Suzuki 9.9 hp Outboard--good??

[SVTambadil]

Was looking for a good used Yamaha 9.9 hp 2 stroke for our world cruise (for dink). Have an option for a less expensive clean 9.9 Suzuki (1996) 2 stroke. Parts avail worldwide, do you think? Any comments??

CnC

[sv_bruadair]

Having traveled through Mexico, Belize and Guatemala you won't have a problem with Suzuki parts at all. I also talked with some of the folks here in the marina (I'm in Guatemala at www.monkeybaymarina.com) and they said no problem with suzuki in Honduras, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Panama or Colombia. Took a look at their international web site, dealers world wide including South America, New Zealand and Australia to name a few places.

Here in Guatemala Suzuki is one of the most popular brands. One thing I learned when we arrived last summer was that, even though Yamaha and Mercury are very common here, they are not the same as the ones bought in the US. The Yamaha and Mercury outboards bought in the US are different models than those sold here in Central America. Though there are many parts in common not all are the same. We've known boaters here that have both, particularly the Yamaha, and they have difficulty getting parts. Not always but sometimes, depending on the part I suspect. If you put a Yamaha 15hp bought in the states and place it next to one bought here, they are even physically different, same with the Mercurys. Doesn't seem to be an issue with Suzuki and Johnson.

We don't see many Nissans or Tohatsus, usually only with the cruisers. On the flip side the Yamaha's and Mercurys run quieter. In the past four years I've owned a Yamaha 6hp 4 stroke (great motor but undersized), a Mercury 8.0 2 stroke (excellent but still underpowered for what I wanted), a Nissan 9.8 2 stroke (hated it), a Mercury 9.9 2 stroke (my favorite), a Johnson 15 2 stroke (nice, but idles rougher than the others, loud), and now I have a Suzuki 15 2 stroke (nice). Now I know that's a lot of outboards in the past four years, but we've upgraded to match a new RIB, one for the launcha we bought here on the Rio, and when someone offers us more money than what we paid for the darn engine how can you say no?


By the way, the most stolen outboards here are Hondas. they are not common here and the theives love them.

Hope the info helps.

damon

[mitchk]

Damon, We are also looking at outboards. Was the Johnson 15 a new or older model? wondering if they have quitened them down any?

[SVTambadil]

Ahem! Ok guys/gals, no laughing here, but we just bought TWO motors on Ebay! The joys of buying by auction, I guess. So...both are Yamaha 2 stroke, with one being a 2000 rebuilt 9.9 hp, and the other a 2003 8 hp with about 5 hrs of use, allegedly.

Chad

[mitchk]

Best I can tell Suzuki is either not building 2 stroke small outboards anymore or they are not importing them into the US? The only 2 stroke 15 HP motors I can find are Yamaha, Johnson and possbly Mercury?

[sv_bruadair]

Mitch, you are correct in stating the Suzuki is not importing 2 strokes into they US anymore. They are still being manufactured and are sold through dealers all over the world except the US.

The Johnson we had was a 2005 model 15hp. We bought it from the Johnson dealer in Guatemala City. He also has an office in Miami. It took two weeks to get the motor because he had it shipped from his Miami store. It was the loudest motor we owned. It was hard to have any conversation in the launcha because we couldn't talk over the outboard. And David always knew when I was coming back from fishing because he could hear me clear across the river. Otherwise it was a great motor. My favorite has to be the Mercury. Started first time every time, and off all the 2 stroke motors we owned it was the quietest. People even commented on what a quiet 4 stoke we had.

I asked the other Yamaha owners in the marina if they knew what parts were not compatible between the US series and the Enduro series sold in Latin America. They suggested bringing a spare carb kit, gaskets and impellers. These seem to be the most difficult parts to cross reference at the yamaha dealers. Didn't find any mercury owners to see what parts they have difficulties finding off the shelf. All the parts can be ordered though with time.

From Mexico to Guatemala we have seen plenty of Suzuki, Yamaha and Mercury dealers. Very, very few Johnson and Honda dealers.

As far as two and four strokes go it used to be said that stick with 2 strokes as you might have trouble finding someone to work on 4 strokes. I think that is pretty much gone. While the 2 stroke outboards are much more common we have still seen a huge amount of 4 stroke outboards with mechanics everywhere. I don't think it would be an issue, at least here in Central America, to find a mechanic to work on a 4 stroke motor.

damon

[dino]

Mitch,

We have a '97 9.9 Johnson, essentially it’s the same as the 15 hp. Many folks actually convert their 9.9's to 15's but that's a whole 'nother story.

I certainly agree with Damon about the noise...... The 9.9 is VERY noisy compared to the rest. But I do have to say it fires up in half a pull.

FWIW-I like having the gear selector as a separate control. Some other mfg's incorporate the tranny linkage in the throttle control which I find a bit awkward... but as they say, whatever floats your boats.

Bill on Beyond Reason just picked up a used Merc 2 stroke.... very quite in comparison.

Although we're not seasoned world cruisers... yet, I would again agree with Damon regarding servicing. I never understood why it would be more difficult to find someone to work on a 4 stroke. Granted it may be a bit more difficult than a 2 stroke but if you service your own aux diesel and genset adjusting valves on an outboard should be a piece of cake.

Regardless of 2 or 4 strokes today’s newer engine technology is reliant on computer controls... If your CDI goes out the only way to get it fixed is with your credit card.