Going to purchase a new 4 stroke 8 hp kicker motor for my sled. Looking for information on both the Yamaha and Mecury's new 8 hp. thanks for the info.

I have the 8 horse yami as a kicker for the salt. I bought it last summer and I am very happy with the motor. I have the standard model - manual tilt, manual start, non high thrust.

I think yami is making the powerhead for the smaller merc's.

Honestly I think you would do well with either of the motors. From my own experience I would reccomend the Yami, but Merc makes a good motor too.

Steve

I have the plane jane 8 hp (F-8) yammi as well, three years, flawless, got it in Canada for 1300 new. Only dislike is the "can't start it in gear" feature, giving the start cord a yank in gear can be painful as the recoil doesn't move. I got it as it was the lightest 4 stroke 8 hp on the market, and I had plenty of weight hanging on the back already. Easy to flush too, has the water connection on the side for the hose. I see that the 9.8 Nissan 4 stroke is lighter, but they didn't make that then.

I much prefer the yamaha's.

Iv'e had tons of small parts (pull cords, fuel fittings, recoil mech's and water pumps) go bad on the Merc's. The ones designed 3 or four years ago were simply cheaply constucted.

I cannot comment on anything newer than 2002.

I have never had a Yamaha 4-stroke break down or not start.

Especially beware the smaller Merc 4 Strokes- (6 hp or less) In my experience they run very rough and do not idle down well at all.

The one advantage the smaller Merc's have is a lighter weight.

Small consolation as you enjoy the lighter weight taking it off your boat- because there is a problem with the motor.

Jb

Honda

I have the 2004 Yami 8 horse four stroke for a kicker. I have the power tilt and electric start ( I am getting softer as I get older). I have been very happy with that motor so far. I have nothing against Mercs. I had a 25 horse Merc for ten years on the other boat and never had any trouble with it.

I'd go with the Yamaha. Have the 8 hp high thrust on my Wooldridge Sport Offshore. Great trolling motor and will push the boat along if needed as a back-up.

Another vote for yamaha! I have a T8 sweet motor.My buddys Merc runs good too once it is warmed up but it is really cold blooded.And he has had problems with the tilt lock disengaging.Not a good thing in the shallows.

My kicker is a 2003 Yami 8hp high thrust model with electric start but not the hydraulic tilt. I figured it was light enough to manually tilt and it is. I like the high thrust model as it eliminates cavitation when in reverse as the exhaust can go through the center of the hub instead of around through the blades. It also has a heavier duty gear case. I also got the electric start so it can charge my battery while trolling eliminating of dead batteries from all day downrigger use. I know when I bought my main motor 115 yami and the kicker the dealer told me that Yami built the 4-stroke power heads for Merc but Merc used their own lower unit.

I'm on my 2nd Yamaha T-8 since 2000, it's the only kicker that I will use!

The Merc 4 strokes in that size have Tohatsu powerheads. The Merc large 3 & 4 cyl 4 stroke power heads are purchased from Yamaha.

Yammi.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

Mercury's are cold-blooded sons-a-*****es and I wouldn't even bother buying one at a discount.

Freedrifter,
I don't think many of these guy's have any knowlege of the ( NEW) 8- HP 4STROKE merc.
I really like that they went back to the shift in the handle, makes the motor much easier to fish with. I have a 2002 merc 9.9 big foot on one sled and a yami 2003 yami t-8 on another sled, Love both motors, Merc is very cold blooded like others have said. Not real sure if the new 8 hp would be the same being that it is a Tohatsu. I would feel comfortable buying one in a minute, But I would never give up my Yami t-8