Need to get hooked up with a kicker motor. I have a three foot wide transom so I need some kind of mechanical, or power lift, electric start, and remote throttle. Some are saying Merc 9.9 big foot or pro kick. others say Yamaha 8T, and other say all you need is a regular 9.9.  I've heard of some having problems with fuel pumps, and hard starting Merc 9.9 four strokes. Any one using a Yamaha haven't much about them? HELP!  

Yamaha. Very quiet.

look where the yamahas are made and then look where the merqs are made ,both in japan but wait a second,!!  look at the real place some motors are made merq has 3 plants one in japan guess what its a yamha power head the second plant is in china , do not buy that one, and the third is in usa,!!  that is made like the yamhas,  the motors coming out of china have had a ton of problems from oilers not installed to pump gaskets being installed backwards not a good qc ,save some money buy a merq but ck the location of mfg befor taking out the door on what ever motor you choose and another note the peeps i know running the merq they hate it darn thing sips fuel and there making 3to 4 trips to my 2 trips on a 2stroke ,i was informed by a merq and also by a yamha dealer to look at mfg location of motors heed that warning warrentees are tough to get honor

I buy US when ever I can. I'll try to look into it I don't know if it's possible to order a motor and specify that it's made in Japan not China, but I'll find out. I'm hearing that it's hard to get a 9.9 Merc. down to a low speed 1/2 Mph. with out a sock, something I don't want to mess with. I have a outboard that uses unmixed gas if I get a two cycle I'll have to carry an extra tank or an extra oil injection tank. I'm still considering everything. It's a big buy for me. Thanks  

the peeps i know have a 4stroke can get it down to a snails pace and use 1/2 the gas i do, now there is a true fuel injections on the market ,and said to be better on fuel you have to rember,  fi can be mechanical or ele just keep your eyeys open a lot of rebuilds, means a problem it goes with ele also check mfg site

I agree with dblvision YAMAHA

yamha and merq has been swaping parts for a long time the power heads on many of merq is a yamha merq has been farming them out for over 10 years that is how yamha got into american market , the problem now is some motors are made in china there specs are not as good the bearings are junk and the metal is not as pure causing failed parts , go to gander or west /any one who has merq and yamhas look in the powerhead area see the country of mfg and you be the judge all mfg has a note on this ,all not just boats, gm was getting bearings from china example buich rundes rear bearing fell apart repair with a timkin or japan bearing not with china ,and no its not the seeing part just bad qc

Blackeye, This past spring I looked at a Yamaha 9.9, electric start, built in power trim, remote controls. It would connect to the main motor (115 E-Tec) and feed off the in floor gas tank. Out the door price was $2,800. I would have liked to get a 15 hp but since I fish a 10 hp lake I'm getting the 9.9.   Lou

Seriously consider the T8 or T9.9 Yamaha, there's a dealer in Shippenville that has a few left overs that you can get a great price on. And definately stay with the four stroke no matter what you buy. The T designates the high thrust model, they have the big goofy looking props on them but they work great and are nearly bullet proof.

Honda or Yammie.  I wouldn't consider anything else.