I'm looking for a 9.9 hp for an aluminum boat. This will be used for fishing, getting to fishing spots, towing small water skiers, etc. It will be used 95% on the salt water. I'm sticking to 9.9 (or lower) to avoid the licensing requirements. Low maintenance is a big factor. Any suggestions? Two or four stroke? Any brands to stay away from?

Thanks for any advice.

Oh, yeah. When I decide what to buy, where should I go to buy it? I'm looking for low price, but just as important is good customer service--someone who backs their products.

Thanks again,

Andrew

If you run a out board on a boat you have to have the boat licensed. At least I know that in 0regon you do, NOT SURE ABOUT WASHINGTON? Pulling small water skiers don't think at will happen with a 9.9 ,unless you want to drag them around. Not trying to be a smart a** just giving information.

Fishalot

Haven't you heard this of new technique for trolling for the big ones? Just kidding. When I say small water skiers, I'm talking about 6-11 year olds, all under 100 pounds on two skis. In WA, 10 horse and above must be licensed. That's why they make 9.9.

Still looking for some advice.

saltydog

I've had a 9.9 Yamaha, high thrust, 4 stroke, electric start engine for about 6 years now. I primarily use it for trolling my 21' Olympic in salt water. The engine has been great. It is reliable, quiet and powerful. The only drawback is that it is fairly pricey and heavier than a 2 stroke. You can save some money by purchasing it in Oregon (save on sales tax) or in Canada.

Deepwater

saltydog, that law changed years ago if its a motor gas or electric it must be licenced, drif boats running electrics are required to be licenced in the state of washington, you were correct any thing under 10 hp useto not have to be licenced thats why they made the 9.9 mainly for sailboats

I should of known that you had already done your reserch, so in that case I would say just about any of the major manufacturers will work fine. Everyone has their favorite one.

Fishalot

doug do you have that specific regulation info as i bought a 9.9 johnson for my 12 foot aluminum , i called whitfields in monroe(licensing place) and they said it didnt need to be licenced, then while fishing the lower snohomish for humpies last year the gamies pulled up and checked our gear licenses etc... and asked why the boat wasnt licensed i told them what whitfields said and they agreed and were on their way so im not sure your info is correct
thanx
mike

I think that if you stay in freshwater and you're under 16' and 10 HP you're OK. If you go out in the salt you need a license.

When on the lower Sno., I heard the fish cops say "navigable" waters, you must have a license. I took it to mean where larger ships were about. Like lake Washington and the lower Snohomish.
Salty, I would say 4 stroke Yamaha also, except in your case you may want a 2 stroke because of the weight factor. I have owned Merc Honda Suzuki, as long as the plugs were clean all were reliable.

About 15 years ago I chose a Honda for the reason that it had a 12 charging outlet so i could have electronics in my boat and charge the battery. That honda is still running and about 3 weeks ago, it started second crank after stiitng since mid Nov. My 0.02 worth.

I've got a 1991 9.9hp Yamaha high thrust 4-stroke, electric start. I use it as a kicker motor on my 19ft boat.

I like the 4-strokes. My experience has been that they are quiet, fuel efficient, and generally start and run well.

Again, in my experience, the one drawback of this particular 4-stroke (and they very well could have changed the design between 1991 and now) is that the carb jets are extremely small. This means it's fuel efficient, but it also means that any little piece (and I mean LITTLE, the jet holes are smaller in diameter than a thin sewing pin) of debris in your fuel can make the motor run bad, and then you have to pull the carb apart to clean it. They can also get gummed up if you let the fuel in your carb evaporate. We've all heard that your gas can evaporate or "varnish" in your motor, I asked my local boat mechanic how long it takes, thinking he would say a couple of weeks, he said "one hot afternoon would do it"

So now, I use OMC fuel additive religiously; I have a spin-on OMC water separator, plus and in-line filter, plus the Yamaha inline filter ($11 per and it's a little tiny thing under the motor cowling) installed on my boat. Also, at the advice of my mechanic, now when I bring the boat home, I flush out the motors with fresh water and Salt Away, then I pull the gas line off the Yamaha and keep in running at idle. I let it run entirely out of gas. You'd be surprised, at idle, it runs probably about three minutes or more after I've pulled the gas line off. This gets rid of all that extra gas that would stay in the carberator and evaporate and leave goo in there.

Another thing my mechanic told me about kicker motors that I didn't know is that the worst thing you can do to them is run that at an idle all the time. (exactly what we do when we're trolling) It fouls the plugs, fouls the exhaust tubes, and is generally bad for the motor. He said you're better off going with a smaller motor that you run at a faster RPM, or if you stick with the same motor, get a flatter pitch prop so the motor runs at a higher RPM. He said they'd actually last longer this way. He said it's always good to rev them up every once in a while and get the carbon buildup out of there.

-N.

I have a new Yamaha 15 Hp 4-stroke pushing a new 14 foot aluminum. This motor trolls slow (1.5 MPH) and when I need it, gets up and goes (25 MPH).
I fish all over Puget Sound and large lakes and have never had a problem. The key to a happy motor is changing the oil religiously, especially if you troll alot. Plus they are really easy to work on. If you can tune up your car you can maintain a Yamaha 4 stroke.

I learned to waterski at 6 - I was a skinny kid - and it can't be done on a 10 horse. You need at least 25-35, 50+ is better.

"Navigable Waters" is basically anything you can navigate, even in a canoe. Got to license that 9.9 in Washington.

I have a Suzuki 9.9 4-stroke that will push my 15 foot Smokercraft along at 20-21 with me in it and 16-17 with a bud. I'm looking for a bit more motor, however, and may be interested in selling the 9.9 - it's 2 years old and has a 5 year warranty.

Carl, what kind of 15 footer are you running your Yamaha 15 on? I'm trying to decide if I want a 15 or a 25 - my bud has a 25 on his Gregor and it will also troll at nearly a standstill, while shoving it back up the drift at a good clip, but his boat is quite a bit heavier than mine.

4 Stroke Yamaha all the way

Bene