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jbh posted 01-22-2013 10:40 AM ET (US)
I'm currently looking at [a 2008 Boston Whaler Montauk 170 with Mercury 90-HP FOURSTROKE]. I don't have much experience with the Mercury line, and thought it prudent to check: What's been the general consensus on this year and model?
The boat lists new for $27,000. This is without any gear or taxes. What is the average price for a 2008 model in very clean condition? The boat will come with safety gear and a Bimini. Trailer is in nice shape with no rust. Thanks in advance for any help.
johnhenry posted 01-22-2013 10:58 AM ET (US)
Should be around [$20,000] or so, depending on add-ons and engine hours. I have the same boat. Overall no big complaints. Read up in Post-Classic section on the boat and motor. Lots of comments and opinions on both.
jimh posted 01-22-2013 01:17 PM ET (US)
I don't know what the consensus of opinion will be about a 2008 Mercury 90-HP FOURSTROKE. Mercury uses the model identifier FOURSTROKE with many models. I think in c.2008 the FOURSTROKE was one of their own engines, that is, not an engine they got from Yamaha and adapted to their product line. If you have the engine I am thinking about, we usually refer to them as the VERADITO model, due to their heritage being descended from the VERADO. What I observe about the VERADITO:
--the cowling and general size of the engine is very large for only a 90-HP; it is about the size of a 150-HP to 200-HP engine cowling; The cowling seems particularly tall for its horsepower range;
--the weight is on the high end of the range of weight for modern 90-HP engines;
--the engine is a derivative of the VERADO engine in that it uses some of the same components. Since Mercury pushes this general design to 200-HP, an inference is often made that the engine should have great durability as a 90-HP, but this has to be tempered with the notion that Mercury probably uses different components in the lower power engines, such as pistons, connecting rods, and perhaps crankshafts, that are not identical to the 200-HP version. You could investigate that to get a better appreciation of the anticipated durability due to VERADO heritage;
--it is a four-cylinder in-line engine without balance shafts, so it will tend to have some vibration that is inherent in the design unless balance shafts are used to cancel;
--I would inquire about the electric starting motor; there have been anecdotal reports of unusual failures with the electric starting motor. See
http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum8/HTML/003378.html
These Mercury outboard engines were sold in a mandatory tie-in sale with Boston Whaler boats, so you are going to find that almost every late-model Boston Whaler MONTAUK boat will have a Mercury outboard engine on it.
Because this engine is a four-cycle outboard engine, you should give very close attention to the maintenance records. These outboard engines require frequent oil changes. It would be prudent to ask for some verification of the oil changes having been performed at the recommended intervals. Note that an oil change could be needed as often as every 50-hours of operation under some circumstances. Also check for recommended adjustments and checks having been performed, such as valve train tolerance checks.
Overall, I think the VERADITO engines have a good record for outboard engine reliability. Because they are so large, so heavy, and use so many oversize parts for a 90-HP engine, they seem to do well and seldom breakdown.
There have been some problems reported of fuel component failures due to exposure to ethanol-gasoline blended fuels. I believe there was a service bulletin or factory recall on some models to replace certain rubber components in the fuel system to improve the tolerance for ethanol-gasoline blended fuels.
jbh posted 01-23-2013 03:35 PM ET (US)
Thanks for the replies. This boat is very clean, but I've never been a Mercury fan. No particular reason. It's a clean little boat, and looks like it will provide hours of fun for my family.
L H G posted 01-25-2013 11:43 PM ET (US)
You should buy that boat, and you will love the engine. It is very powerful for a 90, and quiet running. It outperfroms both the Yamaha and Evinrude 90's. Boston Whaler has sold thousands of Montauks with this engine on it, and there have only been minor warranty issues, if at all. Owners seem to really like the overall rig, including the engine. Here are some performance comparisons on the Merc in reference to what I indicated above:
http://www.mercurymarine.com/engines/engine-tests/head-to-head/?ID=55&
Keeper posted 01-26-2013 12:25 AM ET (US)
I would and will never own a Mercury period. I run a fishing tournament circuit with over 100 boats involved, all outboard powered. The number-one motor plagued by significant problems across the board hands down is Mercury. From newer models to older, 2-stroke, 4-stroke, Optimax , and Verados. Sure, there's exceptions, and I'd love to support US made products, but with the cost of everything nowadays that's a major "shine"!
jimh posted 01-26-2013 10:03 AM ET (US)
Larry writes about the Mercury 90-HP FOURSTROKE:
"..there have only been minor warranty issues..."
I disagree. I will offer a stronger endorsement. I don't think there have been any issues in the warranty. Mercury has been very good about replacing components in these engines which fail due to defect in their original manufacture within the warranty period. I do not recall reading or hearing of a single case in which Mercury did not offer a replacement for a component that failed due to being defective in its original manufacture. When components on these engines fail in the warranty period and the failure is due to a defect in the original manufacturing of the component, I think Mercury has been 100-percent behind their warranty. So I would say there have been no issues with the warranty.
Therefore, don't worry about the warranty. If this engine is still covered by the warranty, and if a component that is covered by the warranty fails due to a defect in its original manufacture, you will get a new one from Mercury without any issue.
R DAVIS posted 01-26-2013 05:02 PM ET (US)
Jimh writes:
"I disagree. I will offer a stronger endorsement. I don't think there have been any issues in the warranty. Mercury has been very good about replacing components in these engines which fail due to defect in their original manufacture within the warranty period. I do not recall reading or hearing of a single case in which Mercury did not offer a replacement for a component that failed due to being defective in its original manufacture. When components on these engines fail in the warranty period and the failure is due to a defect in the original manufacturing of the component, I think Mercury has been 100-percent behind their warranty. So I would say there have been no issues with the warranty."
Although he didn't make it perfectly clear, I took Larry's post to mean that there were not many issues that needed to be covered by warranty, not any slap at honoring the warranty itself. To me, that is a positive endorsement of the motor.
jimh posted 01-26-2013 05:52 PM ET (US)
No one has really any idea what the frequency of repair or failure for the Mercury 90-HP FOURSTROKE might be or for any other outboard engine. This data is not available to anyone. Actual warranty costs or rate of repair is just not a statistic that anyone except the manufacturer might know.
To say that there have been few repairs made under the warranty would be just speculation. There is no basis for making that statement with any authority, unless perhaps you are the CEO of a outboard engine manufacturer. If you are the CEO of a publicly traded outboard engine manufacturer you just can't make statements about your products without having some data to back them up. If the CEO of Brunswick were to make a public statement about the rate of warranty repair on the Mercury 90-HP FOURSTROKE, I would believe that statement. When anyone else makes a statement about it, I figure it is pure speculation, and probably heavily shaded, based on their own bias and brand preference.
As I said earlier, I think the Mercury 90-HP FOURSTROKE should be a reliable engine based on the enormous weight and size of its construction. But I can't tell you--nor can anyone else--there have been few repairs made under warranty to these engines. That is just data that none of us have access to.
L H G posted 01-26-2013 07:24 PM ET (US)
Jim - Boston Whaler has installed and sold thousands of these engines in both the 90 HP version and 115HP version.
They could tell you problems, if any. Boston Whaler clearly believes these 4-stroke engines to be superior and more in demand than the lighter weight 2-stroke DFI's, or they would equip their Whalers with those instead. But nobody wants them anymore.
Grady White does not offer their boats with Yamaha 2-stroke DFI's either, only 4-stoke Yamaha.
[Changed topic to begin discussing the website in general. Please stay on topic. We are discussing a c.2008 Mercury 90-HP and associated Boston Whaler MONTAUK boat. Thank you--jimh]
jimh posted 01-26-2013 07:41 PM ET (US)
About the only interesting aspect of engine choice by Boston Whaler was the dropping of OptiMax. The sales of OptiMax engines when they were optional on Boston Whaler were so small that they were dropped due to the apparent lack of interest by Whaler customers, the people who actually spend money and buy things in the real world, not in the hypothetical.
The only conclusion you can make from that is among Brunswick engines, the OptiMax was least preferred. OptiMax has been gone from the Whaler catalogue for many years. I think at least six years. This pre-dates the c. 2008 90-HP FOURSTROKE. It is not possible to say that OptiMax was dropped in favor of this engine; this engine did not exist when OptiMax was dropped.
Since Mercury does not make any other 90-HP engine but this FOURSTROKE, it is hard to make a case that the selection of the 90-HP was based on anything special about the engine. Since OptiMax is not an option, this is the only Mercury engine with 90-HP. I will be impressed if you can weave a different narrative about this engine. But it really does not matter. It is a nice engine. It is still a nice engine no matter what speculation people come up with about its rate of repair. It is still a nice engine no matter what motives people invent for Whaler to have selected it. All that speculation cannot change the engine. As I said, it is a large, heavy engine, with VERADO DNA, and it is going to be found on many late-model Boston Whaler boats due to the mandatory tie-in sale arrangement.
SC Joe posted 01-29-2013 02:38 PM ET (US)
The 2008 MY would be the best of that style, in my opinion, of the 170 Montauks to purchase due to the 4" taller and 2" wider console.
It would be great if you could purchase the boat without an engine and repower with Yamaha 90 HP; my experience with the Mercury 90hp FOUR STROKE engine was not positive. Neither was Mercury's warranty.
SC Joe posted 01-29-2013 02:49 PM ET (US)
As Jimh has stated, The discussion of the longevity of the Mercury 90 HP FOUR STROKE (and my 2008 model year Mercury 90 DID have the space, and in SC we still have model years)engine has come up here before. I will agree with Larry that I think when running properly, it is a powerful 90 HP engine with a lot of torque, undoubtedly due to its larger displacement and lower (higher numerically) gearing than other comparable 90 HP engines.
It has always been my suppositon it would outrun a Montauk 170 if it were powered with an E-TEC 90. After riding on other similar sized boats with 90HP E-TEC's, and seeing the top speeds quoted on this web site of the 90 HP E-TECs placed on smaller, lighter, older vintage Montauk 17's, I still beleive this to be true.
The problem I had was simply keeping the Mercury running properly.
chuck21401 posted 01-29-2013 09:29 PM ET (US)
I would say $20K +/- depending on condition and options. I have a 2008 170 Montauk. I've had good luck with my rig.
Chuck
pcrussell50 posted 01-30-2013 12:36 PM ET (US)
SC Joe sez:

quote:
my experience with the Mercury 90hp FOUR STROKE engine was not positive. Neither was Mercury's warranty.
Was yours one of the carbureted models of Mercury FourStroke? Many of those have seemed to require special care and handling to keep the carburetors from causing running problems. I have heard of no such problems with the fuel injected models. Have you? There are at least a half-dozen threads here on CWW talking about Mercury's intransigence on warrantied, carbureted FourStrokes.
As for performance and the E-TEC vs. Mercury vs. Yamaha wars? Meh. Who cares? I never did understand why people obsess over a couple of miles per hour one way or the other in a slow, utility-class boat like a Whaler.
-Peter
johnhenry posted 01-30-2013 01:57 PM ET (US)
PC, Sc Joe had an 08 170, just had a few more problems than most. Might have been a Monday boat or something. It's like getting a lemon Toyota. They are few and far between, but it does happen.
elaelap posted 01-30-2013 02:11 PM ET (US)
"I never did understand why people obsess over a couple of miles per hour one way or the other in a slow, utility-class boat like a Whaler."
Hear, hear, Peter. Been saying the same thing since I joined this forum ten years ago. Never got an answer, BTW.
Tony
L H G posted 01-30-2013 03:20 PM ET (US)
Good one, Tony. I have been noticing that too, that over and over and over again, we have classic Montauk owners with Evinrude E-tec 90 repowers, CONSTANTLY asking how they can improve the disappointing speed results they are getting with the engine. The answer is always the same, jack it up all the way and buy a Stiletto propeller! All this just to get from 38-39 MPH to 40-42 MPH.
bkjones posted 01-30-2013 07:15 PM ET (US)
There are guys that like 2 strokes, there are guys that like 4 strokes. There are guys that like black motors, guys that like white motors and guys that like grey motors. We've all got our reasons and are certain we're right. This same debate goes on ad nauseum in many different boating forums quite frequently and, shockingly, is never resolved.
That said, any modern outboard that has been properly maintained will provide many, many, many hours of trouble free use. Sure there are 1 or 2 of any brand that will be problematic, but that is no different than any other consumer product on the market.
SC Joe posted 01-31-2013 09:14 AM ET (US)

quote:
Was yours one of the carbureted models of Mercury FourStroke? Many of those have seemed to require special care and handling to keep the carburetors from causing running problems. I have heard of no such problems with the fuel injected models. Have you? There are at least a half-dozen threads here on CWW talking about Mercury's intransigence on warrantied, carbureted FourStrokes.
As for performance and the E-TEC vs. Mercury vs. Yamaha wars? Meh. Who cares? I never did understand why people obsess over a couple of miles per hour one way or the other in a slow, utility-class boat like a Whaler.
-Peter
No, as stated, it was an 2008 model year (per S.C. taxes and registration) and was fuel injected.

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Author	Topic: Consensus on Mercury; Price of Used MONTAUK
jbh	posted 01-22-2013 10:40 AM ET (US) I'm currently looking at [a 2008 Boston Whaler Montauk 170 with Mercury 90-HP FOURSTROKE]. I don't have much experience with the Mercury line, and thought it prudent to check: What's been the general consensus on this year and model? The boat lists new for $27,000. This is without any gear or taxes. What is the average price for a 2008 model in very clean condition? The boat will come with safety gear and a Bimini. Trailer is in nice shape with no rust. Thanks in advance for any help.
johnhenry	posted 01-22-2013 10:58 AM ET (US) Should be around [$20,000] or so, depending on add-ons and engine hours. I have the same boat. Overall no big complaints. Read up in Post-Classic section on the boat and motor. Lots of comments and opinions on both.
jimh	posted 01-22-2013 01:17 PM ET (US) I don't know what the consensus of opinion will be about a 2008 Mercury 90-HP FOURSTROKE. Mercury uses the model identifier FOURSTROKE with many models. I think in c.2008 the FOURSTROKE was one of their own engines, that is, not an engine they got from Yamaha and adapted to their product line. If you have the engine I am thinking about, we usually refer to them as the VERADITO model, due to their heritage being descended from the VERADO. What I observe about the VERADITO: --the cowling and general size of the engine is very large for only a 90-HP; it is about the size of a 150-HP to 200-HP engine cowling; The cowling seems particularly tall for its horsepower range; --the weight is on the high end of the range of weight for modern 90-HP engines; --the engine is a derivative of the VERADO engine in that it uses some of the same components. Since Mercury pushes this general design to 200-HP, an inference is often made that the engine should have great durability as a 90-HP, but this has to be tempered with the notion that Mercury probably uses different components in the lower power engines, such as pistons, connecting rods, and perhaps crankshafts, that are not identical to the 200-HP version. You could investigate that to get a better appreciation of the anticipated durability due to VERADO heritage; --it is a four-cylinder in-line engine without balance shafts, so it will tend to have some vibration that is inherent in the design unless balance shafts are used to cancel; --I would inquire about the electric starting motor; there have been anecdotal reports of unusual failures with the electric starting motor. See http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum8/HTML/003378.html These Mercury outboard engines were sold in a mandatory tie-in sale with Boston Whaler boats, so you are going to find that almost every late-model Boston Whaler MONTAUK boat will have a Mercury outboard engine on it. Because this engine is a four-cycle outboard engine, you should give very close attention to the maintenance records. These outboard engines require frequent oil changes. It would be prudent to ask for some verification of the oil changes having been performed at the recommended intervals. Note that an oil change could be needed as often as every 50-hours of operation under some circumstances. Also check for recommended adjustments and checks having been performed, such as valve train tolerance checks. Overall, I think the VERADITO engines have a good record for outboard engine reliability. Because they are so large, so heavy, and use so many oversize parts for a 90-HP engine, they seem to do well and seldom breakdown. There have been some problems reported of fuel component failures due to exposure to ethanol-gasoline blended fuels. I believe there was a service bulletin or factory recall on some models to replace certain rubber components in the fuel system to improve the tolerance for ethanol-gasoline blended fuels.
jbh	posted 01-23-2013 03:35 PM ET (US) Thanks for the replies. This boat is very clean, but I've never been a Mercury fan. No particular reason. It's a clean little boat, and looks like it will provide hours of fun for my family.
L H G	posted 01-25-2013 11:43 PM ET (US) You should buy that boat, and you will love the engine. It is very powerful for a 90, and quiet running. It outperfroms both the Yamaha and Evinrude 90's. Boston Whaler has sold thousands of Montauks with this engine on it, and there have only been minor warranty issues, if at all. Owners seem to really like the overall rig, including the engine. Here are some performance comparisons on the Merc in reference to what I indicated above: http://www.mercurymarine.com/engines/engine-tests/head-to-head/?ID=55&
Keeper	posted 01-26-2013 12:25 AM ET (US) I would and will never own a Mercury period. I run a fishing tournament circuit with over 100 boats involved, all outboard powered. The number-one motor plagued by significant problems across the board hands down is Mercury. From newer models to older, 2-stroke, 4-stroke, Optimax , and Verados. Sure, there's exceptions, and I'd love to support US made products, but with the cost of everything nowadays that's a major "shine"!
jimh	posted 01-26-2013 10:03 AM ET (US) Larry writes about the Mercury 90-HP FOURSTROKE: "..there have only been minor warranty issues..." I disagree. I will offer a stronger endorsement. I don't think there have been any issues in the warranty. Mercury has been very good about replacing components in these engines which fail due to defect in their original manufacture within the warranty period. I do not recall reading or hearing of a single case in which Mercury did not offer a replacement for a component that failed due to being defective in its original manufacture. When components on these engines fail in the warranty period and the failure is due to a defect in the original manufacturing of the component, I think Mercury has been 100-percent behind their warranty. So I would say there have been no issues with the warranty. Therefore, don't worry about the warranty. If this engine is still covered by the warranty, and if a component that is covered by the warranty fails due to a defect in its original manufacture, you will get a new one from Mercury without any issue.
R DAVIS	posted 01-26-2013 05:02 PM ET (US) Jimh writes: "I disagree. I will offer a stronger endorsement. I don't think there have been any issues in the warranty. Mercury has been very good about replacing components in these engines which fail due to defect in their original manufacture within the warranty period. I do not recall reading or hearing of a single case in which Mercury did not offer a replacement for a component that failed due to being defective in its original manufacture. When components on these engines fail in the warranty period and the failure is due to a defect in the original manufacturing of the component, I think Mercury has been 100-percent behind their warranty. So I would say there have been no issues with the warranty." Although he didn't make it perfectly clear, I took Larry's post to mean that there were not many issues that needed to be covered by warranty, not any slap at honoring the warranty itself. To me, that is a positive endorsement of the motor.
jimh	posted 01-26-2013 05:52 PM ET (US) No one has really any idea what the frequency of repair or failure for the Mercury 90-HP FOURSTROKE might be or for any other outboard engine. This data is not available to anyone. Actual warranty costs or rate of repair is just not a statistic that anyone except the manufacturer might know. To say that there have been few repairs made under the warranty would be just speculation. There is no basis for making that statement with any authority, unless perhaps you are the CEO of a outboard engine manufacturer. If you are the CEO of a publicly traded outboard engine manufacturer you just can't make statements about your products without having some data to back them up. If the CEO of Brunswick were to make a public statement about the rate of warranty repair on the Mercury 90-HP FOURSTROKE, I would believe that statement. When anyone else makes a statement about it, I figure it is pure speculation, and probably heavily shaded, based on their own bias and brand preference. As I said earlier, I think the Mercury 90-HP FOURSTROKE should be a reliable engine based on the enormous weight and size of its construction. But I can't tell you--nor can anyone else--there have been few repairs made under warranty to these engines. That is just data that none of us have access to.
L H G	posted 01-26-2013 07:24 PM ET (US) Jim - Boston Whaler has installed and sold thousands of these engines in both the 90 HP version and 115HP version. They could tell you problems, if any. Boston Whaler clearly believes these 4-stroke engines to be superior and more in demand than the lighter weight 2-stroke DFI's, or they would equip their Whalers with those instead. But nobody wants them anymore. Grady White does not offer their boats with Yamaha 2-stroke DFI's either, only 4-stoke Yamaha. [Changed topic to begin discussing the website in general. Please stay on topic. We are discussing a c.2008 Mercury 90-HP and associated Boston Whaler MONTAUK boat. Thank you--jimh]
jimh	posted 01-26-2013 07:41 PM ET (US) About the only interesting aspect of engine choice by Boston Whaler was the dropping of OptiMax. The sales of OptiMax engines when they were optional on Boston Whaler were so small that they were dropped due to the apparent lack of interest by Whaler customers, the people who actually spend money and buy things in the real world, not in the hypothetical. The only conclusion you can make from that is among Brunswick engines, the OptiMax was least preferred. OptiMax has been gone from the Whaler catalogue for many years. I think at least six years. This pre-dates the c. 2008 90-HP FOURSTROKE. It is not possible to say that OptiMax was dropped in favor of this engine; this engine did not exist when OptiMax was dropped. Since Mercury does not make any other 90-HP engine but this FOURSTROKE, it is hard to make a case that the selection of the 90-HP was based on anything special about the engine. Since OptiMax is not an option, this is the only Mercury engine with 90-HP. I will be impressed if you can weave a different narrative about this engine. But it really does not matter. It is a nice engine. It is still a nice engine no matter what speculation people come up with about its rate of repair. It is still a nice engine no matter what motives people invent for Whaler to have selected it. All that speculation cannot change the engine. As I said, it is a large, heavy engine, with VERADO DNA, and it is going to be found on many late-model Boston Whaler boats due to the mandatory tie-in sale arrangement.
SC Joe	posted 01-29-2013 02:38 PM ET (US) The 2008 MY would be the best of that style, in my opinion, of the 170 Montauks to purchase due to the 4" taller and 2" wider console. It would be great if you could purchase the boat without an engine and repower with Yamaha 90 HP; my experience with the Mercury 90hp FOUR STROKE engine was not positive. Neither was Mercury's warranty.
SC Joe	posted 01-29-2013 02:49 PM ET (US) As Jimh has stated, The discussion of the longevity of the Mercury 90 HP FOUR STROKE (and my 2008 model year Mercury 90 DID have the space, and in SC we still have model years)engine has come up here before. I will agree with Larry that I think when running properly, it is a powerful 90 HP engine with a lot of torque, undoubtedly due to its larger displacement and lower (higher numerically) gearing than other comparable 90 HP engines. It has always been my suppositon it would outrun a Montauk 170 if it were powered with an E-TEC 90. After riding on other similar sized boats with 90HP E-TEC's, and seeing the top speeds quoted on this web site of the 90 HP E-TECs placed on smaller, lighter, older vintage Montauk 17's, I still beleive this to be true. The problem I had was simply keeping the Mercury running properly.
chuck21401	posted 01-29-2013 09:29 PM ET (US) I would say $20K +/- depending on condition and options. I have a 2008 170 Montauk. I've had good luck with my rig. Chuck
pcrussell50	posted 01-30-2013 12:36 PM ET (US) SC Joe sez: quote: my experience with the Mercury 90hp FOUR STROKE engine was not positive. Neither was Mercury's warranty. Was yours one of the carbureted models of Mercury FourStroke? Many of those have seemed to require special care and handling to keep the carburetors from causing running problems. I have heard of no such problems with the fuel injected models. Have you? There are at least a half-dozen threads here on CWW talking about Mercury's intransigence on warrantied, carbureted FourStrokes. As for performance and the E-TEC vs. Mercury vs. Yamaha wars? Meh. Who cares? I never did understand why people obsess over a couple of miles per hour one way or the other in a slow, utility-class boat like a Whaler. -Peter
johnhenry	posted 01-30-2013 01:57 PM ET (US) PC, Sc Joe had an 08 170, just had a few more problems than most. Might have been a Monday boat or something. It's like getting a lemon Toyota. They are few and far between, but it does happen.
elaelap	posted 01-30-2013 02:11 PM ET (US) "I never did understand why people obsess over a couple of miles per hour one way or the other in a slow, utility-class boat like a Whaler." Hear, hear, Peter. Been saying the same thing since I joined this forum ten years ago. Never got an answer, BTW. Tony
L H G	posted 01-30-2013 03:20 PM ET (US) Good one, Tony. I have been noticing that too, that over and over and over again, we have classic Montauk owners with Evinrude E-tec 90 repowers, CONSTANTLY asking how they can improve the disappointing speed results they are getting with the engine. The answer is always the same, jack it up all the way and buy a Stiletto propeller! All this just to get from 38-39 MPH to 40-42 MPH.
bkjones	posted 01-30-2013 07:15 PM ET (US) There are guys that like 2 strokes, there are guys that like 4 strokes. There are guys that like black motors, guys that like white motors and guys that like grey motors. We've all got our reasons and are certain we're right. This same debate goes on ad nauseum in many different boating forums quite frequently and, shockingly, is never resolved. That said, any modern outboard that has been properly maintained will provide many, many, many hours of trouble free use. Sure there are 1 or 2 of any brand that will be problematic, but that is no different than any other consumer product on the market.
SC Joe	posted 01-31-2013 09:14 AM ET (US) quote: Was yours one of the carbureted models of Mercury FourStroke? Many of those have seemed to require special care and handling to keep the carburetors from causing running problems. I have heard of no such problems with the fuel injected models. Have you? There are at least a half-dozen threads here on CWW talking about Mercury's intransigence on warrantied, carbureted FourStrokes. As for performance and the E-TEC vs. Mercury vs. Yamaha wars? Meh. Who cares? I never did understand why people obsess over a couple of miles per hour one way or the other in a slow, utility-class boat like a Whaler. -Peter No, as stated, it was an 2008 model year (per S.C. taxes and registration) and was fuel injected.