Suzuki Outboards, powers...
 

.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...8afcb81411.png








https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...8228518b05.jpg






.

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.

I like what I see of them.

They are popular in Fla.

They appear to have invested enormously in the big/heavy OB powered boat market.

I saw a 425 Suzi last time in Fla and although huge (as they are all), I thought it was really sharp.

I really like their 300 V-6’s.

I'm sure they are nice but on this website, 350hp doesn't meet the needs of the majority!!

Edit - just read Twin OB's post, I didn't know that they made a 425.

The local sea tow guy here has put big hours on his and really likes them.

I get it.

If I was to consider 4 strokes for my 25’ Convincor, I would look at the 300 Suzis.

I like the aesthetics of them.
Therye not 9’ tall like the V-8 Mercs and I just never got over the Gobots look of the newer motors.

The G-2 BRPs were the first and I never liked them either.


I think the newer powerheads are just so big, physically that all the mfgs can do is focus on compact cowlings and aesthetics are a distant second.

I agree with you on the aestetics. I'm sure, like everything, they will grow on all of us. Doesn't matter in my area because all we see is Yamahas on 24' CC fishing boats.

That's because they don't.

.



https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...3a36867c05.png


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...171ad98dd0.png

.




https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...43395a4d9d.jpg

My bad fellers.

Had pixs of it But already deleted them so went on line to see what I saw down in Fla and it was the V-8 425 Yammi.
Which I still like the looks of.

My comments on the V-6 300 Suzi remain true though.


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...13151ce78.jpeg

,




https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...b1fb99a577.png

The test facility in Tampa is now open .

And a really good sign for the US.

Honda already has one on the east coast of Fla.

No one on this forum talks about them because most of us are into performance boating...

.


I believe Suzuki is not competing in the high performance space...they're more for pleasure and fishing competitions like this...





https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...16fd7fd553.png

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

To me that's a good thing. There's a point where technology becomes cumbersome and we've passed that point.

Thats a good point. Maybe they will get into the performance market. Maybe give Mercury a little competition.

I run 2 of the largest Sea Tow Franchise's and am located on the NC coast, I'm currently opperatting 18 Suzuki's most of them 150hp.
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.

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.

I’d call two 300 Suzis on my 25’ Checkmate a performance boat.

Yes on RPM limits.

Ive hear some of the 4 strokes have different pistons spec’d to each bore, so no to rebuilding.

Ive been picking on them for 20 and no ones listened yet 😂

I would also agree that the PM’s are imperative.
And not cheap.

I was in a large OB shop in FLA years ago and in the office of the owner when he took a call from the Honda R&D department which is an hour up the road.

They had an irate customer over the dealers $2500 bill for preventive maintenance!

It was a twin engine boat with 225s and they were in for their mandatory 200 hr checks.

The shop owner went through the work order Line by line and challenged Honda to cut costs anywhere and they agreed they could not!

If you are owning under warranty, you’ll get gouged a bit. Outside of warranty it’s all relatively simple work for a handy guy like you.

Buy Suzuki parts from brownspoint for low cost, and cross reference some of the equivalent parts that were used on Suzuki grand vitaras from your local auto parts store (iac etc.)

For ref DF300s have pushed my 8000 lb pad bottom, bottom painted marlago up to a tick under 60. I think there is better performance to be had with some bravo props. And with no bottom paint ($7500 quote on that job, ouch).

Fuel economy wise I suspect Suzuki’s are best. They have a wideband O2 and can lean burn. Supercharged verados would be relatively thirsty. I can knock down up to 2mpg lightly loaded.

also you can switch rotation by switching a resistor

.


hogie,


please share pics of your Suzuki's





.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...90961ea44.jpeg
FYI the white is off white. If I were doing it again I’d get black and paint the cowlings and mid cowlings ice white to match. Gives a nice contrasting white on black look to the motors too, with the transoms and lowers staying black.

I've had two boats with Suzuki outboard, one four stroke and one two stroke, both low horsepower in non-sport boat models. I like them, fairly easy to work on so far haven't really had any problems. I've seen a few performance boats with Suzuki's for sale and I would not hesitate to buy a performance boat with one.

.


Texoma,

when you say low power, do you mean less than 100 HP?





.

I remember looking at an ‘80’s vintage Suzi V-6 two stroke and being blown away to see that you could replace an entire cylinder bank w/o replacing the entire block.
Very Cool.

I think if the Jap mfgs had fully understood the harsh Marine environment and high load requirements for their motors, we might have seen some special two strokes.

Honda started the 4 stroke revolution and mastered it w/their marketing attacking ‘60’s vintage two strokes.

They targeted 40 yr old two strokes sitting unattended in corn fields showing pixs of smoky exhaust and oil films on the water behind them.

Imagine my shock and dismay when a boss and then owner of a large Fla Honda OB dealer, attempted to back his 30’ open cat off its lift, powered by twin 225 Honda 4 strokes that spit, sputtered and barely ran.

One wouldn’t even run well enough to get to get it off the lift!
He got it off by holding the one running motor WFO while we rocked the boat back and forth!

He then went through the idle zone on one motor then pinned that throttle, then fired the second motor, jammed it gear and pinned the throttle.

I was used to this, growing up running neglected two strokes but the world conquering 4 strokes Honda’s????

I still laugh about that.

.

Suzuki Motor Corp. - .
.
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2...d-engines.html


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...72faca1109.png












.

.


dual water intakes with built-in nose cone




https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...7ca8ffe42a.jpg

.




repower at --> Atlantic Marine Store






https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...96c756a2ed.jpg

.




https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...9e37a60a16.jpg

.

Suzuki Marine Unveils New DF250 “SS” Outboard for 2022

https://www.boatingmag.com/boats/suz...oard-for-2022/

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...086ba271b4.jpg

From everything that I hear, Suzukis are a great engine. That said, they do not make a "fast" lower so over 75 mph or so they just have too much drag. A guy in Australia had a couple of 300's on his cat and he suggested against it if speed was the goal. On a fishing boat, durability means more than top speed, in my opinion.

The trick is to get the cases out of the water.

W/the low water pickup, you can surface the case then it won’t matter how big it is.

Id try a pair.

.


checkout this video

he purchases what seems to me as a used 300 Pro Merc 4 stroke then sends out the lower unit to Bob's Nose Cone .. came out awesome



https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...17ed3c024c.png

In my experience, the only time a nose cone has done me any good, is to give me low water p/u when the motor (‘s) way up.

Every other time it slowed the boat down and doubled the needed trim to fly the bow.