Help choosing a new 15HP outboard

[desmobob]

Two women friends of mine have a place on a lake and have a 16' Grumman aluminum deep-V boat.  It has an old Johnson 9.9 on it that has seen better days, so they never use the boat; they can't deal with the leaking gas, hard starting, and lack of reliability.  They thought they would enjoy the boat if they had a modern, convenient, dependable outboard engine for it.

 

Is there a particular brand that stands out as the most user-friendly type for these type of owners?  We have an excellent local boat dealer who sells Mercury and Honda outboards, either of which I would buy without worry.  I was wondering if there was one brand that had a stand-out reputation as being the best in this class.

 

Thanks for any suggestions,

Bob

[Catt]

FYI: Honda builds the Mercury, Tohatsu, & Suzuki

[Tim Kelly]

I would go for a Yamaha or Suzuki personally. The Suzuki is fuel injected (I just bought a 20hp, which is the same block as the 15) which is an advantage in starting and smooth running, but the Yamaha was a very close second choice for me. I didn't look at the Honda, but the Merc and Tohatsu are the same motors and I thought looked the least attractive balance of technology and displacement. 

[desmobob]

Interesting.  The Suzuki is the only engine in the class with electronic fuel injection.  That's a plus for ease-of-use: no choke. Further research also shows the Suzuki is the only 15 with a decompression system for easier starting.  Another plus.  And it also happens to be the lightest of the bunch at 97 lbs.  One more advantage.

 

So far, I'd choose the Suzuki for those features.  I think they'd be important for the ladies.

 

I've been a Mercury guy my whole life.  I never saw many Suzuki outboards in my area (upstate NY; inland), but when I'm on Cape Cod every spring, I notice a LOT of Suzuki engines.  I've mentioned it to friends when I've returned home.  I figure guys who are going offshore or even just inshore in the salt wouldn't mess around with unreliable engines as the risks are considerably higher.

 

Thanks,

Bob

[Catt]

[WRB]

Four or two stroke 15 hp OB?

Tom

[fishnkamp]

Personally I would go for the Honda, they are very quiet and have a good reputation. The other thing that would be important to me would be that dealer nearby.

[desmobob]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Four or two stroke 15 hp OB?

Tom

 

Four-cycle.

 

Thanks,

Bob

[Dwight Hottle]

I have had personal experience with mercury & yamaha both good but based on your parameters I would go with the suzuki with fuel injection. 

[Tim Kelly]

I'm pretty sure that the merc/tohatsu has the throttle that is forward in one direction and reverse when you twist it the other way, as opposed to a gear lever the other brands have. I personally didn't want that.

[Catt]

2 hours ago, Tim Kelly said:

I'm pretty sure that the merc/tohatsu has the throttle that is forward in one direction and reverse when you twist it the other way, as opposed to a gear lever the other brands have. I personally didn't want that.

 

Tohatsu Front mounted shift lever

[WRB]

20 hours ago, desmobob said:

 

Four-cycle.

 

Thanks,

Bob

Honda