Yamaha Outboard Question

I've always been a Merc fan, but am considering selling my older 150 and getting a new complete rig down the road. What are your feelings on the yamaha 150 4 stroke vs the Vmax hpdi. I've heard the 4 stroke is not much better on gas and lacks in performance, and also heard it is the best thing since sliced bread. I know I love the top end speed of a 2 stroke, but its nice not to have to worry about oil reservoirs and deal with the smoke and noise. Any experiences, opinions, etc would be appreciated.

Once you go four stroke you'll never go back.

I'm a huge Yamaha fan. I've owned both the F4 and Vmax. If I had to choose, all things considered, I'd go with the four stroke hands down!!!! Quiet, dependable, no two stroke oil to worry about!!!! The little bit you give up in weight, you will more than make up for in fuel economy and noise!!!!

Thats what Ive been told as well. I was around one on the U of M research boat, and that thing was nearly silent at idle and you could hold a conversation at WOT. plenty of low end power, but it was on a bay boat so its not going to be a speed deamon. I'm not racing them either so 5-10 mph lost is not going to be a breaking point. Is the gas consumption really as good as people say it is?

Young buck like you....go with a merc 2.5L with a chopped midsection with a 32" Spinelli.

Wannabe...

I already have people that won't get in a boat with me driving after the stock 150 two stroke hit a few barge wakes on the river... May not hurt to slow me down... I'm putting too much into my retirement every month to never get to see it.

I am on my second Yamaha four stroke.....I like them....and yes they do very well on fuel mileage.

WHEN THEY FIRST CAME OUT THEY WERE A LITTLE SLUGGISH . DON'T SEE THAT NOW . NEVER DELT WITH LARGER MOTORS THOUGH . WOULD BE INTERESTED TO HEAR FROM THOSE WITH NEWER ,LARGER 4-STROKES THAT OWNED ONE WHEN THEY FIRST CAME ABOUT .:scratchhead

Thanks for the info G

eagle1, that may have been the case with the fellas that gave me the reports of lacking power. Then again, some boats are just sluggish due to size and weight. So my sources may have just been underpowered for their boat. Thanks again for your input, from reviews of the newer motors, it sounds like they have the problem taken care of.

Plenty of pep...easy starting even in cold weather....quiet....smooth running. Its the only way to go.

Seems like the easiest way to go. And if I use it for hunting, quiet is def better. So.... the question now is, who needs a used Merc 150?

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Originally Posted by "g"

plenty of pep...easy starting even in cold weather....quiet....smooth running. Its the only way to go.

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Isn't 150 hp at the prop the same on either a 2 or 4 stroke. Maybe a little quicker out of the hole on a 2 stroke but unless your tournament fishing dont make that much difference and if your the last boat you can always see everyones honey holes as you go by .

I have a Yamaha 50 4 stroke and love it. It pushs my 17 ft Xpress about 33 by myself or 30-31 with a partner. I can run up and down Sardis from engineers to coontown and back 4 times and still have a half tank of gas. Went from last July till February to use a full tank. It's really quiet and no 2 stroke oil as the others said.

Mason you must have only fished the lower lake.

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Originally Posted by South65

I have a Yamaha 50 4 stroke and love it. It pushs my 17 ft Xpress about 33 by myself or 30-31 with a partner. I can run up and down Sardis from engineers to coontown and back 4 times and still have a half tank of gas. Went from last July till February to use a full tank. It's really quiet and no 2 stroke oil as the others said.

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Originally Posted by clfarms1

Isn't 150 hp at the prop the same on either a 2 or 4 stroke. Maybe a little quicker out of the hole on a 2 stroke but unless your tournament fishing dont make that much difference and if your the last boat you can always see everyones honey holes as you go by .

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Dont think so, alot of 2 strokes will actually have more horsepower at the foot than the displacement shows. Old school stuff due to big money tourneys in the old days. Watched my uncle have a brand new 150 Rude completely reworked and maxxed out before his new rig ever hit the lake.

The new Yamaha 150 SHO is due out at any time. From what I hear that is the best of both worlds. A 150 four stroke designed for bass boats.

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Originally Posted by Big C

Mason you must have only fished the lower lake.

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Only fished Lower lake about twice during that time period

Only real difference thaws days is low end torque. Two equal boats propped to their peak, a 4 stole vs a dfi 2 stroke, all else being equal, the 2 stroke should plane quicker and top end should go slightly to the 2 stroke due to less weight and possibly due to rev limit being slightly higher on the 2 stroke.

That said, 4 stroke is only way to go, but the SHO is said to be a beast....then again, SHO oil is high high dolla. And it's a relatively new tech, so no serious track record to rely on.

If I were to empower today, it's be with a Yama 4 stroke 225 or possible 200 since I could careless about top end.

Wannabe...

Yamaha makes a great product. I have a 2001 225hp Vmax 2-stroke. I've never done anything besides change the plugs and it gets plenty of use. It's fast out of the hole and will make my 20' stratos feel like its about to take flight. All of that being said I will buy a Yamaha 4-stroke next time around. 4-strokes are the motor of the future, they have the kinks worked out and before too many years 2-strokes will be faded out altogether. I even saw a program the other day that was promoting small hp propane motors.

Mo, Merc has a new 4 stroke out in 150 for bass boats. Lot lighter and faster than old motors. Betting the new bass boat Yamaha is going to be same motor with a couple of changes under the hood and Gray paint.

Yamaha has finally got the kinks worked out of the SHO four-stroke.. Followed one from Holiday to Engineers earlier this yr at no less than 65mph on a 21' boat

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Originally Posted by Wannabe...

Only real difference thaws days is low end torque. Two equal boats propped to their peak, a 4 stole vs a dfi 2 stroke, all else being equal, the 2 stroke should plane quicker and top end should go slightly to the 2 stroke due to less weight and possibly due to rev limit being slightly higher on the 2 stroke.

That said, 4 stroke is only way to go, but the SHO is said to be a beast....then again, SHO oil is high high dolla. And it's a relatively new tech, so no serious track record to rely on.

If I were to empower today, it's be with a Yama 4 stroke 225 or possible 200 since I could careless about top end.

Wannabe...

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What's this oil you speak of? The SHO is a four stroke.

Ahh, u right. I was thinking if the hpdi. Enjoy your rightness. May not happen again any time soon.

I heard when the SHO hit he market that the block could not be bored for new pistons due to the material used in the bores. That could be an expensive repair if the only option is a new block and pistons. Dunno if it's true though. May have been Merc fanboys that put that out there.

Truth be told, I haven't read of any-ANY problems with a SHO. Then again, I don't follow those boards like I used to.

Wannabe...

That's what I get for not keeping up. Seems a thrust washer bearing was and is a known problem and has caused many catastrophic failures. Some question as to whether its been corrected for 13 motors.

There is still some discussion on whether the block can be rebuilt as well there are new techs out there that have repaired them but safe to say its not common-translate cheap. One guy quoted 3400-4300 for a new block. Ouch

Wannabe...

I heard they went through eight versions before they got it right. Instead of repairing them they would just bolt you a new one on. I wanted one, but they don't come in a 25" shaft.

I have a 03 115hp four stroke Suzuki and I absolutely love it. Last year I almost did a little trading to get a second boat but backed away because the motor was a two stroke.


FISH ON:fish

I got a 2011 Yamaha 90 4 stroke on a 17.5' alumacraft. It is good on gas, quiet as a mouse, will start with one turn of the key under any conditions and will run almost 50 mph with 2 people and fishing gear in the boat. We love it.....