Kicker motors - "....thoughts?", Mercury vs Honda (8 hp)

I was wondering how others have found these motors -- reliability, durability, "querks?"

A buddy has the Merc and unfortunately it's been in the shop more than on the water. My last Honda was great and was my first to look at, .....but Merc has a sale which makes it 2/3 the price of the Honda. The dollars have peeked my curiosity. Specs on both are similar, including weight, alternator, cylinders,...

What's your thoughts?

(As an outside choice, I looked at the Suzuki 6 hp (single) but the vibrations at lower rpm was not impressive -- as a kicker motor that would be where it would spends most of its life!)

First what size boat is the kicker going to push? Small (16-18 ft) boat a 9.9 hp would be as small as I would go, with larger boats 19 ft and up I would consider a 15 hp plus. You have to consider the waters you may be on, wind, wave action, shaft length, down riggers-trolling and use as a emergency motor and so on.

Tailfin: I hear your points and concur. Having an 8 Honda hanging off the back of the boat for more than a couple decades and running trouble free, it obviously would be a first choice. On a 16' boat, every pound counts back there and the newer motors are another 20 lbs heavier. There has also been a lot of years of change happening technology-wise. The newer are not a smooth (vibrations) as these older. What else are people encountering.....?

I may in the end drop to a single Suzuki at 1/2 the weight of the 8 hp motors. I just have to check their "accessories" (options) vs costs -- adapter for a remote tank, alternator(?),.....

Thanks.
Take care.

I bought an 8hp merc electric start 4 years ago. It is on a 20' jon boat, polarkraft 2072. It pushes it about 5mph. I don't use it a lot, maybe 8 to 10 times a year for trolling. Twice it has gotten me back to the ramp as my big motor was down, but I wasn't that far from the ramp. I also have an 80lb electric on the front that I also use to troll with use it for steering. Merc starts every time, very quiet, forget it is even running. So I would recommend the merc but I have to experience with the Honda.

I'm a firm supporter of Honda products , I run my 06 8hp on the mighty minnow , runs like a sewing machine , takes two pulls to start , one to wake it up and second away she goes, .

In spring salmon fishing when dead slow produces most fish the Honda will get down to 1 mph if required

When I'm able to get back into a bigger boat she's going on as my kicker ..

Can you tell I love Honda's ..

Dave

Honda and Yamaha are the most reliable by a long shot. Sure a few more dollars up front, but like they say, when your big motor quits and you are waaaaay out there and the kicker craps out, maybe it was the few dollars you saved up front that bite you in the butt. I won't even ride in a boat with a Merc or BRP, to much chance I have to paddle, and you can fuddle duddle that idea.

Fisherman: That's my trade off -- weight vs vibration. I don't was to go heavier, so...!

Steelheader: Are you still parking your rig by the curbside at night???? (LOL)

A 6hp Merc is doing just fine on my 16' glass boat. It can move it up to 5mph. Never had any problems in choppy water either. As far as the reliability goes... it is a 2015, so it been problem free for 4 years so far. Always starts on the first or second pull. I do a lot of trolling with it, for salmon on LO and walleye on smaller lakes.