T&T: Outboards

[Milt Baker]

John,

My Yahama 15 two-stroke is one terrific engine, easily the best outboard I've 
ever owned.  I've owned it for four year and it still starts on the first or 
second pull, even after sitting unused for weeks at a time.  It's light, 
economical to run, reasonably quiet, and moves my Nautica 10.5-foot RIB at well 
over 15 knots with myself and the dog aboard, or about 12 knots with two people 
and the dog.  It's been to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Venezuela, Bermuda, all over 
the Mediterranean, and the eastern seabaord from Key West to Maine, and it's 
loved every mile.  I'm sure it's good for an easy 10 years, meaning the amortized 
cost (at the $2100 price quoted) would be about $210 annual plus operating costs, 
not a bad investment for reliable transportation.  You could do a lot worse than 
buying one now.

--Milt Baker, Nordhavn 47 Bluewater, Fort Lauderdale



John wrote:

. . . I have concluded that I would not be satisfied with less
than a 9.9HP 2 stroke and as the 15HP 2 stroke Yamaha. . . The lowest price I
have found for a 15HP Yamaha is around $2100.00. I may have to nurse my old
Johnson along for awhile.