Suzuki or Yami 9.9?

[MRWood]

Back to the kickers, I have been pricing some options out. The below kickers all include electric start, power tilt and 20" leg. I am not sure if the Suzuki would be considered "High Thrust". Hard to find exact weights on the 20" leg, but looks like they are all in the same ball park +- 5-10 lbs. Tohatsu makes the Merc kicker and was around the same price as the Merc with a much smaller dealer network, so better to get the Merc. All in all on paper it seems like the Suzuki takes the cake with EFI, 12A alternator, 5-year warranty and the lowest price but with a few extra pounds.

Yamaha 9.9HT - T9.9LPB (Carburetor)
Motor: $4,100
703 side mount control w/ control cables - $575
Cables in price above
5-year warranty, sometimes they offer a 6-year
Alternator: 6A
Weight: 106 lbs
Total: $4,675 + install + taxes

Mercury ProKicker 9.9HT - ME9.9ELPTCTLK (EFI)
Motor: $4,078
Side Mount Control - $722
Cables: $100
3-year warranty but you can buy the gold plan or whatever for $75 for a couple extra years
Alternator: 12A
Weight: 111 lbs
Total: $4,900 + install + taxes

Suzuki 9.9 - DF9.9BTL (EFI)
Motor: $4,131
Side mount control included in price above
Cables: $100
5-year warranty
Alternator: 12A
Weight: 120 lbs
Total: $4,231 + install + taxes

Check out Alberni Power and Marine’s site. They usually have good prices on Mercurys

 

[Saxe Point]

Back to the kickers, I have been pricing some options out. The below kickers all include electric start, power tilt and 20" leg. I am not sure if the Suzuki would be considered "High Thrust". Hard to find exact weights on the 20" leg, but looks like they are all in the same ball park +- 5-10 lbs. Tohatsu makes the Merc kicker and was around the same price as the Merc with a much smaller dealer network, so better to get the Merc. All in all on paper it seems like the Suzuki takes the cake with EFI, 12A alternator, 5-year warranty and the lowest price but with a few extra pounds.

Yamaha 9.9HT - T9.9LPB (Carburetor)
Motor: $4,100
703 side mount control w/ control cables - $575
Cables in price above
5-year warranty, sometimes they offer a 6-year
Alternator: 6A
Weight: 106 lbs
Total: $4,675 + install + taxes

Mercury ProKicker 9.9HT - ME9.9ELPTCTLK (EFI)
Motor: $4,078
Side Mount Control - $722
Cables: $100
3-year warranty but you can buy the gold plan or whatever for $75 for a couple extra years
Alternator: 12A
Weight: 111 lbs
Total: $4,900 + install + taxes

Suzuki 9.9 - DF9.9BTL (EFI)
Motor: $4,131
Side mount control included in price above
Cables: $100
5-year warranty
Alternator: 12A
Weight: 120 lbs
Total: $4,231 + install + taxes

My Suzuki has a 25" rather than a 20" leg, and so did the one on my previous boat. Unlike the 20" leg models, both came standard with the 4 bladed high thrust propeller. And because the remote control was included, the Suzuki were significantly cheaper when compared with the 25 inch leg models from Yamaha and Mercury. But as I said before, all three are excellent and highly reliable. I also like the EFI, which makes for very easy starting.

 

[barkerfam]

tohatsu kicker. Great reliability and the EFI is the bomb. They make for several of the big name companies, just cheaper without the rebadging.

HB

 

[N2013]

tohatsu kicker. Great reliability and the EFI is the bomb. They make for several of the big name companies, just cheaper without the rebadging.

HB

Tohatsu was my #2 choice before my Zuke. Had a Nissan (tohatsu) for years. Bomb proof but not drop proof.

 

[northshorebb]

No ethanol free fuel in BC. I’m friends with the buyer at Coop. Maybe they haven’t marked the pump?

The saga continues...

"All our Premium and Dyed Premium fuel at our Mid Island Gas Bars and Mid Island Cardlocks have no Ethanol. Our Regular has up to 10% and our Mid Grade has up to 5%."

This is from the category manager at the Co-Op on December 10th 2025.

I guess we are going to have to test the fuel now to see what's really true...

 

[MRWood]

The saga continues...

"All our Premium and Dyed Premium fuel at our Mid Island Gas Bars and Mid Island Cardlocks have no Ethanol. Our Regular has up to 10% and our Mid Grade has up to 5%."

This is from the category manager at the Co-Op on December 10th 2025.

I guess we are going to have to test the fuel now to see what's really true...

Once you test it please let us know what you find. Here is a link to a kit. I should get one just for fun. Be good to test some of the claimed octanes as well.

E85 Tester Kit, Reusable Ethanol Test Kit, Wide Mouth Fuel Test Bottle, Gasoline Super Content Tester Include Dropper (2 Pack), Diagnostic & Test Tools - Amazon Canada

E85 Tester Kit, Reusable Ethanol Test Kit, Wide Mouth Fuel Test Bottle, Gasoline Super Content Tester Include Dropper (2 Pack) in Diagnostic & Test Tools.

www.amazon.ca

 

[23Hourston]

If you’re looking for electric start, part of the reason I abandoned Yamaha kickers for Hondas and/or Suzukis, Yamaha does not have a pull-start option on an electric start. That for me is huge. Yamaha includes a pull start rope to wrap around the fly wheel in case of “an emergency”....

Yeah, right...

Battery issues? Lean over the transom and pull start your Honda or your Suzuki....Yamaha? Remove cowl....hunt around for the pull-start cord in your tool box....etc etc etc

and those pull cords sink

 

[Kodiak]

Back to the kickers, I have been pricing some options out. The below kickers all include electric start, power tilt and 20" leg. I am not sure if the Suzuki would be considered "High Thrust". Hard to find exact weights on the 20" leg, but looks like they are all in the same ball park +- 5-10 lbs. Tohatsu makes the Merc kicker and was around the same price as the Merc with a much smaller dealer network, so better to get the Merc. All in all on paper it seems like the Suzuki takes the cake with EFI, 12A alternator, 5-year warranty and the lowest price but with a few extra pounds.

Yamaha 9.9HT - T9.9LPB (Carburetor)
Motor: $4,100
703 side mount control w/ control cables - $575
Cables in price above
5-year warranty, sometimes they offer a 6-year
Alternator: 6A
Weight: 106 lbs
Total: $4,675 + install + taxes

Mercury ProKicker 9.9HT - ME9.9ELPTCTLK (EFI)
Motor: $4,078
Side Mount Control - $722
Cables: $100
3-year warranty but you can buy the gold plan or whatever for $75 for a couple extra years
Alternator: 12A
Weight: 111 lbs
Total: $4,900 + install + taxes

Suzuki 9.9 - DF9.9BTL (EFI)
Motor: $4,131
Side mount control included in price above
Cables: $100
5-year warranty
Alternator: 12A
Weight: 120 lbs
Total: $4,231 + install + taxes

Hey northshorebb...I have used all three of these engines and from my experience, the Mercury Pro Kicker is the go to. I purchased my most recent one from Bridgeview Marine and it came with a 7 year warranty. The Mercury is a true high thrust kicker vs the Suzuki that uses the standard 9.9 gear case. To also note, the Mercury uses a 4 blade prop and pushes my Whaler perfectly. Just to clarify, the Suzuki only has a 6amp charger and was a little weak when using my electronics and riggers. You really get what you pay for...Mercury's service and warranty is so much better than the Japanese. My local dock was once all Yamaha and now it is a sea of black Mercury's. The majority of the commercial lodges all use the Sea Pro, so if you make your living with your outboard...better go with the Mercury!! Thanks for sharing your intel!

 

[northshorebb]

The Suzuki alternator is 6A on the manual start, but the electric start is supposed to be 12A.

Appreciate all the feedback from everyone, below is some research on gear ratios of the various kickers. My boat is pretty light (17' aluminium), not sure how much the gear ratios will matter. A 4 blade high thrust prop might be enough. Looks like the Yamaha would produce the most low end thrust with the higher ratio?

Gear ratios:
- Yamaha 9.9: 2.08:1
- Yamaha 9.9 HT: 2.92:1
- Merc 9.9: 2.08:1
- Merc ProKicker 9.9: 2.15:1
- Suzuki 9.9: 2.08:1

 

[Saxe Point]

Hey northshorebb...I have used all three of these engines and from my experience, the Mercury Pro Kicker is the go to. I purchased my most recent one from Bridgeview Marine and it came with a 7 year warranty. The Mercury is a true high thrust kicker vs the Suzuki that uses the standard 9.9 gear case. To also note, the Mercury uses a 4 blade prop and pushes my Whaler perfectly. Just to clarify, the Suzuki only has a 6amp charger and was a little weak when using my electronics and riggers. You really get what you pay for...Mercury's service and warranty is so much better than the Japanese. My local dock was once all Yamaha and now it is a sea of black Mercury's. The majority of the commercial lodges all use the Sea Pro, so if you make your living with your outboard...better go with the Mercury!! Thanks for sharing your intel!

The Mercury Pro Kicker is actually Japanese as well. Tohatsu apparently manufactures all outboards under 30 hp for Mercury.

 

[Kodiak]

The Mercury Pro Kicker is actually Japanese as well. Tohatsu apparently manufactures all outboards under 30 hp for Mercury.

Yes, you are correct. What I was referring to was the support after the sale, not the manufacturing. Mercury actually owns 49% of Tohatsu and shares RND with them. We all have our favorites and mine is Mercury!

 

[MRWood]

The Suzuki alternator is 6A on the manual start, but the electric start is supposed to be 12A.

Appreciate all the feedback from everyone, below is some research on gear ratios of the various kickers. My boat is pretty light (17' aluminium), not sure how much the gear ratios will matter. A 4 blade high thrust prop might be enough. Looks like the Yamaha would produce the most low end thrust with the higher ratio?

Gear ratios:
- Yamaha 9.9: 2.08:1
- Yamaha 9.9 HT: 2.92:1
- Merc 9.9: 2.08:1
- Merc ProKicker 9.9: 2.15:1
- Suzuki 9.9: 2.08:1

Sounds like you’ve convinced yourself the yami is the way to go. They are good motors and at least you’ll be matching. Just stay on top of your fuel situation and keep that carb in top condition.