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Yamaha vs. Merc.

Needafunboat

Needafunboat

Active member
OK, I'm thinking about a boat with a 220 yamaha on it - (92 starliner in the listings). My question for you guys is how does that motor compare to the mercs. I'd be intersed in the Power difference, But really I'm interested in how much more $ parts are for that. Also, if I ever need to have a powerhead rebuilt - do I have the same options or will some guys not touch yamaha's? I'd plan on keeping that boat for a while so this could be an issue eventually. How does Yamaha durability compare to mercs or johnsons? I know yamaha is the durability leader in PWC's (compared to my seadoo's at least), but I have no idea on how they do on OB's. Thanks!
 
I think the votes on this board will go 97% with the merc. But do you have a option on what engine you get. The Yamaha is a fine running engine. And if the boats a good deal I would get it. And if the engine is took care of it will last a long time. But if I had a choice it would be the Merc.
 
Guys in the performance boating world have an irrational love affair with Mercs. It is true that used parts are very easy to find since there are so many blown Mercs out there.
New Yamaha parts are slightly more expensive but you rarely need any since they are so much better built. It's not hard to find a tech to work on either brand. I own and have owned both and would take a Yammie over a Merc any day.
The 1989 130 Yamaha in the avatar has only required some $3 seals in the trim release valve in 18 years. It has never been apart and runs like it is brand new. You don't even want to get me started on the money I have spent on my 200 EFI Merc...new ECU, new voltage regulators, new trigger, new stator, new pivot shaft and bushings, new yoke, new motor mounts...$$$$$
My brother runs a Yamaha 150 ProV and never even drains the carbs in the fall. He will put it up on the lift, change the lower end oil and walk away. In the spring he will turn the key and it will start. In 15 years he has only had to change the trim sensor.
Providing the motor has not been abused you do not need to be afraid of an old Yamaha.
 
I own a Merc, but wouldn't have a problem in the world with a Yamaha either. Performance-wise the Mercs probably rule and that's the answer you usually get. Yamahas rule the world where I live for salt water and offshore use which I think testifies to their reliability.
 
Mercs win the popularity contest, that dosent make them a better motor. My father and I have had 7 Yamahas over the years and have never had a major problem with any of them, most were over 10 years old. I love to support American made but the Japps make an awsome motor.
Most Mercs use a 60 degree V, Yamaha uses a 90 degree V on most. The 90 gives more low and mid range torque and a smoother power band from start to finish. The 60 degree has a little less torque on the lower end but really kiks in on the upper RPM, THe 60 degree will also stand higher RPM's.
Mercs are typically lighter but I have not found that to be a issue on Checkmates, they need the weight and set back to create leverage to get the bow up. On a light weight racing hull this could be more of an issue.
An intresting note, Yamaha owners swear by there yamis. given the choice between a Merc and a Yamaha, I would pay more to get a yami.

F150GT
 
Well if Merc limited their motors to lower RPM levels I'm sure they would have less blown heads too. ;)

Look at the guys on this board!

How many time have you read this?

Yeah, the Max RPM's on my motor is 5,600 but that means nothing. I'm running it to 6,300.

Having said that, to me the top two motors on the market are Mercs and Yammies. :thumb:

Just my .02 cents. :D
 
Thanks for all the info guys! Mark - yeah, I've been talking with Rusty about that black starliner with the merc. He sent me some high res pics and I can tell you that listing does not do the boat justice! The hull / interior on the boat look mint and very striking.

That '92 in seatle is a 2 owner boat and from what I can tell, it's pretty unmolested (except tha there is what looks to be a black motor in two of the pics, and the yamaha in the others!). The price is right on it, but when you add shipping and a flight out there - it's about a fair price, and potentially a wasted flight!

...ugh... so much to think about. Maybe a summer with the little sporty is the way to go.
 
i think the biggest reason mercs are more desirable in the performance boating field is due to the weight to power ratio. at least in the past it has been that way. i am pretty sure a 200 hp merc still weighs less than a 200 yammy.

but, i guess if you have a larger boat to begin with, 50 extra pounds will not make a difference at all.
 
The 200hp 2007 Merc Optimax..497 LBS. The 200 hp 2007 Yamaha HPDI , 475 LBS.

Yamaha longevity/ Peace of mind...." Priceless"


I raced Yamaha and they are as close to bullet- proof as you can find. I still LOVE Merc's and swear by them but when you see the Yamaha's on EVERY 3rd world boat that tells you something. ( " They can't get parts?")

Groucho
 
Mercs are plenty reliable if taken care of just a little bit i know of hundreds of V6 mercs that had the crap ran out of them for over 15 years and never cracked them open. The only guys that are popping them on a regular basis are the guys spinning them to the moon and modding them to the nutz. When you take a 200 fishing motor and squeeze another 50+ HP out of it of course its reliability will be crap. Yammys are super dependable but the don't knock out the Merc. And there's as many black motors as grey in the third world or atleast there was when i was living overseas.
 
It's not just a matter of which motor will blow a powerhead first under abusive conditions. It's a question of which one is built better using superior components. Yamaha has Merc clearly skunked in this department.
Merc electronics...stators, triggers, switch boxes, regulators, rectifiers...are just plain inferior. When I swap out my OEM Merc electronics I always go to aftermarket CDI/Rapair components and that will be the last time I have to fix that part. With Yamaha you will likely never have to swap those parts out in the first place.
The cult-like devotion to Mercury makes no rational sense to me at all.:D
 
I love my mercs and always will. Am i saying they are the best NO but they are about as reliable as anybody else if you don't treat them like s$%t. The Yammis are probably one of the best motors built but all in all it's a work motor not a performance motor. Yes there is a very small handful of people that can make them scream. But if you run them as hard as the average performance Merc guy runs his motor the won't last any longer. Just what i've seen over the years. And as far as cult like devotion everybrand has there's OMC and even the new BRP motors have them Yamaha has them just most of them don't frequent these style of boards.
 
The boat your talking about is about a hour or so away from me. DO NOT go souly by the looks of the Yamaha excel(I have a redone cowl for it that you would love, it changes the whole look). The excel is a 225 they have the best tuner, heads, exhaust tuner,block and carbs yamaha ever put on a stock motor.They also have a slightly different gear ratio of 1.76 . Alot of the parts hydrotec has people put on there motors are a directly from excels, these were yamahas hot motor, they were actually a bit more then 225hp closer to 240 according to ray neudecker.Mine bone stock ran 74.3 mph on my starflite once I set it up right. My excel this year will have over 275hp its completey built. The EXCEL is definatley no joke. I ran a vmax 200 this summer while redoing my excel, and I used the whole front from an excel as well as tuner, exhaust divider etc. Very good motor:bigthumb: Aaron
 
Whether it is a two stroke or four stroke the Yammi outboards are tough. Regardless of this fact, everyone has an opinion so hang on, this could get confusing. Yamaha is one of the largest manufacturers of 4 stroke engines in the world, so they know what they are doing. They also build their own stuff.
I had a great experience with a Yamaha 115 V4, and the darn thing ran amazing. I drove it like I stole it, and it lasted 10 hard years.
I've never had a Merc run a long time, and I've blown up a pile of them. I've had several 150's a175, a 200, a 225, a 150 Optimax and two 80's The 80, 150,s 175, and two hundred were all on Checkmates.
Regardless, of my rambling, what was the question again?
 
Growing up I always wanted a C/M with a Yamaha because that was the the fastest boat on the lake. Now that I'm all growed up I have a C/M with a Mercury and I'M the fastest boat on the lake.

I woulds reeeeeeeeally love to get a 2100BR with a 300HP whatever down the road. Engine brand won't factor. Condition of boat and motor will be everything. AND as long as I'm rambling on about crap that doesn't matter...I have a black lab named Gunner.
 
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