Suzuki Outboards, powers...
#11
Registered

Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,470
Likes: 2,106
From: Milton, Fla!
#14
Registered
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 87
Likes: 52
From: Miami, Florida
No one on this forum talks about the Suzuki engines but several fishing captains in the Orange Beach area were talking highly of them. One guy was saying his buddy just replaced the 2 on his boat with 2k hours on them. My only experience with them is towing a guy back to the launch that had one on his party barge.
#16
Registered

Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,335
Likes: 857
Suzuki isn't as technology advanced (per say) as what Merc and Yamaha are driving/selling to the market. But, Suzuki isn't priced as high either. I have always thought Suzuki was 3-5 years behind in the technology race against Merc/ Yam and Evinrude and they obviously do not have the same parts supply as the network is minute compared to the Merc dealership network
.. and face it, if it runs good, start's reliably, meets your needs and doesn't puke parts... it's a good motor. If it reaches a point where any motor from any mfg. can't check all of those criteria - its a fast slide to becoming an anchor at any price point and with any branding paint colour
.. and face it, if it runs good, start's reliably, meets your needs and doesn't puke parts... it's a good motor. If it reaches a point where any motor from any mfg. can't check all of those criteria - its a fast slide to becoming an anchor at any price point and with any branding paint colour
#17
#18
Registered

Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 920
Likes: 599
From: Central Louisiana
#19
Registered
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 3
Likes: 3
From: Wrightsville Beach NC
We just pulled our oldest pair off one of the boats for repower, the motors had a little over 4,700 hrs. each...
Have to say they work great for my type work.
#20
Registered

Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,859
Likes: 791
From: St. Pete Beach, FL
I’ve run them for 6 years now. First 2007 250s up to about 1200hrs. Now on a set of 2016 DF300s that just hit 330hrs.
Early ones had an issue with the shaft sticking and not letting the lower drop. That has been rectified with an additional seal and grease zerk. They can’t handle an overheat, likely to pop a head gasket if so. And they aren’t rebuildable like a small block Chevy, at least cost effectively, I believe this is basically true for all new outboards.
So I plan to replace impellers and anodes frequently, and flush every use.
reliability wise I’d say yamahas are still favorite (ex 350) followed closely by Suzuki, then Merc. But they are all acceptably reliable now IMO. I don’t think Suzuki’s have any less tech, the 350 has a sophisticated fuel system.
Speed wise verados are king due to the rpm range they can run. I don’t love the noise these make at higher RPM.
price wise:
suzuki
merc
yamaha
I was interested in the merc 300 V8, I’d like to see what reputation they get first though. But they look good from a price and performance perspective.
If single engine is your intent, the Suzuki 350 is the only duo prop, which would be nice.
Early ones had an issue with the shaft sticking and not letting the lower drop. That has been rectified with an additional seal and grease zerk. They can’t handle an overheat, likely to pop a head gasket if so. And they aren’t rebuildable like a small block Chevy, at least cost effectively, I believe this is basically true for all new outboards.
So I plan to replace impellers and anodes frequently, and flush every use.
reliability wise I’d say yamahas are still favorite (ex 350) followed closely by Suzuki, then Merc. But they are all acceptably reliable now IMO. I don’t think Suzuki’s have any less tech, the 350 has a sophisticated fuel system.
Speed wise verados are king due to the rpm range they can run. I don’t love the noise these make at higher RPM.
price wise:
suzuki
merc
yamaha
I was interested in the merc 300 V8, I’d like to see what reputation they get first though. But they look good from a price and performance perspective.
If single engine is your intent, the Suzuki 350 is the only duo prop, which would be nice.






