texasfishingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Power-Pole CS, T-Rigger, JoeGoes, EcKo
119150 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
hopalong 120,565
TexDawg 119,510
Bigbob_FTW 94,875
John175☮ 85,892
Pilothawk 83,259
Bob Davis 81,465
Mark Perry 72,280
Derek 🐝 68,311
JDavis7873 67,416
Forum Statistics
Forums59
Topics1,037,799
Posts13,934,688
Members144,150
Most Online39,925
Dec 30th, 2023
Print Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3
Outboard engine durability #11676353 06/19/16 06:15 PM
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 73
C
ChickenRancher Offline OP
Outdoorsman
OP Offline
Outdoorsman
C
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 73
How long should a person reasonably expect a new outboard to last? Assuming regular use and maintenance. I have noticed that several motors seem to only get about 300 hours before blowing a power head or similar costly issue. Is one manufacturer better than another when it comes to durability?

Moritz Chevrolet - 9101 Camp Bowie W Blvd, Fort Worth, TX - Monte Coon (817) 696-2003
Re: Outboard engine durability [Re: ChickenRancher] #11676371 06/19/16 06:25 PM
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,072
R
Ricky Taylor Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
R
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,072
Tough question. No two motors are built the same. IMO, if you take good care of it, it'll last you 600+

Re: Outboard engine durability [Re: ChickenRancher] #11676382 06/19/16 06:33 PM
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 13,503
Ken A. Offline
Groovy
Offline
Groovy
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 13,503
Both Merc and Yamaha are great engines. I fished with a guide yesterday that has a Yam 300 Four stroke on his boat with 2,200 hours on it. All he has done is water pump impellers every year and lower unit grease change.



Re: Outboard engine durability [Re: ChickenRancher] #11676383 06/19/16 06:34 PM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,635
J
James P. Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
J
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,635
My yammi got over 520 Hope to get another 500 out of her

Re: Outboard engine durability [Re: ChickenRancher] #11676397 06/19/16 06:39 PM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 23,167
S
SteezMacQueen Offline
TFF Guru
Offline
TFF Guru
S
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 23,167
My Merc is a 98 model it gets run hard 4-5 days a week. For years, since I've owned it. Nothing but impellers, a set of plugs, and a starter. No telling how many hours are actually on it. I have figured about 900 hours I have put on it. Boats been on 50 or so lakes and 15 states since I've owned it.


Eat. Sleep. Fish.
Re: Outboard engine durability [Re: ChickenRancher] #11676497 06/19/16 07:45 PM
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 11,533
T
txmasterpo Offline
TFF Guru
Offline
TFF Guru
T
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 11,533
I think they should last 1000 hours minimum for what they cost..... I'm not buying into the new tech.....far as I'm concerned Mercury stopped building anything I care to own after the 225 EFI's..... I plan to get a bigger, more recent boat, but I'd rather find a good old Merc to hang on it.


http://www.trccovers.com

"I am large, I contain multitudes."

Walt Whitman
Re: Outboard engine durability [Re: ChickenRancher] #11676586 06/19/16 08:51 PM
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,390
A
Andrew Y'Barbo Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
A
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,390
Ive seen a few guide engines between 500-1000 hours. (Yamaha sho) If you take care of one and do not rag it out, they last. Your majority of hours needs to be in the 3K-5k. Guides can cruise 4500rpm while your tournament guys will put a lot of time at the 5800-6000rpm range or under 1k idling.

Re: Outboard engine durability [Re: ChickenRancher] #11676592 06/19/16 08:56 PM
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 15,724
K
ko bass attack 27 Offline
TFF Guru
Offline
TFF Guru
K
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 15,724
I've had a motor last 2,000 hrs. I've had one blow in less than 10. The most reliable outboard I ever had was an old OMC Johnson. I currently run an 08 Mercury 225 Optimax and have had good luck with it and it currently has about 300 hrs. On it. I think proper maintenance and using dealer recommended oil and fuel additives is the key to longevity on today's high tech engines. It ain't cheap but I have never bought a Bass Boat expecting a return on my investment. If I was buying a new outboard today it would be another Mercury, but I'm still partial to a two stroke as opposed to a four.

Re: Outboard engine durability [Re: ChickenRancher] #11676644 06/19/16 09:43 PM
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 446
D
dragonsdaddy Offline
Angler
Offline
Angler
D
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 446
my 88 nissan still starts and runs like a top.

Re: Outboard engine durability [Re: ChickenRancher] #11676920 06/20/16 12:45 AM
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 7,610
3
361V Offline
TFF Celebrity
Offline
TFF Celebrity
3
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 7,610
I got rid of a 1992 Ranger w/a 1992 Johnson Faststrike 150 and I couldn't tell a difference in how it ran from new. Impeller every couple of years, inline aftermarket fuel filter every year or so and couple sets of plugs...period. Always added Stabil after straight gas became difficult to find and it ran perfect! Hours? No guess! Hope I'm as blessed with this 2013 250 ProXS!

Re: Outboard engine durability [Re: ChickenRancher] #11677161 06/20/16 02:48 AM
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,890
C
Champion 221 Elite Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
C
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,890
1989 Mercury 200 Blackmax 970 Hours still runs good as new

Last edited by Champion 201 DCR; 06/20/16 02:48 AM.

Just Fishing For Fun!
Re: Outboard engine durability [Re: ChickenRancher] #11677169 06/20/16 02:53 AM
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,738
B
bronco71 Online Content
TFF Team Angler
Online Content
TFF Team Angler
B
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,738
1980 Merc Black Max 150, replaced 1 power pack 15 years ago, plugs every year, water pump every 2 years, thermostats, poppet valves once and just rebuilt the carbs for the second time.......never left me stranded.....added a water seperator/fuel filter 10 years ago.

Last edited by bronco71; 06/20/16 03:03 AM.

1987 Nitro MX185/Mercury Black Max 150
1999 Triton TX21/225 Mercury Optimax
Re: Outboard engine durability [Re: ChickenRancher] #11677540 06/20/16 01:31 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 87
W
wanderer50 Offline
Outdoorsman
Offline
Outdoorsman
W
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 87
Thinking of buying an 06 ranger with a 150 optimax,beautiful boat... It has 375 hrs. Is that a lot of hrs??

Re: Outboard engine durability [Re: ChickenRancher] #11677633 06/20/16 02:12 PM
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,736
InTheClear Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,736
Got 1800 out of a 2003 Yamaha V-Max 225, bought it new and still had the original powerhead and lower unit when I traded it in Feb 2016.

Service, service, service! Took really good care of it! Run the ring-free!

Last edited by InTheClear; 06/20/16 02:15 PM.
Re: Outboard engine durability [Re: ChickenRancher] #11677652 06/20/16 02:19 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 72,280
Mark Perry Offline
Super Freak
Offline
Super Freak
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 72,280
Take care of them and they should last without much more than routine maintenance. Have had great performance from all 3 brands.

Page 1 of 3 1 2 3
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 1998-2022 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3