Fuel economy for Suzuki 300?

J

johnniethek

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 23, 2009
Messages
414
Fluid Motion Model
C-30 S
Hull Identification Number
FMLT29211617
Vessel Name
Salish Searcher
Hi folks,
I am one of those folks who got caught in the Yamaha shuffle and will end up with a 300 hp Suzuki on my new 27-footer this summer.

I am trying to find out what the fuel economy is on this outboard vs. the one reported here earlier on the Yamaha 300 outboard. If memory serves me correctly, that motor operating at about 4,500 rpms (in the 15-20 mph range) got 2.1 miles per gallon.

But I haven't found any similar rating for the Suzuki DF300AP. If anyone can find an apples-to-apples comparison, please leave it here. Lots of good press on the Suzuki DF300AP, but haven't found any that directly compares fuel economy.

Thanks,

Johnnie the K
 
johnniethek":11737nqf said:
Hi folks,
I am one of those folks who got caught in the Yamaha shuffle and will end up with a 300 hp Suzuki on my new 27-footer this summer.

I am trying to find out what the fuel economy is on this outboard vs. the one reported here earlier on the Yamaha 300 outboard. If memory serves me correctly, that motor operating at about 4,500 rpms (in the 15-20 mph range) got 2.1 miles per gallon.

But I haven't found any similar rating for the Suzuki DF300AP. If anyone can find an apples-to-apples comparison, please leave it here. Lots of good press on the Suzuki DF300AP, but haven't found any that directly compares fuel economy.

Thanks,

Johnnie the K
Click to expand...
I don't have Suzuki 300 numbers, but the Yamaha 300 at 4500 rpm yields about 30 mph, 2.01 mpg, about 280 mile range (w/10 gal reserve). I have heard lots of good things about the Suzuki engine. It has a slightly smaller displacement so it turns higher rpm's to get the HP. I would be interested to see the performance numbers Suzuki and see how it compares.
 
Given that RT decided to move to using the DF300AP because of the Yamaha shortfall in deliveries I would hope RT has this information to be shared with its customers. Have you asked RT about this enquiry of yours ?

Also, RT will have by now or will have shortly, run the R-27 OB with the DF300AP and they can then confirm some fuel burn rates at various RPM/Speeds for you. You should insist on having this information prior to finalizing your purchase IMO.
 
Sent them a note earlier today asking if they had that info.

I got a call back this morning from Suzuki's customer service folks and they don't seem to have any of the info that Yamaha provided in its Performance Bulletin. A tech specialist with International Marine Service did say that Suzuki consistently has better fuel economy than almost all Yamaha outboards.

I have done quite a bit of research on the new DF300AP, and it does look like an excellent outboard with some new features that other manufacturers don't yet have. Here's a link to the online brochure of the outboard: http://www.internationalmarineservice.c ... -250AP.pdf

J the K
 
If the Suzuki DF300AP fuel use performance is not close to what the Yamaha F300 is I'd be very upset if I were in your position. RT needs to provide you with some assurance that you aren't getting an inferior engine compared to the Yamaha.
 
baz":3uvga8gh said:
If the Suzuki DF300AP fuel use performance is not close to what the Yamaha F300 is I'd be very upset if I were in your position. RT needs to provide you with some assurance that you aren't getting an inferior engine compared to the Yamaha.
Click to expand...
If you read some of the fishing forums, they would take a Suzuki 300 over a Yamaha 300 any day of the week, especially since the Suzuki is a good deal less expensive. Some of the fishing folks who have moved from the Yamaha to the Suzuki have reported speeds with the Suzuki within 1-2 mph and fuel burn slightly less. They like the Yamaha info display better, but the diagnostic information on the Suzuki they feel is better. I have never been on a boat with Suzuki engine, so I don't know for sure, just what is being reported on a few forums. I am getting a Yamaha motor on my boat as my dealer sourced one and Ranger is shipping my boat without a motor. I pushed for a Yamaha motor as I have 5 full service Yamaha dealers within 20 miles of my house. I have no idea where I would find a Suzuki dealer, I don't remember seeing one in the last 10 years.
 
I have spent about ten hours with the 23 now running the Suzuki and it appears that the numbers are very close to the Yamaha and I believe this to be the case on the 27 with the 300 as well. On the 23 I am getting right at 2.75 MPG at 25-30MPH. On the 27, I would tell everyone they will be right at 2MPG at the same speeds. I have seen as good as 2.3 running a Suzuki on the lake while testing.
 
Thanks Andrew..... Your information is very re-assuring.

1) What is warranty for the Suzuki ?

2) If one wanted to swap out the Suzuki for the Yamaha at a later date is that recommend given the installation and electronics etc could be different ?

3) Can the Suzuki be matched with a Yamaha kicker motor, and if so how is the kicker motor connected to the Suzuki 300 ? If not, what is RT's recommendation for a kicker motor ?
 
Hello Barry,

1. Standard warranty is the same, 3 years. Optional promotion is 6 years.
2. I am sure it could be done but not recommended. All holes are different along with wiring and controls.
3. No on the kicker motor matching the white Suzuki as of today. We use the same tie bar connection as we did on the Yamaha.

Thank you,
 
Barry,

One of the reasons I decided to go with a Suzuki now instead of waiting for a Yamaha is a six-year warranty compared to a five-year warranty with Yahama.

In addition, the Suzuki kicker motor is fuel-injected but not the Yamaha kicker. If I'm in rough-water conditions and the main motor conks out, I want all the help I can get (like fuel injection) to ensure the kicker motor will start right up.

I have spent considerable time researching the Suzuki and agree with a previous commenter's view that fishermen rave about its performance and reliability. My only concern is being able to get it serviced. I will be keeping my boat in Tacoma and hope there is an on-the-water marine shop that can service it in this area.

Johnnie the K
 
Johnnie: Good luck with that Suzuki motor.... and I'm sure it will be fine.

6yrs vs. 5ys is a good deal. 🙂

Hmmmmm....the Yamaha 9.9 HP kicker motor.... is Carburetored for sure.... crank it over for 20 mins every now and then and it will be just fine IMO. It's fuel is filtered just as for the Yamaha F300.

For the 25, 50 and 60 HP Yamaha motors they used fuel injection.
"FUEL ECONOMY
Precision Multi-Point Electronic Fuel Injection on the T60 and T50 delivers the exact amount of fuel needed for optimum performance and efficiency. Yamaha’s EFI optimizes fuel atomization, further enhancing fuel economy."

Good luck with the Suzuki servicing aspect. At Edmonds we have Jacobsen's Marine at our doorstep and is a fully certified Yamaha dealership. 😀

BTW... Is the Suzuki's cowling white and red or what ?
 
I loved the Suzuki 90hp we had on our C-Dory. And there were no worries about servicing the motors, there are plenty of service dealers in the Puget Sound area. If we didn't accept the 2018 R23 that became immediately available in November and had to wait for the boat to be built and ready by March as was the original plan, we would probably have been offered the new boat with Suzuki's hanging on the bracket. And I would have been totally happy with the Suzi's, especially with the fuel injected 9.9hp kicker. The only thing I would have insisted on would be matching engine colors, not the white main and black kicker shown at the boat show.

Suzuki's are great motors and I wouldn't hesitate if offered. That said, I must admit I do really like the Yamaha 200hp. It runs like a dream and it's super quiet. We really haven't had a chance to really test out the 9.9hp kicker but I do know that has been the number 1 choice for fisherman as a trolling motor, at least until the fuel injected Suzuki came out. Just my $.02.

Peter
 
Barry,

The Suzuki cowling for both the main motor and kicker will be white. As I understand it, Suzuki made getting a white cowling much more financially attractive to RT than Yamaha did.

J
 
Nice matching colors.... well done. I bet the name "Suzuki" is in red though ?

FYI... My Yamaha 9.9 kicker motor fired up today without issues after not being used since last Sep 2017. 😀
 
Johnnie K: I took delivery of a RT 27 OB Suzuki Feb 18. I moor it in Tacoma. The nearest place to service the engine is Olympia: Puget Marine. An out of the way place for sure. Way out! They will “trailer” out your boat. No one around Tacoma will touch it! That was really disappointing for me as I have never owned a boat and I have to change the oil on my own! To take it to Olympia would be very inconvenient and costly. I also don’t know what documentation Suzuki needs to keep the warranty. Given the choice again, I probably would have gone with the Yamaha. There is a place in Tacoma to service it: King Salmon Marine. Given that: I do like the engine! It runs very smooth and quiet. I have not gotten 2 mpg at 25 mph. Best is around 1.8 mpg on smooth water. It does plane fairly fast, but I don’t have anything to compare it to. I have 90+ hours on it now and I am taking it to Hylebos Marina to get it hauled out, cleaned and I will perform the service: engine oil and filter; drive oil; check the anodes and clean all the growth off the trim tabs and engine! Hylebos charges $346 to haul out/in and pressure wash the hull. I had to buy a pump; gaskets; filter and service manual to show me how!
 
In my opinion the only thing Ranger tugs should give assurance on is the color of the motor. Most everything else about reliability and fuel efficiency is a guess and subject to many variables. Warranty is the important offset to the guessing game. Looking around the internet their are so many differing opinions it is hard to rely on any of them. And the opinions get a little nasty as well. To perform a reliable fuel efficiency test you need a controlled environment such as same vessel, same day conditions and similar operators. While I agree fuel efficiency is important the only real question is do you want to cancel your order and find another boat to purchase over a slight difference in MPG if the Yamaha is not available. The tug being quite unique makes this a difficult option. While it was cute to see my R27 hit 39 mph on the delivery date it is not something I would do often given the purpose of the boat as well as fuel cost. But fun to show off for a short spurt. I love my Yamaha but would not have changed my decision on the boat over having to take another highly respected engine manufactures product. But --to each his own.
 
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