRPs were Tohatsu so you might as well save a few $ and buy a merc from bass pro.
In saltwater, BRP was slow on tech like joysticks and never developed the high hp motors everyone wants now.
I guess you just can’t make a profit with pontoon motors.
@@sdvten Ya know, I got Brunswick confused with BRP, lol. But don't assume "the only reason for "Mercatsu" and "Evintsu" small outboards exist, due solely to cost"........because everyone knows who has been manufacturing the very best small outboards for years. My outboard tech ( Barry of Barry's Boat Works. Everyone in or near Brevard Co Florida who uses Barry once for ANY outboard, never does business with anyone else again ) says Tohatsu is the only company who "went the other way" when it came to their approach for engineering small outboards. They didn't obsess with "lets make the best fuel economy in the market".........We're talking about tiny motors to begin with. My buddy sees more small Honda's & Suzuki's come into his shop ( among the tiny outboards ) all the time with problems of not running or hard starting. He said their ports & carbs are so ridiculously small, he doesn't see how the hell they run to begin with. But Tohatsu allows their small designs to actually breathe, with bigger ports & carbs on the same size motors. I swear by my little 3.5 "Mercatsu". This damned thing is as reliable as my 2004 Yamaha 115 was. You can run this tiny motor all day, and you'll never hear it miss once. Let it sit for 4 months, and the damned thing starts on the 3rd or 4th pull, no joke. Once it's warmed up.......1st start, every time. And I run regular Sunoco. Not "ethanol free". But I do use fuel stabilizer, as everyone should.
Mercurys are junk.. Suzuki all the way.
Run a Yamaha, what I have seen and heard it is a good one, but that mercury has had problems in my history
I had a yamaha 90 for years ran the hell out of it here in the texas coast. Sold it to another friend that put it on a aluminum center console an with just plugs an regular tuneups still running like the day i bought it in 2000! I now have a 115 yamaha sho and will never use another brand. 8 out of 10 guides run yamahas
The company I work for has been running Honda 4-strokes for over 15 years. We have 17 work boats (various size and weights) that all have twin Honda (90s up to 250s). Our boats are heavy aluminum work boats plus all the equipment and are on the water 3-4 days a week on average. We do all of our own maintenance and mechanical work on them. Most of the issues/problems that do arise are 95% operator error and not the motors fault. I don't know how many hours we run them before replacing them, but I have seen several with 2000 hours and still running strong. Usually replace them every 3 years. Honda may not be the high reeving go fast motors, but they are dependable.
Hi Scott, oh I am so sorry to hear about Evinrude I was thinking about putting one on my next boat. I wouldn’t mind you for whatever decision you make because you are your own person but you ask the public for our opinion. I would love to see you keep your money in our country I hope I worded this right so I did not offend anybody. Best of luck to you Scott.
Being a marine tech for over 20 years I would go with Yamaha for salt and Mercury for fresh.
I have always used mercury, never had any issues. And who doesn’t like free hats, that camo mesh is cool never seen that before
Mercury has been the only motor I’ve gone with, on all my boats love them. Hopefully make down to Oklahoma and see you in action, sure would be cool to win a Vice versa hat
Hey Scott! Mike Wood again...meant to mention, I currently run 4 quite old Mercs over 100hp and absolutely love them. They run so sweet.
Scott, I have been running the new mercury 4 stroke behind my boat and it runs amazing! The motor itself is just super quiet compared to other motors, the fuel efficiency on it is amazing and very easy to get in the motor to change oil or work on it! I will run it to the dam and down to War Eagle on Beaver Lake and only use a half a tank! It makes for such a smooth ride and just an all around good motor. I also ran evinrude before this new mercury and loved the evinrude and wanted to give the mercury a shot and have absolutely loved it ever since! It’s a really good motor!! But regardless, I love the channel and will keep watching all the videos because your content is amazing! Can’t wait to see you fishing bass tournaments again! One of my favorite professional anglers along with Jimmy and Roland!! Good luck with everything and wish you the best Scott!!
Up here in Cape Cod Yamaha is king in both fresh and salt water
yamaha should be anyones 1st choice salt or frest water if money isnt a issue - also resell with yamahas is much better at least here in the midwest used boats with yamahas might last a couple days anything else likely to sit a while
Yamaha resale is always good holds its price yet you will never have an issue with it its a no brainer. Suzuki they have corrosion problems. merc most seem good and no doubt they are but my mate has 2018 250hp merc an broke down at 150hours. an had a oil leak. I've owned many Yamahas and never had an issue if you want power an yet the very best reliability go yammy
"Yammys" perform pretty bad if you compare them to competitors. They are much louder, they are uglier, parts are expensive, they have worse fuel economy than a mercury with an extra cylinder (3cyl and 4 cyl), insurance is pricier and they are much more likely to get stolen. Is your reliability worth it?
@@quavolaz6826 dunno where your from but if your engine gets stolen of the back of your boat your pretty bloody unlucky lol. i don't think there any louder than other engines but I would say suzuki is better for fuel economy but reliability or better fuel? i know the one I would go for over an over. an comparing my mates 250 merc an my 250 yam they are pretty much the same fuel economy
@@tides4298 I have personally owned one Yamaha and don't get me wrong I was pretty happy with it but yet these facts I brought up made me not wanna buy a Yamaha again and just stick to Mercury. I'm comparing around 50 hp range. I've driven a Yamaha 200 on a 25 foot boat and it was much louder than the 175 pro xs Mercury. It's very common where I live that people drive around and steal outboards
This just makes me extremely sad
This is obviously a day late, and of course a dollar short, but this boils down to a matter of personal preference. That being said though, I would highly recommend Yamaha. My current motor is a late 2001 model Yamaha Vmax 150 two stroke that came with my 2002 Skeeter ZX190. All I have done is perform the recommended maintenance on the boat and motor since the day they were purchased and both still look and perform beyond my expectations. As far as the hats, well the cap with the dark blue front, white logo, and white mesh is definitely a sharp lid. God Bless and Let's go fishing!
Probably the most advanced outboard made. Another company will probably buy Evinrude and crank it up again.
Trust me on this.. Hondas, Etechs and Mercs are the shitheap of outboards. Suzuki and Yamaha are hands down the best motors. I f you gave me a Honda outboard I would throw it away. They make the best pressure washers though. Mercs are like a bipolar woman.. Etechs are laughable. Suzys and Yams are damn near bulletproof dude. Suzuki takes it hands down over the Yam in my opinion.
I really wanna know what happened to Brandon. Need more “spinner worm” lol
Why doesn’t anyone run Honda Marine, everyone runs them everywhere else in the world. They’re reliable and their new models of 3.6 liter Vtec engines look real nice.
Hi I was always an evinrude fan. The whole Ole Evinrude story captivated me as a kid. I just had to own one. My first at 15 years of age i saved up and bought a 9.9. At 17 a 60 at 21 a110. These never ever let me down. The fellow whom sold and serviced these was my boating legend since i was about 7 years old Hassleing him at boat shows. He is now retired and we are still good friends. All modern motors scare me as too complcated and too costly. I do doubt their long gevity. I recently had to fit a new motor to our boat. Sadly i left Evinrude as i could see this coming. I chose a yamaha 2 175 hp stroke. I can service it myself unlike modern ones. It should last me 30 years like my Evinrudes have. I know it uses more fuel but i dont mind that. As a side note. I started collecting Evinrude catalogues in 1973 through to the fight and early etecs. I still read them. I must be a boating nerd. A sad day indeed. RIP Ole Evinrude. And thanks for having made the worlds besr outboard motors
I got a 1986 Evinrude 90hp v4 and love it, was looking to upgrade to a 90HO
What’s up scott im a big fan and was watching some of you’re old tournaments and I’ve been watching you for a while. Your a beast bro
Ask the googan squad guys how their merc perform. They seem to like them
I like Honda, last forever
Mercury is your fit scott! Tons of power that will plant ya in your seat. And the resale and reliability like what your were talking about is awesome. Never had a problem with a Mercury.
I use a Johnson myself. Won't repower until I have to.
But I do use charters on trips to Panama, and I really noticed how smooth the Suzuki is.
Quiet too.
resale of boats with Evinrude's is going to suck.
I’m a big fan of you Scott you should come fish here in South Africa 🇿🇦
again
Are white farmers still being killed off? No thanks
@@case8987 yes they are.
Tristan Wood then I suggest SMC to stay out of a racist place like that. You’ll never see that on the main stream media. Blacks killing whites because of their skin color.
@@case8987 sounds like whats happening up there too...
Hey I would like a hat and you should use a Yamaha
No mercury pro xs
I work at a boat yard and have seen all motors, Yamaha and Suzuki are what I would go with, Mercury seems to have the most issues but they by far have the best customer service and will fix your motor really fast. Also I would love a hat.
Scott, when I swapped motor brands 4 years ago, I had ran evinrude s on last 4 rangers I have owned. I looked at commercial captains, law enforcement, and guides at saltwater marinas. The reason was these people were going out into the ocean, they had to have a dependable motor to get back to land. Overwhelming was the number of Yamaha motors that were on these folks boats. I have been very satisfied with my Yamaha, good luck the rest of the year.
Hi love your vids also you should try to fish in Nebraska for bass good vid.
Go mercury ave the 200 0n my z19 awesome
I have been running mercury for over 20 years. No regrets whatsoever. Excellent engines with great performance and reliability. Sorry to hear about Evinrude!! Hate it for everyone who lost jobs!
I was a big Johnson/Evinrude guy back in the day with Stratos.. I have been running Mercury now for 19 years, and absolutely love the performance, especially now with the V8 250! You won’t be disappointed either way you go I believe.? Anyway, Scott good luck with his year!
Mercury and Yamaha are both great with minimal issues. That being said Mercury hit a home run with their new line of 4-strokes. I feel the torque these new engines produce is far and beyond what Yamaha has right now and they are also considerably lighter than the Yamaha. As far as your Free man goes Yamahas 425 Xto is close to 1k pounds where Mercs new 450r is 606 if I’m not mistaken. Have to admit I’m a little biased my family has always ran Mercury and I’m also a Mercury technician.
For me running a 2 stroke has a huge benefit in the power to weight ratio. I am running a jet boat where the number one factor in drive-ability is weight. Weight determines how shallow I run, how fast and so on. One thing I found in my research and testing is that the new mercury pro xs's provided really close power to weight ratio but one thing we found to be the limiting factor was for whatever reason they could not maintain the same top end speed that my evinrude did with various load weights. Yamaha for my boat and running was able to keep the same top end speed and was not as weight sensitive but did not have the bottom end torque or power that the evinrude did. We have good dealer service near us for both brands so that was not a factor, so in the end we are going Yamaha. The Suzuki's are truly to heavy for us. Same power rating is almost 100lbs more, for that weight difference we can go up in HP for Mercury or Yamaha.
Scott I'm a kayak angler so I don't have any information about motors but good luck on the bassmaster trail You're fan Dan Evans
Scott I'm sorry for you and the other Pro Anglers that are running Evinrude and now HAVE TO CHANGE. I've ran Johnson, Evinrude, Yamaha, and Mercury, both two and four stroke in the Merc. My 150 four stroke is a running machine and I love it. That being said, you mentioned salt water. My last salt water fishing trip out of Pensacola last year, they ran Suzuki. I asked why, the Capt said their Mechanic would put Suzuki up against anyone! No questions. Mercury is made to run, run all out, you don't always do that on salt water, you Chase fish in forward, and reverse often. The Captain stated that the Mercury just didn't take that kind of abuse, no comparison to the Suzuki! So Scott, with all your equipment, I'd probably go with Suzuki. I would have instead of my Mercury on my boat, there aren't many Suzuki dealerships in my area without driving quite aways. I love my Merc, it's been crazy solid, that being said,I'd go with the Suzuki.Best of luck.
Big Johnson finally bit the dust. Went with a Suzuki 250 DF AP fly by wire. Absolutely love it!
Hi Scott,
I have been a fan of Roland since the 1980s and have enjoyed following you(and your Dad) on UA-cam and FLW tourneys over the years as well.
I've ran Evinrude and Johnson for years. But have ran Mercurys (250 Pro XS now) since the 1990s. You know the saying "Once you go Phantom Black you don't go back" 😁 Although, I hate to see Evinrude go out.
I would love a camo ViceVersa hat!
250 Yamaha Vmax Sho on a Z521C Ranger It Has a Lot Of Power does 70MPH Fuel Mileage Is Great and Its Dependability it is a 2015 And It Has 515 Hours NO PROBLEMS!!!! Yamaha Sho Vmax 4 Stroke 250 PERFECT WAY TO GO