Outboard Battle (Mercury Vs Evinrude Vs Yamaha) 

I’m a lobsterman up here in Maine and I got a Yamaha similar to yours except mine is older. It was made in 91. I have it on the back of a Lund that I use to get out to my mooring every morning. I work summer and winter. I’ve had a merc but had to get rid of it because it simply wouldn’t start if the temperature was below 5 degrees Fahrenheit without starter fluid. So I bought an older eve ride, and I had the same problem when it got below 20 degrees. Mechanics told me it was because they are two strokes. I didn’t have money for a new 4 stroke so I bought an old Yamaha 2 stroke and I have yet to have a day cold enough that it won’t start and I’ve used it for three years. It struggles on days that are below zero but always starts within ten pulls. It even has started as cold as -17 Fahrenheit. Yamahas are amazing.

SOME INFO ABOUT THESE YAMAHA ENGINES TO ANYONE INTERESTED: Yamaha has made several 2cylinder 25Hp 2 stroke motors over the years. This particular model is a 6L2 series (395cc) as noted by the dual carbs and oil injection. The oil injected 6L2 models have a low oil and overheat warning system which illuminates a warning light and reduces RPM to about 2000. A really nice feature. Later {after about 1997} 6L2 models sold in the USA are PREMIX at 100-1 but I recommend 75-1 synthetic or 50-1 conventional. Yamaha also made a 2 stroke 25hp in the mid 1990s with a single carb 430cc which is a C25. They also made a 495cc single carb 2 stroke 25hp for many, many years which was also a 25, C25 or E25 (ENDURO). Enduro was only sold in other markets but they sometimes show up especially here in Florida. IMHO the 6L2 series is the smoothest and most refined of the Yamaha 25 2strokes. It has the easiest - by far- effort to pull start. It has multiple shallow drive positions. It has a forward mounted shifter. Available oil injection- which is excellent by the way. If the carbs and timing is set properly, it is far and away the best idling conventional 2stroke 25. The other single carb models however are less refined but simple and beefier built IMHO. MANY of the C25s have a carb with an external pilot (idle) jet. That means it can be removed and cleaned without taking off the carb- a nice feature. Of course, a single carb is easy to clean anyway. Many women simply cannot pull start a cold C25- especially a 495cc with good compression. But, all these 25s were available with electric start. Additionally, Yamaha made a 3cylinder 25HP as well. ThatBoatGuy knows all this of course, but this might be useful to anyone else.

I think the big takeaway here is, as long as you take care of your engine properly, it will always run great. I have learned a lot about engine repairs watching your videos and appreciate your advice

As someone who's mechanically inept, I think it's badass that you can pop the cover, clean the carb and have the Yamaha running in the same month, let alone on the same day.

I just bought a Yamaha 4-stroke 25hp. I love that engine, it is the only 25hp 4-stroke that is still 2 cylinders so the power-weight ratio is amazing on it. I can start it sitting down with one hand, runs like a champ. Highly recommended.

For a second I thought you were going run all 3 at same time.... I was thing, “that’s it, I’m putting 75hp on my 1436”😂

The speed difference here was very likely due to the difference in the props, not necessarily the motors.

Old Evinrude has always done me good. My '79 20hp is an absolute work horse. My grandfather bought it new in '79 for a Lund 14ft deep wide aluminum. It's still on that boat going strong to this day.

Hard to beat a Yamaha, but they all seemed to run great!!!

From the triple shot, they all appeared to have a different trim position which will affect top speed.

Good vid man! I've always enjoyed messing around with outboards and especially love the older 2 strokes. Keep the awesome content coming!

I'm actually amazed and impressed by your boat at all the motors in testing you do and the transom is still hanging tough

I really enjoy your vids! Personally I prefer the shift on throttle of the Merc, much better for me in tight quarters and currents. Really would be cool to ass the RPM info for these test too.

Good job, very interesting from a former small outboard mechanic's viewpoint. Ya, the Evinrude ran like a 4 stroke, very smooth. Merc's seem to be speed demons when they run (right). The Yamhaha's idle is like an old Mariner, LOL. If I were going to do a test like that fairly, I'd find the max safe RPM of engine, prop it so it can hit near top limit. Be sure boat always has same weight in it, and wait for a day with low wind/wave action. Trim the motor as high as possible short of porpoising and/or prop ventilation. BTW, nice camera work. You must have used a stabilizer gimbal?

It'd be interesting to test them with all having the same prop. Also, did they all have the same trim setting? I don't know if any of them has any trim control, but trimming them out, as best you can even with a manual trim, will also make a difference.

I also find its best to have one of each engine, in case one breaks. Having different brands just allows you to find parts easier or shop the sales. Well played sir.

Don't know if it's possible but would love to see all three of those Motors going at the same time

That was a fantastic video, very interesting to see the results. Thankyou very much for your time. And for me I think I would rather have the Evenrude E-Tec for the controls are very well set out and the E-Start too. Take care.

You are the man brother I admire your work on RU-vid Inspire lots of people out there

Mercury for life. I have a 1971 merc 500 and the thing is just rock solid even at 50 years old

Those Etec Evinrudes really are something,sips fuel and oil,quiet idle- shame they are discontinued....I have a Etec 60 on my 4.35 runabout not 1 single problem with it after buying it new as an upgrade in 2014----starts one revolution of the flywheel EVERYTIME

the evinrude looked and sounded the best IMO

Glad to see you are having fun. I'm havin fun watchin.

Love your videos keep bringing them out

Can’t beat a Yamaha. I love the sound of it. The Mercury which I had is a beast and very reliable. As for the evinrude I never liked them. I had one and didn’t last as well with my friend. It didn’t last long.

As a merc owner for years I love their dependability and power at the prop, but the Never-rude looked like a really nice motor

I got a good deal on an 89 Ranger 363V with a 150hp V6 outboard. After going over everything I determined the exhaust gaskets were bad, the water pump was bad, the shift/throttle linkage was installed wrong and there was no hook up for the fuel. The power tilt & trim did not work at all. Long story short, I ordered parts the day I brought the boat home, 4 days later and 6 hours of labor and she fired up for the first time in over 20 years. Runs like a champ. Great video, I just wish you could have run them all three foe a few min. That would have been stellar

Dude, I wish I had a friend like you... Thanks for doing this channel.

Loved the video!!! I was shocked though. I thought the e-tech would have been the fastest, but I got a mercury so I was excited 😛

I run a 25 E Tec on my 14 foot smokercraft, Love the motor and the way the tiller is set up.

Fantastic video brotha..as always...Thanks so much !!

Personally like the merc as it’s great for current’s where you need to reverse quickly. The way it changes form drive to reverse so easily is really nice, usually they run really nice as well

I love finding these channels, I pulled a 1978 merc 70hp out of a barn whole family thinks I'm wasting money but I love 2 strokes 🙃

evenrude has always been my favorite, but I remember your yamaha abuse video... Mercury is my least favorite. You should bring them up and try them on my homemade barrel boat, I am up near jacksonville. thanks for the awesome content.

Man I started following you at like 7k subs. Great work my man

I have the 90 hp big brother to the Yamaha on my boat and I love it. It's an 84 and has been completely reworked and runs like a champ

Had a Evinrude 60 on the boat I used to have, never stopped, always started, just a tune up at the start of the season here in Colorado. Perfect all year every year. I was hoping that you were going to run all 3 at the same time. Lock down the 2 outside straight, start moving, open them full, stir with the center one. Crazy I know but I was hoping to see that

Ive got a yamu 25 just like that, most reliable engine ever

I really enjoy your videos...recently watched your Outboard Battle episode and was wondering what phone app you used to measure speed, avg speed, etc.? Have you tried others and determined this one is best for you? Thanks, Barry

Had an ETEC 90 on my 18ft fast fishing boat. Best engine I've ever owned. Never missed a beat once. Would buy one again tomorrow.

Watch the GPS on the third run. 32mph, then drops instantly to 22, then right up to 28 where it stayed. I dont think the boat ever went 32. Some GPS's are programmed to somewhat "predict" your next speed based on your previous acceleration so you aren't always lagging a few mph behind your true speed. Based on his acceleration it expected him to be going 32 the next time it updated, but he wasn't... he was going 28. When his speed was suddenly much lower than anticipated, the gps thought that was deceleration and over corrected based on that deviation and calculated rate of change, then finally it dialed in on his true constant speed.... 28mph.

All were great motors, but Mercury for me. Would like to see the Merc running without the permatrim on.

What brand of jon boat is it? Was the transom reinforced with the aluminum diamond plate?

You Know We were all Waiting to see All 3 At the same time ! I Was Hoping it would be at the End. What I Want to know is Which motor Would YOU Pick as Far as Reliability & Ease of Repair / Low Repair cost.

Always a Mercury fan and your demo confirmed my thoughts but the Evinrude was very impressive. Is there a chance to check fuel consumption as well next time please? Thanks!

Evinrude sounded ACE! and looked good. Yammy was perfect, great test brother solid thumbs up as usual, keep up the good work!!! ;)

Every time I watch one of your videos testing the motors out I hear the Miami Vice theme tune playing in my head.

I used an E-Tec 25 for a week a couple years ago when it came with an island cabin that we rented. I thought it was awesome, especially the electric tilt and trim. We have an old Suzuki 25 and it has been a reliable workhorse too but I definitely miss the power trim. I had a Yamaha 15 that I got new 30 years ago and it didn't last very long. (I think it might have had a crank bearing fail when I over-revved it.) Your beater Jon boat always cracks me up, because it looks like something that I would use. Thanks for the video!

Man that evinrude was a smooth quiet running motor... that's a nice unit...

Damn I watched the whole video thinking you were gonna let all 3 rip at the same time. You should do another video.

Can't go wrong with either one of these motors, great job on the video

I have an evinrude 35 hp two stroke. It runs amazing, and is a super strong motor. I’ve always liked evinrudes, but never tried the e-tecs. Any opinions or background on them?

Yamaha sounds like summer to me. Fishing in friends tinnies or going out to the local surf breaks when we were kids.

Don't know about reliability and serviceability (simplicity/parts availability) but the ETEC ran best... would love to see some prop pitch/cup experimentation with it.

Thanks for the content, all motors sounded strong to me.

I feel kinda sad, I like the water, working on a boat and...warm weather but I am living in Alaska! Your channel is really good, keep it up!

I've just put a new merc 20hp 4 stroke on my new home built 4.2m ... tops out at 28mph ... a fantastic little motor ... thought about the 25hp but 20kg heavier and for me another 2 thousand nz pesos.

It looked like the e-tech planed out faster to me.

Love the video but id love to see this done with same pitch and diameter props as well as getting the max rpm out of each engine with the right prop.

I'm a Yamaha fan. Have the same 25hp 2 stroke. I store it on a 2x6 nailed between 2 trees for 7 months a year, usually with a garbage bag as a cover, it starts on 6 pulls every spring. I chande the leg oil every year, run Yamaha oil mixed a little rich and a bit of Lucus upper cylinder lube in every tank and work the hell out of it. Been doing this for 17 years and it still runs great. I think I changed the spark plugs once.

The yammy is the nicest sounding and the most reliable thing ever

Evinrude idled the smoothest of all three and has good design. Always like an electric start. Due to the Ford/Chevy bias thing, most will not give it a fair review. All three are solid motors and will last along time

I'm a 54 yr old mechanic... seen and fixed them all from North US as far as Wisconsin to south Florida and I've got to say I'd prefer the yamaha for durability in all climates...

Hey i have a question, want app do you use to measure your speed on the boat because is have a boat to and i don’t know how fast it goes and i want to know how fast it can go

The Mercury, I have that same motor it’s a reliable beast.

The prop pitch isn't much of a factor unless the motors have the same gear ratio, right? The way to test (IMHO) would be to put a prop on each motor that pushes it on that specific boat the max of the boat's RPM range. If all motors are operating at WOT at their max RPM's allowed, then you'll be comparing apples to apples, no?

I’m a Yamaha guy, atleast when it comes to power sports but my dad had a small merc on a canoe and a storm came in and the canoe capsized, unfortunately my dad lost his best friend in the accident but the dog and my dad made it out. Divers got pretty much everything back including the merc, when dad was feeling good again he took the merc apart after it had been sitting at the bottom of the lake for a few days got it cleaned up and flushed out. Cranked right up like it was new. All solid motors

What would be your favourite (silent) 4 stroke engine in the range of 5-15hp?

Love MERCS but yes all great motors. 2x Stroke mixing gas and hauling ass

Equally all good in my opinion. I’d like to see you restore your boat up. I’ve seen the nice work you do, let’s see ya tidy that boat

Fab vid! Awesome topic! Interesting, would be to swap the prop pitch on all to models to establish their comparabiles.

I love when you upload. What's the biggest motor you've had?

Ilike them all each for specific reasons, Evinrude for the looks, mercury for the speed, an Yamaha for the reliability, good luck man and sail on🚤🚤🛥🛥⚓

Interesting that the old merc was the fastest I would have thought the etec would have creamed it...the other thing to be mindful is that etec's do not like fuel contamination unlike the old carb motors you just can't clean the carb and go again...bad fuel equals a bad day if you own an etec.

my dad has been running a 2002 mercury 50hp oil inject outboard for 19 years still starts first turn key and looks brand new still love merc 2 strokes

I love that boat it’s iconic to your channel imo

I love how he brought an electric trolling motor...for incase his engine dies 🤣

My buddy always laughs at my merc, it's an old "tower of power" 6cyl 135 but it hauls a*s.

I have that same Yamaha on my 15 foot in boat. I’ve got a bobs trim and tilt. A Bob’s stabilizer plate and a stainless prop. Mine goes 32 miles an hour.

I am an etech owner, had mercs, Johnson, (omc) their all good LOVE YOUR VIDEOS ...! I always say if I ever have a problem w my outboard, I would fly YOU to Ct to fix it !!!

What’s the noise levels like between the different engines,

I go Yamaha all the way, they are just so reliable.

Do we have ThatBoatGuys like you around the Twin Cities, Minnesota area?

What propeller pitch was on each motor? Did you measure them on a special stand? What is the distance from the keel of the boat to the anti-cavitation plate for each motor?

Evinrude is more quiter and less vibration Mercury co developed his small engine with tohatsu Yamaha less performance but more realiable

Different pitch props, wonder why the merc was faster.

You have great content !!! Do not stop . Hello from Russia)

I always enjoy your videos.

Seems backwards from what I expected. Highest pitched prop was the slowest. Lowest pitch was the fastest. But all ran great. I like the Etec but they’re out of business now. 😢

That Mercury has to be a 30hp with 25 stickers lol. Mercury all the way.

I have a 84 evinrude/johnson 15hp and I have only cleaned the 1 carb a couple of times in 35 years...It always runs good. I also have a 2000 Yamaha 25 2 stroke and the carbs are a pain in the ass. They both go the same speed...In my mind the 84 Evinrude is amazing.

I had a jon with a 90 merc that my uncle put togather back in the early 80s it had 50 sheet metal on the cowling. It was fun to idle out with the bass boats when they were leaving the no wake and pass them with a flat bottom jon ....good times

Yamahas are all ya see anymore around here but the Evinrude would be my choice seems to be quietest and good solid motor

I have had all those brands and I will say They are all solid motors. All will fail at some point. Hopefully after you sell them. LOL

glad to see one at a time on the back

Hello I have a mercury 8hp 2 stroke runs awesome up until I hit full throttle and it stays steady right b4 power band and it’s like it won’t rev full throttle can you please please help I’ve cleaned carbs 4 times! And no fix prop is not spun I’m at a dead end!

The E-Tec seemed to accelerate the quickest but the Merc definitely had the fastest speed. Can't go wrong with the Yammy either since it's indestructible lol

This was really interesting dude. The Mercury sounded the best

The bird watching from the dock at the boat ramp is pretty funny.

Thanks for all the things you are showing and teaching us! Say you could have your pick of a 30 hp 2-stroke engine in good condition from the late nineties. Would you choose OMC, Tohatsu, Yamaha or what?