There are many important attributes that come into play when choosing an outboard motor. We must find a way to get the most bang for our buck and also we need to look for a practical choice. Deep down we know we'll probably just be cruising around at slower speeds, parking in the middle of the water to catch a few bass and ferrying the kids around cottage country.
However, another side of us wants the quickest, strongest, most accurate custom-made rig with plenty of storage for rods, fish finders, casting decks, pedestal seats, and bait wells. To make it easier to deal with your purchase, prioritize the most important things, and try and make sacrifices.
There are tons of affordable outboard boat motors on the market.
Not only does Honda make great automobiles but they are also top sellers in boat motors. Their Accord sedan is well-reputed as being refined and reliable, and such is the case with their BF115 Honda boat motors. The motor was adapted from the 2.3-liter four-cylinder Accord and weighs 496 pounds, which is heavier than other 115s, so if your boat has a lighter, shorter hull, then you may want to consider a different option. When you compare the Honda motor boat to its main competitors (Evinrude, Yamaha, Mercury, and Suzuki), you will discover the greatest perk is their quiet running and economical fuel consumption. The best motors sit in neutral at 76 decibels, but crank up to 104 at normal speeds and 106 full throttle. The motors in second place are comparable at 81 in neutral, 106 at normal, and 121 full. Fuel consumption is 0.2 gallons per hour at 625rpm, 4.1 at 3500rpm and 9.0 at 5600rpm, while the other outboards perform at 0.3 - 16.0!
Even though it does not weigh as much, and is more compact, The Yamaha F115 is similar to the Honda outboard motors. The acceleration is not quite as fast and a little louder, but still saves energy well. The sophisticated four-stroke engine comes equipped with a computerized, multiport fuel injection system and separate throttle valves for each intake runner, in addition to double overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. Yamaha outboard motors are a great deal, costing $1370 less than their similar Honda counterparts.
For a reasonable cost, you can get a Suzuki outboard that is small and efficient. These 1.77-liter outboards have a two-stroke design similar to Evinrude and Mercury, housing comparable performance and noise. It's lighter than the Mercury outboard motor but just a little heavier than the lightweight Evinrude. Suzuki's outboard motors are better than Mercury's at preventing spills because they have a 6-quart oil tank concealed beneath the engine cowling. When you purchase the base package, you get to choose a stainless steel prop as a bonus. Selling at only $8934, the base package is $1000 - $2000 less than the competition. With Suzuki burning twice as much gas as the Evinrude, fuel consumption becomes the biggest drawback in selecting an outboard motor.
Concern for the environment is the hallmark of avid boaters. They want the lakes to remain unpolluted and the fish to spawn healthily for their children's children. You'll find there are many folks who seeks ways to get in sync with innovative companies that lead the industry in energy efficiency because of it being a natural tendency. For example, Yamaha has partnered with ABB robotic technology to improve energy efficiency in their outboard motors. By lowering paint drying cycle times by 40%, using robots to increase efficiency, lowering dust pollution, air recirculating and eliminating paint waste, the painting of Yamaha's outboard motors saves at least 30% more energy than its competitors.
