Decisions Decisions

[ddal]

Wanting to put a 115 mercury 4 stroke on a lowe 195 but really dont know that much about them.Read several articles saying yamaha makes the top and mercury makes the lower units.Problems being a rattling sound in the lower units.One solution is to put a mercury pro xs on it.Boat dealer says either would be fine he is probably right.Can anybody advise.:D

[CrappiePappy]

ddal ... I can't "advise" you on which motor model or brand to buy, but :

Mercury & Yamaha are no longer co-mfgs of outboard engines (since around 2003/2004). They used to be, so that's probably the articles you're seeing. I think Mercury is in league with Tohatsu, now, but only for the 30hp & smaller engines.

When I had my last boat, I put a 70HP Yammy on it ... and I put a Mercury SS prop on the motor. It had a spacer that came with it, to make it fit. Several other component parts of the Yammy were identical to the same size Mercury, and could be used/exchanged. It was a 1984 model Yammy ... back when Merc & Yammy were in a mfg relationship.

... cp

[colayn]

Check out the forums on iboats.com
I am sure you can get help there. Just be sure to get into the correct forum.

Good luck

[lakeboy]

I have had Yamaha and Evinrude, nothing bad to say about either one. Right now I have a Lowe 195 and I have a 115 Mercury X-Pro on it. It does a great job. On the other boat I have a Mercury 150 Optimax and it does a great job. To me there is not that much difference; it's just what you prefer. But I really like what I have now. Good luck in your decision.

Tale care - GOOD FISHING.

[ddal]

Thanks for the advise on the mercury motors.Still trying to decide how to install the transducer on the 195 lowe for a 898si.so the motor doent get in the way when you sidescan.Thought about putting an 4in. offset plate but lowe said it would void the warranty on the boat. Life is short make every day count. ddal.

[ifish]

ddal,
I looked at the 195 real hard and that is a big nice boat.I ended up with a Ranger 188 vx and I put a Yamaha 150 4 stroke on it. The dealer tried real hard to put a 150 Optimax on it and I sure am glad I stuck to my guns. The Yamaha is one sweet motor because I just putter around since I put a sidescan on the boat. Smooth and does not load up. Real easy on gas. I got a 6 year warranty also. Maybe this year I will actually get some fishing in.Good luck !