Used Outboards

[rcnight]

Been doing some research on used outboards for my 23 refurb. Found this posted on another boating site. Don't have any brand loyalty. Would appreciate your comments. Thanks

Yamaha HPDI-------1999-2001ish--------disaster
Yamaha 4 Stroke---------2002-2007ish--------great but exhaust corrosion on some engines(not all), Balancer issues on inline motors(not all), oil seal issues............not all had this Im not running away from these motors.
Yamaha 250 4stroke 2006-2007---------------1st run of variable camshaft.............Major Lower Unit Problems(Suprised Nobody mentions this) Notice how 2008 models and up have an extra colling intake on lower unit??????
Yamaha 250-300hp HPDI----------------ABSOLUTE DISASTER. Almost on par with Evinrude FICHT. I have seen so many people come through our shop with these motors blown.
Honda 4 Strokes------------Just not enough of them around to really know but to be honest................I have not heard any consistant bad things. I would own one but Lack of used parts may scare me.
Evinrude Ficht (first generation ETEC........yes I said that)-------------disaster
Suzuki 4strokes 2000-2007ish-------------great engines but corrosion..............typical Japanese
Nissan TLDI------------not enough of those around to know for sure............some have blown up
Mercury Verado Gen 1------------had issues---Lower Unit failures, Supercharger Failures, etc
Mercury optimax 1998-2000------Disaster............Opti BOMB
Mercury Optimax 2002-2005-------------Much Better
Mercury Optimax From 2006 to today------------Awesome
Mercury Verado Gen 2 (2008ish and up)-----------Awesome. People seem very happy with them.
Etec------------------Fine but this was basically a second gen Ficht( have fun with that one guys)
Yamaha HPDI made in last 5 years or so---------------Fine
Yamaha 4 Strokes Made within the last 7 years or so------------------fine I have not heard much about the corrsion.(time will tell I guess)
Suzukis made within last 5 years...................excellent.

Moral of the story.........................Motors that were made at around 1998-2002 (DFI) were basically the guinney pigs. That was an "experimental" time with all this new techonogly.