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Author Topic:   SUZUKI; Service in Hawaii

mikejutt12 posted 02-23-2010 02:56 AM ET (US)
[I]'ve recently purchased [a 1987 Boston Whaler OUTRAGE 18] and plan to re-power the boat. Has anyone had experience with the service that Suzuki offers (especially out in Hawaii) where the boat is located? [I] am looking into putting twin 60's on the back which seems like the best option considering our ocean conditions out here as well as the cost and weight factors. Has anyone had any experience dealing with warranty with Suzuki? How do Suzuki motors perform compared to other four stroke engines on the market? Suzuki currently are offering a extended warranty on their engines for up to 6 years, but a warranty is only as good as the company that writes it. I am new to this site and have been reading many threads and everyone in here seems very knowledgeable. Thanks
RevengeFamily posted 02-23-2010 06:54 AM ET (US)
As far as reliability goes, Suzuki knows what they are doing. Their engines appear to be near bullet proof. Just this past summer two brothers Ralph & Bob Brown ran up the east coast of the USA, then headed across the North Atlantic with a few stops along the way for fuel. They did this in a "Flats" boat to raise attention for wounded American soldiers. Their power of choice was a single 90 Suzuki with a small Suzuki kicker. From all the reports I read the engine never missed a beat.
I'm not sure what kind of service you'll find in Hawaii, but I would think Suzuki has a dealer some where near by.
Best of luck, Norm
Phil T posted 02-23-2010 08:11 AM ET (US)
Mike--Outboard motor reliability has increased significantly across all brands and a buyer's decision is often reduced to price, dealer network, engine weight and personal preference.
Having a local dealer who employs factory certified mechanics trumps price and brand on many occasions. It is not something that should be overlooked.
As to your location, Perry is one member I know of (off the top of my head) who may be able to give you the run-down on dealers and service reputations in the Hawaiian islands.
Here is his profile and contact information
http://continuouswave.com/cgi-bin/ubbmisc.cgi?action=getbio& UserName=Perry
Hoosier posted 02-23-2010 09:02 AM ET (US)
I have a Suzuki DF-115 on my Outrage V20 and have put over a 1000 miles on it over the past two summers without it missing a beat. I had one warranty problem, the Commander Tach failed. It took a week to get a new one. Many people here will tell you that you'll be under powered with two 60s, but knowing the sea conditions you'll be in twins are a must. I can get to the low 30s MPH with my single 115, so you should be able to go as fast as the sea will ever let you with 120 hp.
jimh posted 02-23-2010 09:03 AM ET (US)
SUZUKI was the first outboard manufacturer to offer long warranty coverage. They upset the outboard business when they offered their engines with unprecedented six-year warranty coverage at a time when most other manufacturers offered only a year or two of warranty protection.
jimh posted 02-23-2010 09:05 AM ET (US)
To discuss the performance of an OUTRAGE 18 in ocean water in Hawaii when powered with twin 60-HP four-cycle engines, please see this concurrent discussion in PERFORMANCE:
http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/007088.html
Perry posted 02-23-2010 01:34 PM ET (US)
Mike, are you new to Hawaii? If not, you have probably noticed that the repower market is primarily 4 stroke with Yamaha and Hondaa leading the way. I am starting to see more and more ETEC's on the water lately though.
Suzuki is starting to make it's presence known as well but they have a smaller dealer network here. I don't know of anyone here who owns a Suzuki outboard but I have heard lots of positive things about them here on Continuous Wave.
Suzuki's website shows 5 dealerships here on Oahu, some may only sell small HP models and not provide service but if you live in Haleiwa, like your profile says, you will have to drive around 30 miles no matter what brand of motor you plan to have serviced.
I have a factory trained Honda mobile mecahnic that services my motor so I don't have to drive my boat to get it serviced. Maybe there is a similar service here that specializes in Suzuki?
I fish and dive of the Windward side of Oahu and have always had a single motor. I stay within VHF range of the Coast Guard (20 miles offshore), as well as cell phone range (also 20 miles). I have a PLB and an EPIRB and file a float plan.
I think if you are determined to have twins on you Outrage 18 weight and performance are important so 60 HP Suzuki's may be your best option. If it was my boat, I would buy a BF150 and have Craig at Moble Outboard Marine service it at my home.
mikejutt12 posted 02-23-2010 05:38 PM ET (US)
[Corrected use of capital letters as the first letter of the first word of a sentence, in proper nouns, and in the spelling of the personal pronoun "I" in about 30 places--jimh.]
[N]o, [I] have been living here for five years, but [I] have done most of boating experience out here from a kayak. My diving has been limited to where [I] could paddle back and forth to. [I] have seen more [H]onda motors on the back of boats out here than any other four-cycle outboard motor. Thanks for your input. We are not settled on any engine set up, yet, and are completely open to any option that falls within our price range. The BF150 is a [H]onda engine, correct? [Y]ou said you run a [H]onda. [W]here did you purchase it? [M]y friend runs twin 50's on his 19-foot [G]lasspro, but he got them from a dealer in [M]aui. [I] am in the dark on what dealers out here are good and which to stay away from. [T]he boat originally had twin 60's because it was used as en escort boat to and from moloka'i for the paddlers and canoe races. [W]e are planning to take some trips over there when the weather permits, and we find out where to go without [angering] the guys that live over there. [S]ervice is our deciding factor, and [I] have been steered away from dealing with [W]inward [B]oats by a few mechanics [I]'ve talked to as well as some other friends. But I have not personally had any [disputes] with them--but at the same time there trying to sell me something--and they are the only [Y]amaha dealer out here. [W]e have been talking with [B]ayside [M]arine about getting the [S]uzuki's, but nothing is set in stone yet. [Y]our profile says you are a firefighter; [I] work for the city and county, too, as a lifeguard up here on the north shore in the winter and east side in the summer. [A]ny insight you could offer on which dealerships are good and also where you've purchased replacement parts for your [W]haler. [T]his is my first personal boat and first time dealing with all this kinda stuff, so really any advice as to where to go is greatly appreciated.
Perry posted 02-23-2010 06:57 PM ET (US)
Mike, first off, welcome to this forum, I've been a member for over 7 years and have found that this website provides lots of information about Whalers and general boating. The moderator, jimh, runs a tight ship and one of the things he asks is that posters use correct grammar, punctuation and to capitalize proper nouns. It really makes reading posts easier.
I bought my last 2 Boston Whalers new from Windward Boats. I know the owner and although I don't take my motor there for servicing, he is the only Boston Whaler dealer in the state. He even let me repower my 190 Outrage with a Honda before taking delivery. He has unusual business practices and many people stay away from his dealership. My mechanic used to be the head guy at Windward Boats before starting his own mobile outboard marine service. He only works on Hondas and is factory trained. He told me Valley Isle Marine on Maui has the best prices in the state on new Honda motors and gives discounted shipping via Young Bros. freight. If on you buy it there, you can have my mechanic install it on your boat at your house.
Every year I escort canoe races from Molokai and there is no requirement for twin engines to do it. There is fantastic fishing and diving there and camping at secluded coves are fun.
I work for the Federal Fire Department not the City. I'm at Kaneohe Marine Base and keep my Boston Whaler at the marina over there.
dbrody posted 02-23-2010 06:58 PM ET (US)
Mike,
I'm over on Kauai and have a 140 Suzuki on the back of an '87 Outrage. I couldn't ask for more from an engine. Always starts on the first turn of the key and has never given me a problem. There is a great Suzuki mechanic here. Factory authorized and very reasonable. If you want I can ask him who he would recommend on Oahu.
Aloha,
Mike
mikejutt12 posted 02-23-2010 11:39 PM ET (US)
Thanks for the replies and sorry for the poor grammar and punctuation. I can fix the punctuation problem but i have a broken comma key. i can use the semi-colon; key to replace it.
My friend that I had mentioned earlier did purchase his Honda 50's from Valley Isle Marine on Maui; but since his are new and he has not had to have any servicing on them I was unsure of how it would be to have them worked on over on Oahu. Looks like I'm going to be doing some reasearch on Hondas tonight and look at Valley Isle Marine's prices on these engines. I really appreciate the information and would like to use your mechanic if we decide to go with Hondas from Valley Isle Marine. Thanks again and sorry for all the poor punctuation and bad grammar.
Perry posted 02-24-2010 01:25 AM ET (US)
Mike, the weather has been great, I bet you are looking forward to getting the Outrage on the water. Let me know if you need anything.
power2boat posted 02-28-2010 01:34 AM ET (US)
mike,I'm running twin 70hp suzukis on a 22' outrage.
safety first,reliability,economical and good service.
Peace of mind fishing the northshore of Kauai.
alfred posted 02-28-2010 10:52 AM ET (US)
I have a 1985 18 Outrage with a 140 Johnson/Suzuki on the transom and I love it. It is quiet, good on gas and has never missed a beat.
It is much quieter then my Verado. I had both boats on either side of a jetty, both with the outboards running and regardless of which boat I was on, I could only hear the Verado.
elaelap posted 02-28-2010 07:34 PM ET (US)
Hello, power2boat, and welcome to this great website. I'm a Suzuki fan as well, and like the DF70/Montauk combination very much on my new-to-me 1982 classic. We have a DF140 on our 21 ft banana Revenge prototype partnership Whaler, 'Strike3', and we've put over 800 hours on that motor without a single problem, mechanical or cosmetic, even though our boat stays in a saltwater slip 9-10 months per year when we're not banging the boat and ourselves around in our often-lumpy stuff north of San Francisco.
By the way, do you know Mike/dbrody? He's another Kauai BW enthusiast. As a matter of fact, my wife and I are coming over to Kauai in a couple of days and will be staying mostly with my brother-in-law in Anahola. I'll sure be missing my Whalers within three or four days...HINT ;-)
Tony
jimh posted 02-28-2010 07:46 PM ET (US)
Tony--The Suzuki DF140 motor's combination of horsepower, weight, and price makes it a best seller.

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Author	Topic: SUZUKI; Service in Hawaii
mikejutt12	posted 02-23-2010 02:56 AM ET (US) [I]'ve recently purchased [a 1987 Boston Whaler OUTRAGE 18] and plan to re-power the boat. Has anyone had experience with the service that Suzuki offers (especially out in Hawaii) where the boat is located? [I] am looking into putting twin 60's on the back which seems like the best option considering our ocean conditions out here as well as the cost and weight factors. Has anyone had any experience dealing with warranty with Suzuki? How do Suzuki motors perform compared to other four stroke engines on the market? Suzuki currently are offering a extended warranty on their engines for up to 6 years, but a warranty is only as good as the company that writes it. I am new to this site and have been reading many threads and everyone in here seems very knowledgeable. Thanks
RevengeFamily	posted 02-23-2010 06:54 AM ET (US) As far as reliability goes, Suzuki knows what they are doing. Their engines appear to be near bullet proof. Just this past summer two brothers Ralph & Bob Brown ran up the east coast of the USA, then headed across the North Atlantic with a few stops along the way for fuel. They did this in a "Flats" boat to raise attention for wounded American soldiers. Their power of choice was a single 90 Suzuki with a small Suzuki kicker. From all the reports I read the engine never missed a beat. I'm not sure what kind of service you'll find in Hawaii, but I would think Suzuki has a dealer some where near by. Best of luck, Norm
Phil T	posted 02-23-2010 08:11 AM ET (US) Mike--Outboard motor reliability has increased significantly across all brands and a buyer's decision is often reduced to price, dealer network, engine weight and personal preference. Having a local dealer who employs factory certified mechanics trumps price and brand on many occasions. It is not something that should be overlooked. As to your location, Perry is one member I know of (off the top of my head) who may be able to give you the run-down on dealers and service reputations in the Hawaiian islands. Here is his profile and contact information http://continuouswave.com/cgi-bin/ubbmisc.cgi?action=getbio& UserName=Perry
Hoosier	posted 02-23-2010 09:02 AM ET (US) I have a Suzuki DF-115 on my Outrage V20 and have put over a 1000 miles on it over the past two summers without it missing a beat. I had one warranty problem, the Commander Tach failed. It took a week to get a new one. Many people here will tell you that you'll be under powered with two 60s, but knowing the sea conditions you'll be in twins are a must. I can get to the low 30s MPH with my single 115, so you should be able to go as fast as the sea will ever let you with 120 hp.
jimh	posted 02-23-2010 09:03 AM ET (US) SUZUKI was the first outboard manufacturer to offer long warranty coverage. They upset the outboard business when they offered their engines with unprecedented six-year warranty coverage at a time when most other manufacturers offered only a year or two of warranty protection.
jimh	posted 02-23-2010 09:05 AM ET (US) To discuss the performance of an OUTRAGE 18 in ocean water in Hawaii when powered with twin 60-HP four-cycle engines, please see this concurrent discussion in PERFORMANCE: http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/007088.html
Perry	posted 02-23-2010 01:34 PM ET (US) Mike, are you new to Hawaii? If not, you have probably noticed that the repower market is primarily 4 stroke with Yamaha and Hondaa leading the way. I am starting to see more and more ETEC's on the water lately though. Suzuki is starting to make it's presence known as well but they have a smaller dealer network here. I don't know of anyone here who owns a Suzuki outboard but I have heard lots of positive things about them here on Continuous Wave. Suzuki's website shows 5 dealerships here on Oahu, some may only sell small HP models and not provide service but if you live in Haleiwa, like your profile says, you will have to drive around 30 miles no matter what brand of motor you plan to have serviced. I have a factory trained Honda mobile mecahnic that services my motor so I don't have to drive my boat to get it serviced. Maybe there is a similar service here that specializes in Suzuki? I fish and dive of the Windward side of Oahu and have always had a single motor. I stay within VHF range of the Coast Guard (20 miles offshore), as well as cell phone range (also 20 miles). I have a PLB and an EPIRB and file a float plan. I think if you are determined to have twins on you Outrage 18 weight and performance are important so 60 HP Suzuki's may be your best option. If it was my boat, I would buy a BF150 and have Craig at Moble Outboard Marine service it at my home.
mikejutt12	posted 02-23-2010 05:38 PM ET (US) [Corrected use of capital letters as the first letter of the first word of a sentence, in proper nouns, and in the spelling of the personal pronoun "I" in about 30 places--jimh.] [N]o, [I] have been living here for five years, but [I] have done most of boating experience out here from a kayak. My diving has been limited to where [I] could paddle back and forth to. [I] have seen more [H]onda motors on the back of boats out here than any other four-cycle outboard motor. Thanks for your input. We are not settled on any engine set up, yet, and are completely open to any option that falls within our price range. The BF150 is a [H]onda engine, correct? [Y]ou said you run a [H]onda. [W]here did you purchase it? [M]y friend runs twin 50's on his 19-foot [G]lasspro, but he got them from a dealer in [M]aui. [I] am in the dark on what dealers out here are good and which to stay away from. [T]he boat originally had twin 60's because it was used as en escort boat to and from moloka'i for the paddlers and canoe races. [W]e are planning to take some trips over there when the weather permits, and we find out where to go without [angering] the guys that live over there. [S]ervice is our deciding factor, and [I] have been steered away from dealing with [W]inward [B]oats by a few mechanics [I]'ve talked to as well as some other friends. But I have not personally had any [disputes] with them--but at the same time there trying to sell me something--and they are the only [Y]amaha dealer out here. [W]e have been talking with [B]ayside [M]arine about getting the [S]uzuki's, but nothing is set in stone yet. [Y]our profile says you are a firefighter; [I] work for the city and county, too, as a lifeguard up here on the north shore in the winter and east side in the summer. [A]ny insight you could offer on which dealerships are good and also where you've purchased replacement parts for your [W]haler. [T]his is my first personal boat and first time dealing with all this kinda stuff, so really any advice as to where to go is greatly appreciated.
Perry	posted 02-23-2010 06:57 PM ET (US) Mike, first off, welcome to this forum, I've been a member for over 7 years and have found that this website provides lots of information about Whalers and general boating. The moderator, jimh, runs a tight ship and one of the things he asks is that posters use correct grammar, punctuation and to capitalize proper nouns. It really makes reading posts easier. I bought my last 2 Boston Whalers new from Windward Boats. I know the owner and although I don't take my motor there for servicing, he is the only Boston Whaler dealer in the state. He even let me repower my 190 Outrage with a Honda before taking delivery. He has unusual business practices and many people stay away from his dealership. My mechanic used to be the head guy at Windward Boats before starting his own mobile outboard marine service. He only works on Hondas and is factory trained. He told me Valley Isle Marine on Maui has the best prices in the state on new Honda motors and gives discounted shipping via Young Bros. freight. If on you buy it there, you can have my mechanic install it on your boat at your house. Every year I escort canoe races from Molokai and there is no requirement for twin engines to do it. There is fantastic fishing and diving there and camping at secluded coves are fun. I work for the Federal Fire Department not the City. I'm at Kaneohe Marine Base and keep my Boston Whaler at the marina over there.
dbrody	posted 02-23-2010 06:58 PM ET (US) Mike, I'm over on Kauai and have a 140 Suzuki on the back of an '87 Outrage. I couldn't ask for more from an engine. Always starts on the first turn of the key and has never given me a problem. There is a great Suzuki mechanic here. Factory authorized and very reasonable. If you want I can ask him who he would recommend on Oahu. Aloha, Mike
mikejutt12	posted 02-23-2010 11:39 PM ET (US) Thanks for the replies and sorry for the poor grammar and punctuation. I can fix the punctuation problem but i have a broken comma key. i can use the semi-colon; key to replace it. My friend that I had mentioned earlier did purchase his Honda 50's from Valley Isle Marine on Maui; but since his are new and he has not had to have any servicing on them I was unsure of how it would be to have them worked on over on Oahu. Looks like I'm going to be doing some reasearch on Hondas tonight and look at Valley Isle Marine's prices on these engines. I really appreciate the information and would like to use your mechanic if we decide to go with Hondas from Valley Isle Marine. Thanks again and sorry for all the poor punctuation and bad grammar.
Perry	posted 02-24-2010 01:25 AM ET (US) Mike, the weather has been great, I bet you are looking forward to getting the Outrage on the water. Let me know if you need anything.
power2boat	posted 02-28-2010 01:34 AM ET (US) mike,I'm running twin 70hp suzukis on a 22' outrage. safety first,reliability,economical and good service. Peace of mind fishing the northshore of Kauai.
alfred	posted 02-28-2010 10:52 AM ET (US) I have a 1985 18 Outrage with a 140 Johnson/Suzuki on the transom and I love it. It is quiet, good on gas and has never missed a beat. It is much quieter then my Verado. I had both boats on either side of a jetty, both with the outboards running and regardless of which boat I was on, I could only hear the Verado.
elaelap	posted 02-28-2010 07:34 PM ET (US) Hello, power2boat, and welcome to this great website. I'm a Suzuki fan as well, and like the DF70/Montauk combination very much on my new-to-me 1982 classic. We have a DF140 on our 21 ft banana Revenge prototype partnership Whaler, 'Strike3', and we've put over 800 hours on that motor without a single problem, mechanical or cosmetic, even though our boat stays in a saltwater slip 9-10 months per year when we're not banging the boat and ourselves around in our often-lumpy stuff north of San Francisco. By the way, do you know Mike/dbrody? He's another Kauai BW enthusiast. As a matter of fact, my wife and I are coming over to Kauai in a couple of days and will be staying mostly with my brother-in-law in Anahola. I'll sure be missing my Whalers within three or four days...HINT ;-) Tony
jimh	posted 02-28-2010 07:46 PM ET (US) Tony--The Suzuki DF140 motor's combination of horsepower, weight, and price makes it a best seller.