Best Outboard for Me (Opinions Please)

[Greg Clusiau]

Hi all, I spend hundreds of hours on the water and most of it is with my outboard motor trolling forward (crankbaits, leadcore, etc.) or in reverse (bottom bouncers)at idle speed. I idle the living daylights out of it, doing a lot of trolling at 1.5 mph or so.

So, my 50hp 4-stroke Yamaha is plumb wore out and I am looking to buy a new motor this spring. Any ideas on what would be the perfect "fit" for me and my style of fishing?

Curious as to what you have to say. Thank you!

[traveler]

What size/type of boat?

What have you liked or not liked about the 50 Yammy? If you've been happy with that motor it would be the first place I'd look for a replacement.

[Borch]

Hard to beat the yammy 4 stroke with the varitroll feature if your looking at the 50 hp rating. Could do the mercury with the smart gauge system and know several guys who love their's.

[FM_Mike]

Nothing wrong with what you have been using. Yamaha makes a great motor as does about all the manufacturers. I personally ran a 50hp Mercury 4 stroke EFI for over 10 year with no issues. And 90% of my fishing is trolling.

No need to fix what isn't broken if you like the performance you have gotten out of your Yamaha. But as I said, all motors these days are very good. Look for who has the best warranty (Just in case you need it) spring usually brings extended warranties. My new rig I got in 2011 came with a 5 year warranty from Merc. I think Yamaha may have something similar. Good luck with your choice.

Mike

[Greg Clusiau]

Hey thanks guys. I was thinking of the "varitroll" feature but didn't know what it was called. I think that would be sweet. Yes, my old Yamaha has been very good but it's just worn out with little things starting to happen and as much as I am on the water, I don't want any problems at all. My boat, by the way is a 1650 Lund Angler, an older rig (1997) but a great fishing boat. The motor is a 1996, which had hardly any time on it, until I bought this used package about 6 years ago or so.

[CaptainMusky]

That 96 Yamaha is a four stroke? If I were you either get another Yamaha or go with a Suzuki. I have a Suzuki so i am a little partial there but it is insane how well it performs. I have a 150 and it idles quieter and smoother that my buddies 90 Yamaha and that's a great motor too. Either of those brands would serve you nicely.

[Greg Clusiau]

Thanks Musky ~

Yes, it's a four stroke. Also, I was thinking about a Suzuki so it'll either be that or another Yamaha. Thank you.

[magnum mike]

Greg, I have a 75 E-Tec on my 1800 Alaskan and I troll with it all summer. If it is calm I need a drift sock but that is much cheaper than a kicker and less grief than an electric. When using the synthetic 100:1 oil, they can set the low idle to 500 RPM. I can troll for hours with no smoke or bogging down the motor. When it is time to make a move, hammer the throttle and you are shot out of a cannon. 2 Stroke performance with 4 Stroke economy.

[Northlander]

I also would go with the yamaha. Very nice 50 horse 4 stroke that will troll all day long with out any issues. Pretty much bulletproof.

[Greg Clusiau]

Thanks guys