Your "Top Five" outboards of all time.

[Scream And Fly]

What do you consider to be the top five examples of the greatest outboards? This does not necessarily have to do with power or racing - more a list of engines that are great for their own reasons. My list is as follows:
Mercury 2.5 260 EFI - reliable (for a race engine), sold to the public in numbers, and made 100+ mph very easy and relatively reliable. Almost unlimited modification potential. A more reliable and powerful Bridgeport :)
OMC 90-degree V4 - this basic design has been around for decades and I think most of us had grown up around this engine. They run forever.
Mercury Inline-6 - since the 1950s it's been so recognizable in so many forms from consumer to racing applications. Generally extremely reliable as long as timing is kept in spec and you run good gas and oil.
OMC Three-Cylinder 70 - another engine that runs seemingly forever. One of the all-time great designs, in my opinion.
Mercury 300X - probably the most powerful consumer outboard ever produced (not taking the Yamaha F350 into consideration, which remains to be proven and weighs considerably more), although that can be argued.

[Little Jon]

2.5 260
2.5 S3000
300X
2.5 280
2.5 225 Promax

[Downer]

My favorite outboard was a 4 cyl 80. On a Viper w/ nothing else in the boat with a chopper prop. It ran with all the straight 6 boats in its day. ('80)

http://forums.screamandfly.com/Gallery/showphoto.php/photo/11776/cat/500/ppuser/16384http://forums.screamandfly.com/Gallery/showphoto.php/photo/11776/cat/500/ppuser/16384

[edge98]

any omc :)

[Downer]

Heres a pic

[TD]

Merc 20hp
Merc 40 hp
Merc 25hp
Merc 200 Blk Max
Merc 260
Pro-Drive 27hp

I know it's 6 but couldn't leave any of them out.

[Capt.Insane-o]

2.5 drag race.
260 efi, my favorite engine of all time
225 promax
mark 58a
merc 15 hp

[David]

a very personal list

Evinrude 3 HP lightwin, the first motor I got to use
Chrysler 35, the second motor I got to use, and the first that would actually plane a boat.
Merc XR4. Pushes my SS2000 mid 80's and has never been apart
Johnson V4. I take delivery tomorrow:)
Johnson 200 V6. My brother' engine and my first V6 experience

[Tom Foley]

Merc - Mark 20 - H
Merc -20 - HP
Merc -MK 55 - H
Merc- 25 - SS
Merc- 44- XS
Merc- 260
Merc- 300 Pro Max

[David]

a very personal list

Evinrude 3 HP lightwin, the first motor I got to use
Chrysler 35, the second motor I got to use, and the first that would actually plane a boat.
Merc XR4. Pushes my SS2000 mid 80's and has never been apart
Johnson V4. I take delivery tomorrow:)
Johnson 200 V6. My brother' engine's and my first V6 experience

[BUZZIN' DOZEN]

My favorite outboard was a 4 cyl 80. On a Viper w/ nothing else in the boat with a chopper prop. It ran with all the straight 6 boats in its day. ('80)

http://forums.screamandfly.com/Gallery/showphoto.php/photo/11776/cat/500/ppuser/16384http://forums.screamandfly.com/Gallery/showphoto.php/photo/11776/cat/500/ppuser/16384
I have to agree, i grew up with inline 4 50hp merc, I think you could forget the oil and darn thing wouldn't puke!:eek:

Jeff

[skydog]

280
260
Thats all i need!!! :) :)

[pyro]

I like your list, Greg.

[stokernick]

Merc Mark 30H

[Raceman]

In order of importance (at least to me)

1. Number 1 by a HUGE margin: 1500XS

2. T2X Merc

3. T3 Merc

4. 260 Merc (maybe the greatest all around outboard of all times) prefer SS

5. S-3000 Merc

6. Merc Mark 75 (world's first 6 cyl outboard)

7. Merc 1000 (first black Merc & first 100 HP outboard)

8. OMC F1 V8 (short injected version)

9. OMC Super Strangler/Stinger GP

10. CCC Evinrude/RS Johnson

[YELLOWSS]

2.4 200 "reliabilty & good power"
2.5 260 " reliabilty & race"
omc 135 "reliabilty" i didn't care for 1977 140 omc to small of crank journals "snap"

roy

[DoktorC]

My list is also kinda personal....

Yamaha - 2.6 225, great power, turn key start in 1990 (no choke), cannot be killed....unless of course you try to rev it.

Yamaha - 2.6 200 HPDI, reliable AND good mileage....oh..and they figured it out on the first try...without years of consumer development

OMC - 15 another engine that just won't die and revs to like 6500 (it used to be written on the hood).

Yamaha - 90....only because it's the perfect Voodoo engine....too bad they don't idle...

Merc 2.4/2.5 "Bridgeports"....I was trying to make a merc free list...but...there's no denying these engines if for nothing more then that sound!!! The sound of....I'm going to lose (and possibly tow something home) :).

[Mr.Rude]

Here is mine in no particular order. These are the only ones I have experienced personally...except the Merc- I only seen them from behind:(
1) OMC 3cyl 50cid (I had a 70 and a 75 Stinger) both still running, can't kill them.
2) OMC 90deg V4 same reason as above...even when ran hot.
3) OMC 60deg "Eagle" great dependable, torquey, and responsive.
4) OMC V8 - Its a V8 "Beast"
5) Merc Racing 2.5 - pretty much all of the them primarily the "DRAG"

[roostertailn826]

i would have to say

1. Omc 2 cylinder 20-30hp you can't kill them.

2.Merc 85 shorty or 85 Xs my dad had one on R-15 checmate that screamed in its day

3 Merc 1500 xs just like the look of it.

4. merc 260 and 280 with old style cowl not the alien

5. omc looper 120-140 had one on my 17 Action ran 74.5 othe gps @ 6100 every day i wanted to.

Allen

[pyro]

I forgot about the OMC 15. My dad has a 1979 15hp Johnson on the rowboat, still running strong, with only water pump, recoil spring(S) and fuel pump replaced along the way.

[Markus]

Yamaha's 2.6 liter V6: An OMC V6 done right
Mercury 2.5 260: The great leap forward from the 2.4 liter stuff
Mercury 300 XS: Finally an interesting green engine
Tohatsu 90 hp: Great performance at a great price
The 2009 High-Performance e-Tec: I never thought I would be excited about an Evinrude
Wayne's new engine: If Evinrude can build a high-performance engine, I am sure the madman in Selma can

[dzalj1]

ok well it's not quite 5 but here i go,
1.johnrude v4/ super strangler/ stinger, stock 140
2. johnrude v6's including all the crossflow's and loopers, and racing engines (ccc) and e-tecs of course.
3.johnrude v4 super strangler again lol
4. mercury 260, 280 and drag/s3000
5. yamaha 200hp v6 2.6litre
6. chrysler stacker 135hp inline 4
7. mercury inline 3 75-90hp (late model engines)
8. twister t2x, and mercury t4
9. rare suzuki v4 90hp
10. honda 75-90hp

[arrowwaves]

18hp Evinrude Fastwin w/ tiller control.
Mercury in-line 6
My current Optimax is pretty impressive,it does a bunch of good stuff

[JUPITER PULSARE]

1) Mercury racing 2.5 Carb (245 HP) Easy to work on, Gobs of power, never stops pulling and oohh that sound coming out of the offshore mid!!!!!
2) Mercury 150 XR2 2 liter. Small case, light weight, high revving, easy to see around, never breaks down! Probably the greatest small V6 for small boats ever built!

[Corona Mike]

I allways liked the 80'/81' 2.4-225's
Also the 2.4 bridgeport.
and of corse the 2.5-drag motor!!!
The xs motors--65/85/150's
And the 3-cylender OMC motors.

[Ron V]

What do you consider to be the top five examples of the greatest outboards? This does not necessarily have to do with power or racing - more a list of engines that are great for their own reasons. My list is as follows:
Mercury 2.5 260 EFI - reliable (for a race engine), sold to the public in numbers, and made 100+ mph very easy and relatively reliable. Almost unlimited modification potential. A more reliable and powerful Bridgeport :)
OMC 90-degree V4 - this basic design has been around for decades and I think most of us had grown up around this engine. They run forever.
Mercury Inline-6 - since the 1950s it's been so recognizable in so many forms from consumer to racing applications. Generally extremely reliable as long as timing is kept in spec and you run good gas and oil.
OMC Three-Cylinder 70 - another engine that runs seemingly forever. One of the all-time great designs, in my opinion.
Mercury 300X - probably the most powerful consumer outboard ever produced (not taking the Yamaha F350 into consideration, which remains to be proven and weighs considerably more), although that can be argued.


I would definitely agree on the 90 degree V4, so I'll include it in my list. Tough for me to pick a "Top 5", 'cuz a lot of motors are gonna get left out that I think are all equally respectable, so I'll pick a few based on personal favorites and how well the motors served their intended markets.

Johnson/Evinrude 5.5 hp twin: Arguably one of the top examples of OMC's superior catering to the fishing community. Idles beautiful for trolling, starting reliability takes a backseat to nothing. I would also include with this model the 8.84 cubic inch Gale 5 hp twins; they share the bore and stroke and have a similar "personality" but have different carburetors and are built on a different platform for catalog stores. Incredible success story, jillions of them still turning up over 60 years later.

1940s Evinrude Big Four 50 hp Opposed 4-cylinder, 60 cubic inches, originally a race model that was modified for work use by the military in WWII before being sold in civilian version in the postwar years. Known as "the engine that crossed the Rhine".

Johnson/Evinrude V-4: Great all around family motors. Like most every OMC ever made, excellent for day-in, day-out use...with a beasty side for those so inclined.

Mercury 50 hp inline 4: Just a great, midrange motor with smooth running characteristics and an indestructible powerhead.

Mercury 2.0 liter 175 hp Black Max: The motor that started a cult. Nothing more needs to be said.

[Tom Smyth]

I like your list RM... so exactly how many on your list do you have ???

And how many of each ???

:)

Smytty

[Dd24skater]

Merc 2.4 Bridgeport Offshore
-nothing sounds like it!
Merc Twister
-love the cowl louvers
OMC V-8
-any
Merc T-3
- I Was on an Apache with two of them....really cool!
Any Merc Inline
-"The Tower of Power"


Dd

[Pro300x24LD]

1. Merc 300x - I own one, its been good so far.
2. 2.5 260/280's - No explanation needed
3. Merc Inline Six's - Agreed, our 1984 115 was great.
4. 1986 Mariner 4 HP - Maybe one new spark plug in 20 years, starts on the third pull first day out every year.
5. Late 80's early 90's Merc 25hp - Learned to slalom ski behind this on our pontoon boat cuz mom didn't like taking the "big boat" out. This engine never skipped a beat in nearly 15 years.

[Mark75H]

6. Merc Mark 75 (world's first 6 cyl outboard)

First inline 6, but not the first 6. There were both radial and opposed 6's before Merc's inlines.



1. Original Evinrude rowboat motor: first powerhead intended for outboard use

2. ELTO: first outboard to use as much cast aluminum as possible to reduce weight & production cost. No clunky iron pipes or heavy steel stampings

3. 1924 Watermota racer ... started something that just won't stop

4. Merc KF9 thru Classic 45 4 cylinders. The longest run of a single design ever.

5. all the current DFI motors; they are the future of outboarding

[The Big Al]

Merc 9.8
Merc classic 50 (could not kill it)
Merc Inline 115


All the rest of outboards I owned cost me major money!

And all of them were Merc's!

Only the first 3 never gave up on me, "NEVER"!!!!!
And I ran the living **** out of them!!!

Al

[BUZZIN' DOZEN]

Merc75, do you know John Herberg by chance?

Jeff

[Trikki1010]

1. 260/280
2. 2.4 Bridgeport
3. 75hp Stinger (56ci)
4. Mark 20H
5. Hurricane 10 w/ Quicksilver lower

[ber1023]

strangler,hustler,300xs,V8,s3000

[Jimbo]

Merc 20H

Twister IIX

Pro Max 225 ( 1995 - 1996)

260

Evinrude Super Strangler 200HP V4

[Mark75H]

....
Evinrude Super Strangler 200HP V4

Nice try :)

[150aintenuff]

Merc MK 58/merc 400 46 years old and still fires on first pull

merc 60 6 hp.. best small kicker kown to man.. trolls down so far its speed is below electrics.

Merc 8 hp... best modern 2 stroke kicker you can run them without oil.... been there done that for a whole week straight.... still fires and runs first pull....

any tower of power...

XR2 150 block... 3000+ hrs and stilll running strong... never been touched

300X best power to weight to CID in factory form.....


for 4 strokes i gotta throw in the yamaha T8 its the emmissions replacement for the merc 8.....

[ber1023]

my strangler puts out 200hp

[150aintenuff]

got dyno sheet???

[ber1023]

no but former owner says it does he was a evinrude racing mechanic back in the day

[150aintenuff]

humm... it takes alot more than wrenching, porting, and workin for a race division to gain 65 hp out of a V4... maybe Racer will chime in on if its even possible to see 200 HP from a V4.. I could believe 150 propshaft HP maybe even 175... but 200.... it seems like a strech.

[ber1023]

im convinced its 200
it is full out racing and runs on JetA fuel
its an animal
no setback,straight on 16' allison transom did 98mph

[Mark75H]

JetA is basically kerosene ... a high compression gas engine would puke its guts on it

100 mph is easily possible with quite a few boats with less than 200 hp, but a GPS usually corrects that

200 hp is an imaginary stretch for this motor, the real numbers are 175-185 and at that power it truely is "an animal"

[Racemore]

JetA is basically kerosene ... a high compression gas engine would puke its guts on it

100 mph is easily possible with quite a few boats with less than 200 hp, but a GPS usually corrects that

200 hp is an imaginary stretch for this motor, the real numbers are 175-185 and at that power it truely is "an animal"

And thats the STRAIGHT facts for ya.:cool:

My favorite motors were the ones that ran when I wanted to ride.:D

[Capt.Insane-o]

"merc 60 6 hp.. best small kicker kown to man.. trolls down so far its speed is below electrics"

That is the truth, I have a 1965 6hp, 350-375 rpm on my shop tach..

[Redneck]

im convinced its 200
it is full out racing and runs on JetA fuel
its an animal
no setback,straight on 16' allison transom did 98mph

My diesel will run on Jet A. Runs better on it to because its got a higher sulfer content than the new EPA regs allow for road use. Dont think you have an outboard running on Jet A unless you have some kind of turbo diesel or turbine motor.

[Jay Smith]

IMO :Hands down........
1. 260
2. Drag Motor
3. 280
4. and about 4th and 5th ? Thats like asking someone who came in forth and fifth in a race , who cares !! :D :D :D

[ber1023]

redneck.. its designed to run on JETa

[Mark75H]

redneck.. its designed to run on JETa

Case closed! :D

[H.WOOD187]

2.5 v-6 merc block motors
-versatility and fairly reliable from 150h.p. to 300+ h.p.
v-4 crossflow
-smooth,reliable, love the sound, and just a proven motor in its catagory.
60deg. v-4 and v-6 omc, carb and injected.
-sweet running and why can't a merc. shift as smooth and effortless as these?
3cyl. force
-take one over a 75-90 merc any day!
225-250 suzuki
-nice fuel injection system, removable cylinders, great runner and just something different. It'd be fun to build one up!
25hp force
- lightest 25hp, smooth runner, sounds awesome, and it's a 3cyl. 25!!!

These may not be "of all time motors", but just some I'm partiall towards.

[Redneck]

redneck.. its designed to run on JETa

Yea, only if its a turbine or a diesel. Otherwise, BS. Jet A wont work in that kind of motor. JP4 I have heard of people trying to run in gas motors with slightly more success. Try some of that, get half a tank, then go jump some waves. Oh yea, dont ground your tank, it will make the ride more fun.

[jeffbare]

- 9.8 Merc, it could whip any 15 OMC.
- 2.5 260
- 1500 In line 6
- 45hp Classic 50 Merc
- 70hp 3 cylinder Merc

[Downer]

JETa

Maybe avgas or aviation fuel.

[RedAllison]

1). ANY of the Merc "Tower of Power" motors. They started the "modern" high perf outboardin movement that we know today!!!

2). 2.5. I like the 260s "just because". But realistically whats NOT to like just as much or more with a 280?

3). 225 ProMax. What's not to like about something THAT powerful while still offering a decent charging system and tough as nails reliability.

4). Johnnyrude V4s. Kinda like anvils.

5). 300X. What's NOT to like about the "Kang" baby???

:cool:
RA

ps
Aint it ironic that in most lists above the motors on them are NO LONGER AVAILABLE??? THANK YOU EPA!!! :mad:

[dicudmore]

I have to vote 300X on my list since thats what I've got (2 on 05 30' Spectre)
Dad had an early 60's 1350 inline 6 (I think--red label on the cowl??) that ran forever, and probably still is. He's still got a 1955 10-hp Johnson, been in his garage for 25+ years, hung off the back of more rental fishing boats than I could ever count and must have a million+ hours on it...started second pull a couple years back, just to see if it still ran :D I think he may have replaced the spark plug once or twice in its lifetime...

[99fxst99]

The Evinrude X-115. Can't believe nobody has picked it. One of the prettiest OBs ever made. Ahead of its time. Wish I had kept mine.

[NNT]

1957 5-1/2 hp Johnson, just gotta love the fins on the cowling.
any of the "big twin" 40 hp OMC's
1985-1988 115 inline mercs, the cream of the crop
300xs power AND economy http://forums.screamandfly.com/forums/images/icons/icon14.gif
and my favorite is ANY of them that get me on the water and then get me home at the end of the day.

[powerabout]

my boating was saltwater so not many Mercs
any 6hp omc
ok 9.8 mercs went ok ( in fresh water)
all 15 omc but the mid 80's that ran to 7500 ( the one with the folded megaphone)
40 hp single carb omc commercials, unbreakable and these did run on kero
all V4 omc cross flow (incl down draft carb ones I think we had the first V4 ever shipped to oz still running a barge at our marina)
ok and 1500 xs
OMC Sea Drive's what a great idea except the stern drive dept cocked it up
but I have a few individual ones where something happened in the castings? and they went like they had 20% more go than the next one..
all 1976 140's but had one that would pull 500 more rpm than identical boats.
1250 red band merc that would pull the prop clear on a 164 Glastron when you nailed it...repowered it with a 1500 and it couldn't
73 135 omc with 030" overbore pumped 195psi cranking on 15' boat would get prop 18" clear of the water when you nailed it( i guess oz 98 leaded

[hydroholic]

1. 260
2. 2.4 Bridgeport
3. 280
4.300 drag
5. 300 x
6.2.4 200

[Triple J]

1. any tower of power merc 2. v6 2.4 or 2.5merc 3.v4 evinrude 4.4 cyl merc 2 stroke until 1997 5. 300 pro max

[Mark75H]

I'm sure they are out there, but I can't remember seeing any other engines that had that head/block design.

The 4 cylinder Offenhauser race motor is one

[lilabner]

Don't forget the Crosley, and on a farther up spectrum, Porsche made a race motor that had the head welded to the cylinder..separate one for each cylinder. the 956 race car

[Jeff_G]

#1. Mercury Inline 6 family both DC and Xflow best of these the 1500 and 150XS
#2 OMC 9.9/15
#3 OMC 49 & 56 ci 3 cyl. 70/75
#4 Mercury V6 1978 opened a new world of preformance
#5 OMC Xflow v-4 and v-6 The 140 best of the 4 cyl. 235 best of the v-6

I may be slightly prejudiced about these. I rank them for innovation, durability, use in the marketplace and repair ability. Note; due to limited use no true race motors were ranked.

[Sam Baker]

This is virtually impossible to narrow down and it's hard to decide between the "cool factor" race motors and the motors that have essentially revolutionized the sport....but here goes (not necessarily in any order).

1. Evinrude Super Strangler. I started off with a cool factor race motor. Coolest sounding motor ever built in my opinion.

2. 1975 Evinrude 75HP Hustler. Everybody in OPC Boat racing has probably run E Production or Sport E. Probably the most influential race motor overall.

3. Mercury ModVP/2.4 Bridgeport. The 2.5 has possibly done more for the sport, but it started with the late 80s ModVP motor. You can lump the 2.5 in here as well.

4. Mercury 1500XS - the Tower of Power...'nuff said.

5. Direct Fuel Injection Outboards. The future of our sport. We all better hope they make the most of the technology, because I for one don't want to have to learn how to do valve adjustments on my outboard motor. My preference in this area is the e-Tec.

[Superdave]

Mercury "Classic" 50 hp 4 cyl, smooooothh!!!!!

[AirRide]

"The 1907 Waterman Porto 2 h.p. water-cooled outboard." The first powerhead designed for outboard use. 100 production water-cooled outboards were manufactured in 1907. The year prior, 1906, college educated Cameron Waterman produced his first 25 outboards from a converted air-cooled motorcycle engine, 4 FULL YEARS PRIOR to Ole Evinrude, who left school in the third grade, and who always took credit for producing the first outboard. In 1908, Waterman produced 300 outboards. The same quantity in 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912 & 1913, when Waterman sold his company. I am in the market for either an original 1906 or 1907 Waterman. This is my favorite outboard. AirRide

[Raceman]

The Evinrude X-115. Can't believe nobody has picked it. One of the prettiest OBs ever made. Ahead of its time. Wish I had kept mine.

I still have a pair of em. Thought about adding it to my list, but since the list was supposedly 5 and mine was already at 10, had to draw the line somewhere.

[Racemore]

I still have a pair of em. Thought about adding it to my list, but since the list was supposedly 5 and mine was already at 10, had to draw the line somewhere.

Where's the pic's Norris.Everybody talks about when they had one and you hav'em. Bust out the Picture List.:cool:

[Raceman]

Where's the pic's Norris.Everybody talks about when they had one and you hav'em. Bust out the Picture List.:cool:

I'll see what I can do Lonnie. One of em is layin' on it's side on a tire with the cowl off, and the other one is buried behind a pair of of scattered Corvettes sharing a stand with a T2 & Mark 78A.:o

[gstorr]

1. 1970/71 Mercury 1350 SS. Best looking outboard ever.
2. 1968/69 Mercury 1250BP with Stacks
3. 1977/78 Mercury 1500XS
4. KG-7
5. The Chrysler "Culvinator" , early 70's 135HP with Stacks

[croSSed]

My motors are only the one's I've operated. The first 4 are close. Tomorrow I might decide to put it in a different order, but here goes:
1. '95 Merc XRI 150
2. '87 Merc 115
3. '85 Suzuki DT 140
4. '68 Merc 1250
5. '67 Merc SS1100

TG

[KG4]

KG4,The best stock outboard engine of all time.2,1976 Merc 1500.3Merc t2.4Yamato 102.5 Merc champ engine,The baddest of the bad:D

[jjakiela34]

1-late 80's black max
2- 74' 115 crossflow v4
3- 1979 2 cyl. 60
4-I6
5-johnson stinger 75

[scc82]

Yea, only if its a turbine or a diesel. Otherwise, BS. Jet A wont work in that kind of motor. JP4 I have heard of people trying to run in gas motors with slightly more success. Try some of that, get half a tank, then go jump some waves. Oh yea, dont ground your tank, it will make the ride more fun.
:icon_bs: 2 u go to the brp web site and you will see a 50hp outboard that runs on about anything INCLUDING jetA.
it is not a old xflow though:D

[Ziemer]

all 15 omc but the mid 80's that ran to 7500 ( the one with the folded megaphone)

Like this??? I had the regular version on an Achilles inflatable and couldn't kill it. My parents just sold it a couple years back and I think the only thing ever replaced on it was spark plugs and a water pump. :thumbsup:

http://inlinethumb33.webshots.com/18784/2863397640091848696S600x600Q85.jpg

[Frank Molé]

TWO EIGHT ZERO :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[mk30h]

ChrisCraft Commander 10 hp 19.8 cu
Merc 200 20hp 22cu
Merc 400-500 4cly 44cu
Mark 75- Merc 1500
OMC 3 cly 49.cu

[Jo Boone]

Here is mine in no particular order. These are the only ones I have experienced personally...except the Merc- I only seen them from behind:(
1) OMC 3cyl 50cid (I had a 70 and a 75 Stinger) both still running, can't kill them.
2) OMC 90deg V4 same reason as above...even when ran hot.
3) OMC 60deg "Eagle" great dependable, torquey, and responsive.
4) OMC V8 - Its a V8 "Beast"
5) Merc Racing 2.5 - pretty much all of the them primarily the "DRAG":iagree::iagree:

[lckytrbl]

i thought about this one for awhile now and think i can compose a list based on first hand operation.2.4 liter bridgeport offshore,first engine i ever saw with a manufactured low water pick-up,i saw a brand new one on a hydrostream v-king in 1988 or 89 and havent ever been able to get over it and own an identical v-king bruiser with an offshore engine.2.5 high output engines an engineering marvel for me,absolutely incredible power and high rpm capability that me never be surpassed,im obsessed!mercury inline-6,specifically a 1979 115 on a hydrostream viper i owned that was my first boat,a dream come true at an early age,incredibly reliable and great all round perfomance.omc v-8 ive never owned one,but i was so impressed by the site of those on the f1 mids and the sound of them with open exhaust,that its no wonder an omc v-8 holds the speed record.im ashamed to admit that a non-american company may have perfected the two-stroke outboard shortly before manufacturing them becomes illegal,im referring to any yamaha.i owned and worked on tons of these and am ashamed that the american manufacturers havent been able to meet their quality and reliabilty standards.lastly pushing my list beyond five is the 1973 25 hp johnson sea horse on my grandfathers 15 foot aluminum starcraft,he bought it just before i was born and the story goes that they if they took me in the boat for a ride id easily fall asleep.and to this day i find a certain peace and pleasent frame of mind after a ride in anything 2-stroke outboard powered.

[max200]

In order of importance (at least to me)

1. Number 1 by a HUGE margin: 1500XS

2. T2X Merc

3. T3 Merc

4. 260 Merc (maybe the greatest all around outboard of all times) prefer SS

5. S-3000 Merc

6. Merc Mark 75 (world's first 6 cyl outboard)

7. Merc 1000 (first black Merc & first 100 HP outboard)

8. OMC F1 V8 (short injected version)

9. OMC Super Strangler/Stinger GP

10. CCC Evinrude/RS Johnson


gotta go with racemans selection + my 1968 40 HP johnson I could not kill that motor and of course my 200 promax!!!!

[Bruster]

Any Merc high performance V-6 with an offshore mid.
http://i34.tinypic.com/xcstnr.jpg
1500XS
Good lookin power.
http://i36.tinypic.com/1z53lsl.jpg
'06 johnson 70 4 stroke
Instant starting, smooth, quiet and powerful. Perfect for the 'toon boat & beers.
http://i37.tinypic.com/11hq8au.jpg
'57 35 HP Evinrude Lark
Art decco
http://i35.tinypic.com/2zfl553.jpg
'56 Johnson 5-1/2
Smooth & quiet for fishing
http://i34.tinypic.com/2a0fjm0.jpg

[Mark75H]

I think that is the pic the inline 6 guys are looking for ... I knew it would come from you :thumbsup:

[Bruster]

Go! Didn't I show you that?


I think that is the pic the inline 6 guys are looking for ... I knew it would come from you :thumbsup:

[hebstang]

1991: Yamaha 200Hp (Had Two)
1991: Yamaha 175HP
Have had 3 of these 2 strokes, started every time, ran great not one issue in four years.

[warren]

3.6gtv-8 ported/260/ 280/280 260 elec and ov course 300 drag/red rocket out

[ridgerunner]

#1
50hp Inline 4 Mercury
Four years plus 22 more and still going for my old 84 model. The brown stripes matched the fishin boat. I wish I had a dollar for every hour that motor was ran tach buried. My first with power trim and tilt. I bet 2000 hours runtime is conservative and I never had it apart while I had it. Gave it to a buddy in 1998 who took it to SC and rigged it on a pontoon boat. I thought it was wore out but apparently not.
#2 Johnrude v-4 (crossflows too, tough as they come IMO)
#3 Any outboard that sounds like a 60 degree V-6 wound up tight. Preferably in all Black but Mariner gray works too.
#4 Any outboard that sound like an inline six wound up tight. I don't think anyone but Merc tried that.
#5 My 2000 Mercury Optimax 225. Despite being a "consumer test model" it has run without any issues at all. It was cheaper, more efficient and more powerful for the rated hp than any of the direct injected outboards the Japs were making at the time. I will probably regret bragging on it next week. :eek::smiletest:

[paul folks]

T3 merc
2.4 200ss
2.5 260ss
2.5 280ss
2.5 300drag

[JWS]

Merc H 10, W/ Quicksilver
Merc H 20

Couldnt keep either running very long and at 12 years old wasnt too good at fixin em either,,, but,, when they did run on a 10' skip jack, what fun!!!

[Mark75H]

Mark15 with Quickie

[baldad45]

5.5 Johnson and 25 johnson ,my dad's first motors they looked like father and son ran forever,all the omc twins the bread and butter of this line. 40-44 cu.in. mercs and early I6 with same bore and stroke ,just went faster than our OMC twins. OMC v4 from the 1st 50 hp [ rode across Lac La Ronge in a plywood stripe 18' fishing boat tiller equiped ] to the later 140's,they all had that tough sound . All the later inline 6's from the 1250 to the 1500 and it's racing spinoffs 1250BP,Twisters and T2-T2x

[PropHydro]

1. OMC Mod 50 Pound for pound the most potent 2 stroke of all time.

2. OMC 49 ci & 56 ci 75H.P. Stinger/Hustler Most racers would agree with this starting platform performer. 8K out of a Three Banger !!!!

3. 2.5 260 Took reliable Performance V-6s to another level.

4.1250 BP with stacks possibly the most intimidating look of all time( With water Injection)

5.OMC V-4, Gt 115, Stinger GP ,Super Strangler, Etc... Incredible power and SOUND out of 99 cubes.

[Mark75H]

1. OMC Mod 50 Pound for pound the most potent 2 stroke of all time.

2. OMC 49 ci & 56 ci 75H.P. Stinger/Hustler Most racers would agree with this starting platform performer. 8K out of a Three Banger !!!!

3. 2.5 260 Took reliable Performance V-6s to another level.

4.1250 BP with stacks possibly the most intimidating look of all time( With water Injection)

5.OMC V-4, Gt 115, Stinger GP ,Super Strangler, Etc... Incredible power and SOUND out of 99 cubes.


I'd crack on your description of the Mod50 as the most potent 2 stroke pound for pound ... 70 pounds of Rossi makes over 200 hp. That beats the Mod 50 by a factor of more than 5

8,000 rpm from a 49? They aren't running 49's that fast in 850 mod even now. Calculate this ... 14 inches of pitch running around 90 mph ... what's the rpm of these modified 49's?

[Mr. Action]

Omc. V8
300x
v4 looper
v6 looper
3 cyl 70
:thumbsup:

[vanman]

300 x fast lots of torq and good on gas.

[Viper GTs]

From a looks standpoint a 225X or similar with alien cowl, 15 inch shaft,sportmaster lower with a cleaver prop...way tough cool and they run great too! Al

[PropHydro]

I'd crack on your description of the Mod50 as the most potent 2 stroke pound for pound ... 70 pounds of Rossi makes over 200 hp. That beats the Mod 50 by a factor of more than 5

8,000 rpm from a 49? They aren't running 49's that fast in 850 mod even now. Calculate this ... 14 inches of pitch running around 90 mph ... what's the rpm of these modified 49's?

Not familiar with the Rossi, the Mod 50 was just my opinion. As far as turning 8000, it was absolutely done routinely when I ran SE class a 13ft Tunnel with a STOCK 75hp Johnnyrude, turning a 22p x 12.75" cleaver. Those boats ran over 80 mph on a long course. So I don't know nothing about 850 Mod just telling you what we used to do routinely.Mod 50's were well over a 100h.p. so a factor of five ???? is the wrong math.

[Markus]

300XS: First 2-stroke DFI that is not a step backwards from the engine it replaces

SHO: First 4-stroke that can run with 2-stroke DFIs

[Mark75H]

Mod 50's were well over a 100h.p. so a factor of five ???? is the wrong math.


Five times the power to weight, not 5 times the power

[JWTjr.]

[QUOTE=Markus;1950274]300XS: First 2-stroke DFI that is not a step backwards from the engine it replaces

You got that right!

[Jay R.]

wow started in 2007 and this thread is still going, and I still think gregs list is about spot on, except think maybe the V-8 johnson belongs in that list somewhere! or maybe the CCC series, or maybe the wankle rotary.... you know what, that gregs list, pull the merc's out and replace with the johnnyrudes and I am good!:thumbsup:

[rev.ronnie]

Heres a pic

I can't decide..Caddieshack or James Bond!!!???

[rev.ronnie]

How about some of the Konig APBA motors..pound for pound Evil!!

My buddy's 500cc had run over 120mph..nuts! His home built ones are even faster.

Other than that;

260 EFI
Merc inline 6's
OMC V8's
Sears Water Witch (Muncie Gear)
1987-89 Yamaha 225 Ecel

[ridgerunner]

300XS: First 2-stroke DFI that is not a step backwards from the engine it replaces

SHO: First 4-stroke that can run with 2-stroke DFIs

You love them Yamaha's. I don't think that is common knowledge Stateside.

[Flat Out]

1. 18,20,25 Johnson & Evinrude , you just can't kill them, you can over rev them you can over heat them, they just keep on going I ran them and my kids run them today, one of these with a Michigan 2 blade bronze prop was and still is the sea flea motor of choice. got lots of these

2. 3 cyl OMC love my 15 inch 75 Hustler the OMC 3 cyls are just great motors too bad they stopped making them. got 5 of em inc 2 75 Hustlers

3.OMC V4 stump pulling power both x flow and looper kind of power an inline could only dream about. still have my Dads 78 140S bought new, my son runs a 90 Rude

4.Inline 6, my cousin has my late uncles Merc 1000 love the sound at idle.

5. OMC V6 looper love my Johnson 225 HO last of the big carb motors,pushes my 19 J-Craft to 80 mph

[skydog]

1 280
2 300xs
3 300x
4 250xs
5 260

[FUJIMO]

Good old thread...:smiletest:

[Stoker1]

Good old thread...:smiletest:

yes it is. Like seeing oldies resurface.

[rkmirage]

225 Promax
2.4 200
OMC 70
300X
OMC V4 crossflow

[action20]

1) My current 94 Yamaha Pro V 175 HP, very smooth reliable and just a good motor that has good torque and always runs !
2) 1994 Evinrude 40HP on my sea nymph fishing boat. Loved it ! Ran great .....like the Yamaha never an issue !
3) 2000 Evinrude Vindicator 225HP ......close 2nd to the Yamaha but the Yamaha is a tad more refined but big torque reliability and power.
4) 1968 55HP Evinrude 1st yr of 3 cylinder motor .....on GW Invader as well , sounded awesome howling down the lake.
5) Evinrude 20HP fishing motor never in the shop .....runs great !


I know there are a ton of Merc lovers but I have had several and they are fast as f...ck as I had a 2.4 Bridgeport 225hp carb and a 245hp carb 2.5 but they were not reliable. The 2.5 was better than Bridgeport but I would take my Yamaha or my E rude any-day for the few extra MPH . ....I would rather it start and run on my valuable days off. I don't have time to f....ck w these things like I used to.