So I'm looking at used boats but not sure what motors are the ones that best to stay away from. Someone told me the Yamaha V-Max had many issues but not sure if the still do. So are there any that are just lemons that always have issues. Also what are the ones that are the "good" ones? Thanks.

Everyone I know who has had a V-Max loved them.

As long as you're looking at fairly new motors, it's getting pretty hard to find bad ones any more.

Even the worst are better than the best from 20 years ago.

I guess I should have said I will be looking in the 2002 to 2008 years mostly. Ranger or Triton possibly. I just didn't want to buy something with a motor that's notorious for having issues.

Any pre-2004 Optimax had a massive amount of problems. They stopped making them for a year to right the wrongs. 

9 hours ago, WildmanWilson said:

So I'm looking at used boats but not sure what motors are the ones that best to stay away from. Someone told me the Yamaha V-Max had many issues but not sure if the still do. So are there any that are just lemons that always have issues. Also what are the ones that are the "good" ones? Thanks.

What issues have you heard of with the vmax?  

The Johnson's and Evinrude's with Ficht Fuel Injection.They had a lot of issues with those. As far as I know the Vmax's didn't have major issues, but one of their lower units had a tendency to get the water intakes plugged up more than others but a water pressure gauge should fix that problem. Most are pretty good and if it's been running this long, issues have probably been resolved. 

Whoever is telling you that the V-Max has many issues must be a Mercury salesmen. I love mine, and would take it over any Mercury iv owned in the past. It does like to chug the gas and oil though

I would avoid the ficht evinrudes like the plague. Notoriously problematic. 

I have heard bad things about Force.

1 hour ago, Fisher-O-men said:

I have heard bad things about Force.

Yup, force is junk and you can't get parts anymore.

I have a 2001 Ranger R81VS. It has a 150hp 2 stroke HPDI Vmax. I have owned this boat for 5 years without any issue with the motor. Starts up first turn every time, no rough idling, etc. I keep up with maintenance and exercise an entire fuel system clean regimen with every fill up.

9 hours ago, RyneB said:

Whoever is telling you that the V-Max has many issues must be a Mercury salesmen. I love mine, and would take it over any Mercury iv owned in the past. It does like to chug the gas and oil though

LOL...no he is just a guy I know. He said some years had issues but may have been resolved. Thats why I'm asking opinions here. I know there are always some to stay away from and just wanted to educate myself of the ones that are known to be more trouble.

Can't go wrong with a Mercury or Yamaha.  But a Force outboard is not reliable.....

The older VMAX eat gas and oil like they're at a buffet.  I believe the newer ones are more refined.  My uncle has a 2005 VMAX 225 hp on his Skeeter and you can literally watch the gas gauge fall when he drops the hammer.  It also emits quit a bit more smoke/fumes because when we back troll in it we inhale it for hours.

Any 1991 Johnson or Evinrude ,   pretty much any johnson or evinrude id stay away from 

 

10 hours ago, Slade House said:

Any 1991 Johnson or Evinrude ,   pretty much any johnson or evinrude id stay away from 

 

Interesting...I had a 1991 Johnson GT 150 on a Lund Pro-V...other than being a little cold blooded and having to replace a part in the oil injection once, I never had a problem with it.  Really strong motor, too.

There are also a lot of Johnson branded Suzuki motors out there - I'm running one now.  Flawless 4 stroke performance.

...and the new E-Tech motors areas good as anything else out there - three friends who have them have never had a problem at all.  I would not hesitate to own one.

On 3/9/2016 at 1:04 PM, BaitMonkey1984 said:

I have a 2001 Ranger R81VS. It has a 150hp 2 stroke HPDI Vmax. I have owned this boat for 5 years without any issue with the motor. Starts up first turn every time, no rough idling, etc. I keep up with maintenance and exercise an entire fuel system clean regimen with every fill up.

Say, what is " an entire fuel system clean regimen with every fill up?" What do you do?

Also, guys... what about a 1990 200hp Mariner? That's larger than I want, but a certain used boat looks worth considering because it is in great shape and appears to have been well taken care of.

On 3/12/2016 at 10:38 PM, Slade House said:

Any 1991 Johnson or Evinrude ,   pretty much any johnson or evinrude id stay away from 

 

Why this random year?

1 minute ago, livemusic said:

Also, guys... what about a 1990 200hp Mariner? That's larger than I want, but a certain used boat looks worth considering because it is in great shape and appears to have been well taken care of.

Mariner is the same as a Mercury. Pretty much the same thing that OMC had with Johnson and Evinrude. Usually one would get the newest technology first. In the Mercury/Mariner brands Mercury would. Nothing wrong with Mariner, although they don't command quite as much on the retail side for whatever reason. 

12 hours ago, livemusic said:

Say, what is " an entire fuel system clean regimen with every fill up?" What do you do?

Also, guys... what about a 1990 200hp Mariner? That's larger than I want, but a certain used boat looks worth considering because it is in great shape and appears to have been well taken care of.

I use star torn fuel stabilizer with every fill up. I also regularly run marvel mystery oil in my oil and my gas to keep everything lubed up. I also use a complete fuel system cleaner like gum out or sea foam as well. I throw a lot of things in my gas tank, and it has never let me down.