A boat without a motor is about as useful as a fishing rod without line. You’ve organized yourself a sweet little boat, but you need an outboard motor to power the vessel – and getting the capacity right is rather important! Placing dual 250-hp Suzuki outboards on a skiff or small inflatable is not only a waste of money – it’s dangerous for all who might be on board. Likewise, placing a little 10-hp Suzuki outboard motor on a deep-sea mono hull will get you nowhere in a hurry!
Powering your boat, the right outboard motor will completely change your boating experience. Whether you need quick acceleration and a fast cruising speed for water sports, or fuel efficiency for long fishing days, you can find one to best suit your needs. These tips will help you make a more informed decision when you buy an outboard motor.
Types of boat motors
When you’re searching for outboards to buy, the two most common types of boat motors you’ll see are 4-stroke and 2-stroke. Both these types of motors provide their own benefits and drawbacks. It’s up to you to choose from the types of boat motors, finding the one that works for you.
2-stroke outboards have been around for a long time and have simple design which results in a lower purchase price and is easy to repair. 2-stroke engines are light-weight and can accelerate fast.
4-stroke outboards are:
- Quiet and Smooth
- Good Fuel Economy
- Great Trolling Motors
- No Oil/Gas Mixture
- Smooth Idle
- Less Pollution
- Accepted at Any Body of Water
- Latest technology
- Very Reliable
For those beginning their boating journey, purchasing a used outboard is very common. However, there are numerous risks and costs when you buy used boat motors. These should be considered before any purchase is made.
Buying used boat motors
Whether you buy directly from someone or go through a dealer, boat motors can face problems such as damage, misuse, lack of service, expired warranties, decreased efficiency.
It’s difficult to know whether the used motor you’re interested in buying is in decent condition. The best way to know if the outboard you’re buying will perform well is to test it out yourself. But there are other procedures you can take as well. These include:
- Tests and trials: assessing multiple aspects of its performance.
- Visual assessment: judging how it’s been used and stored.
- Background check: asking for any records and service bills.
If you’re still unsure, you can take it to an experienced outboard mechanic or service agent to have it inspected prior to purchasing it for peace of mind.
When purchasing an outboard motor, the most important elements you’ll need to check and focus your tests on are: compression, sparks and the state of the lower unit.
Let’s have a look at the best Suzuki outboard motors for four common boat types.
Suzuki Outboards for Inflatable Boats
When it comes to small inflatable boats and rubber ducks, like a Suzumar 3.9m Inflatable, the outboard motor you choose will depend on what you’re looking to do with the craft. If you’re a lone wolf sort of boater, the Suzuki DF6 outboard is affordable and packs surprising punch with low- and mid-range torque for rapid acceleration when you need it. If you’re using your rubber duck to take the family out on the dam for a bit of water sport fun, bump your outboard motor up to a Suzuki DF15 or even the Suzuki DF20 outboard for a real inflatable boating thrill!
Suzuki Outboards for Bass Boats
Bass boats are designed with one goal in mind – to facilitate the successful capture of bass fish in lakes and dams all over the world. While most bass boat manufacturers build bass boats for tournament fishing, most who actually buy bass boats don’t fish competitively. If you’re taking your bass fishing to the next level, you’ll want to procure the biggest outboard motor your boat is rated for – like this Suzuki DF250 which is the motor rating ceiling for many bass boats. If you’re planning on taking your one fishing buddy out to cast a line every now and then, a mid-range Suzuki outboard motor like this Suzuki DF90 will do the trick! Remember, the bigger the outboard – the more fearful the fish!
Suzuki Outboards for Power Boats
10 years ago, it would have been tough finding a power boat that wasn’t stern-driven. In recent years, more and more power boat manufacturers began building power boats with transoms able to take outboard motors. The question is this: Which one will give you the biggest aquatic bang for your buck? You really don’t want to under-power a power boat, so if you’re planning some seriously fast water fun on your power boat – consider this Suzuki DF115 as a good mid-range outboard motor. Looking to pile on the people and tow a line during the summer holidays? Consider something a bit bigger with serious low-end torque, like a Suzuki DF200 outboard.
Suzuki Outboards for Deep Sea Boats
Boaters heading out onto the open ocean will want to carefully balance the fuel consumption and speed of their chosen outboard motors. If you go too big and beast-like with your outboard motor, you might run into fuel troubles after hauling to a sweet fishing spot – only to find that your remaining fuel won’t get you back to shore. For deep-sea boats between 20 and 25-feet in length, a single outboard like the Suzuki DF300 is more than enough. If your vessel comes in over 25-foot, you’ll want to consider dual outboard motors. Remember to check your deep-sea boat’s optimal horsepower rating before buying an outboard motor.
Why choose Suzuki outboards
Leading the industry with award winning technology and designs, Suzuki outboards provide features and benefits that make boating more enjoyable.
Suzuki has a reputation for advanced engineering design and excellent product build – this will be experienced with any Suzuki outboard you purchase. Suzuki have developed a range of outboards which combine the latest 4-stroke innovations with more than 50 years’ experience of the marine engine sector.
The goal has been to meet the increasing demands of the boat owner for efficient engines with good performance across the power band, clean economic running and low noise/vibration. How have we achieved this? The answer is, by combining many advanced engineering features, some of the major ones being Lean Burn Technology and Offset Driveshaft and 2-stage gear reduction. In the following section we will explain you all the technical specifications and below are the key reasons why customers choose Suzuki:
- Reliability and Durability
- Fuel Economy
- Powerful performance and speed
- Back-up support and parts availability
- Purchase price
- Cost of Maintenance
- Innovation and latest technology
- Design and Colour
