I'm looking to get an outboard engine for my jon boat. Mostly looking in the 5 to 10 hp range. I was at the Fishing Expo in Maryland and talked to a Mercury Dealer. He has an 8 hp Mercury 4 stroke for $1500. First of all is Mercury the way to go and does that seem like a good price. I don't know much about them so any advise would be helpful

Thanks

IMO you are in the drivers seat at this horse power and price range.....I would never buy new. You could buy three different motors sightly used at the price you are looking at.

Also if you are mounting this on a jon boat you must take the weight issue into consideration being it is a 4 stroke and they weigh more that the 2 stroke.

Dale

its gonna be ford vs chevy with that question, all you can do is go for the one you want.

Its really up to you.  When an outboard that small is involved I don't think the weight issue really comes into play so go ahead with the 4 stroke which will use less gas than a 2 stroke.

I think that you will find that the 9.9 Merc weighs the same as the 8 hp. four stroke. So why not go with 20% more power?

I would love to get more power (the 9.9) and they weigh exactly the same, but the wife put the stop on that one. 8 hp was the compromise to no engine at all.

My fear of buying used, is that I'm not really positive about what I'm getting. I can run the few tests I know, but if its not covered under warrantly I could get myself stuck, literally.

Buying less hp than u need is never a good compromise.

As far as used motors go,  Some of those old motors will still be pushing boats after some of the new 2010 models die  ;D  2010 is not a typo BTW >

How big is your jon boat?  Is 8 HP enough?  I have a 1548 jon and I had a 9.9 Merc 4 stroke and it wasn't enough.  I mean, it would move the boat, but it wouldn't plane.  It was a nice barge.   I've since upgraded to a 15 HP 4 stroke and couldn't be happier.  

One thing that I would highly recommend, if you can get it on the motor you are buying, is electric start.   Your motor will get old to you fast if you have to start it with a pull rope.  My 9.9 was a bear to start and keep running.

You could check around at some your area Merc. dealers and see if they get any camp motors in. Merc. leases motors to hunting and fishing camps for 1-2 years then take them back, go over them and then get shipped out to the dealers. I bought a year old 9.9 4stroke for $300-$400 less than a brand new one. That was two years ago and it still looks and runs like new.

I've had 4 stroke and 2 stroke engines and I've had much better reliability and maintainability with the simple 2 stroke. In recent years they have had a bad name due to their pollution and efficiency problems. Below is a post I copied from another bulletin board that suggests that modern design 2 strokes can now compete with 4 stroke and should not be ignored.

We have been running our Tohatsu 2 stroke LTDI fuel injected 40 hp on our 12 ft Boss Boat for three years. During this time of cruising we have used four quarts of oil and 187 gallons of gasoline. There is no smoke.

When in the Bahamas and Keys we often travel many miles with other dinghys to distant areas. On a twenty mile trip, the three accompaning RIBs with four strokes needed to buy gas for the return trip. It appeared to me that my milage was superior.

The progress made in modern 2 strokes is unbelievable. No smoke, immediate starting, no carborators, good economy.

Tom Little

Kalani, DF49RPH