I apologise if this post is a little off topic but I really respect the opinions of the members on this forum. I'm considering putting in an order for a new Merc 15 HP 4-stroke and that is a large purchase for me. I'm not flushed with cash, so I want to make the best choice.

My question is this... Is it worth an additional $300 to get the electric start? I just have an old bare bones 14 foot boat with bench seats. I did string up my own lights in there and I have a trolling motor and battery already. I'm assuming the motor with electric start will charge these. But is it worth $300? I'm assuming a new motor will be pretty easy to pull start.

Please share your opinions. Thanks!

Outboards sit around a lot. The carbs get gummed up with old fuel. I have a Honda 8hp as a kicker motor on my fishing boat. I bought a manual pull start motor so I would never have to worry again about dead batteries. The elect start motors can be pull started also. Older guys and experienced guys all like elect start motors.

I like my electric start and power trim features.

I just bought a Yamaha 9.9 hp motor for my 14’ alumacraft boat. I did not get an electric start motor. But I don’t have electric lights and a trolling motor. If I were you I would get the electric start for your boat.

Side note on motor prices. Make sure you are sitting down when they tell you the price of it. With Covid in full mode they are charging super high prices. My brother in law just bought a 90 hp merc and it was $4000 over what I paid 3 years ago for my 90 hp. It used to a 90 would cost $9000. He just paid $13,000 for a 90 hp. Supply is low because of shortages, world wide demand is high, prices are high.

The Defender Marine web site has all the small Mercury models listed, their specifications and prices. Defender also has Yamaha, Honda and Tohatsu for comparison. Getting a new outboard is awesome, enjoy!!!

Savage Voyageur: "I just bought a Yamaha 9.9 hp motor for my 14’ alumacraft boat. I did not get an electric start motor. But I don’t have electric lights and a trolling motor. If I were you I would get the electric start for your boat.


Side note on motor prices. Make sure you are sitting down when they tell you the price of it. With Covid in full mode they are charging super high prices. My brother in law just bought a 90 hp merc and it was $4000 over what I paid 3 years ago for my 90 hp. It used to a 90 would cost $9000. He just paid $13,000 for a 90 hp. Supply is low because of shortages, world wide demand is high, prices are high. "

Savage, I did notice a wildly different price between 2 dealers. I guess that makes sense now what you are saying. One dealer is sticking with their normal price and one is taking advantage of the laws of supply and demand. The places I have talked to have basically told me that if I want my motor by next spring, order is soon.

I own a 9.9 hp Mercury electric start and love it. I use it in the Okefenokee Swamp and only smaller than 10 HP are allowed. I purchased the Mercury as it was the only one I could find in a four stroke small motor with an electric start. It is actually made by Tohatsu motors but they make good motors. I have had no problems with the motor. I would rather purchase a battery every couple of years than pull start.

Yes. Electric. 100%. I recently upgraded to a 25 hp electric and Will NEVER look back. Especially on a 4 stroke- they’re harder to pull than a 2 stroke. It’s sooooo nice to simply push a button and have the motor running!!!

I have a pull-start 20HP two-stroke, so it's not exactly comparable but I certainly have no trouble starting that. One thing that is kind of a bummer is that there's no alternator to charge up the battery for my lights, fish finder, bilge pump, etc., so that either requires solar panels or carrying the (heavy!) battery around to plug it in to a charger. An electric start will also have electric charging while the motor is running, which would be nice sometimes.

I used to have a 15hp Merc pull start, absolutely hated it. Was somewhat temperamental, it was a 2 stroke, and not charging the trolling motor battery was a negative.

Just went from a 6hp pull start to a 25hp electric start, both Yamahas. Push button is worth $300 for sure.

I'm not sure about using your trolling motor battery as the cranking battery? Mine are separate -- marine cranking battery for the outboard, lights, and pumps -- this one gets recharged when running. And then a marine deep cycle for the trolling motor, which needs to get hooked up to a charger after each use.

On a 4 stroke, electric start all the way. Just don't assume that it will keep your battery at 100 percent if you use lights and sonar a lot and only motor for a short time. The smaller motors have pretty week charging systems. Still best to put it on charger as soon as you get home since batteries don't last long if not kept fully charged when not being used.

I would confirm that the alternator is up to the task of charging a battery that is being used for the trolling motor. That seems like a big task for a small motor, and I don't think they would be designed for that. If the alternator is working too hard all the time, it may burn out. If you decide to run the trolling motor from the same battery as the electric start, make sure that you have a pull cord option as well. It's easy to run a battery down with the troller. Otherwise, electric start is pretty nice!

I didn't realize you were going to use the same battery for outboard and trolling motor until I reread your original post. This is not a good idea for the reasons on the above post from ayudell. All outboard manufacturers say not to do this. That is asking way more than an outboard charging system is capable of.

Hello tcoeguy

Many Facts to Consider
1) An electric start outboard will be heavier
2) Some electric start outboards don't have a recoil (manual) start, but most do
3) Batteries are heavy and expensive
4) An outboard that won't start, won't start any better with electric start
5) Some models exist that will charge a battery even though they do not have electric start
6) In the LED lighting era in many cases 12v lights are no longer necessary

It comes down to use case. If you will be removing the outboard from the boat very often then weight is a major consideration and you would want to avoid electric start. This would be the case if you plan on portaging the boat, or for theft prevention, or if you are one of the people who brings a motor to a resort and rents a boat there.

On the flip side it depends who is using the boat and whether they have the arm strength to start a motor manually. My wife does not have the arm strength to start a motor, so if I want to have her drive the boat, ever, it's got to be electric start.

My question is this... Is it worth an additional $300 to get the electric start? I just have an old bare bones 14 foot boat with bench seats.

That's a huge motor for a 14' IME. I have a 9.9 on my 14' and it's more than plenty.

A larger motor is extra cost and extra weight on the transom.

I did string up my own lights in there and I have a trolling motor and battery already. I'm assuming the motor with electric start will charge these. But is it worth $300? I'm assuming a new motor will be pretty easy to pull start.

Most small electric-start outboards have extremely modest battery charging capabilities, typically around 5 amps, just enough to keep the battery charged for starting and for running the lights. There are a few that have a little better output, shop around. But either way the motor isn't going to recharge the battery enough to overcome what the trolling motor uses, you'll have to plug it in at night for that.

The places that make and sell trolling motors and outboards want you to have two batteries but there isn't any sound engineering reason for that. Of course, if you run your trolling motor until the battery is dead you won't be able to start your outboard if they share a battery, so don't do that.

2AirIsHuman: "Hello tcoeguy
That's a huge motor for a 14' IME. I have a 9.9 on my 14' and it's more than plenty.
"

I will very respectfully disagree with this statement. That is pretty standard setup for 14' boats. I have one similar 14' aluminum duckboat.

If in doubt- just check around. FB marketplace is chock full of 15hp & 25hp motors on 14' boats.

I think most new 14' areusually equipped with either 15hp or 25hp as the standard

Recently used a 14' lodge boat with an 8hp with electric start -- it was good for the 10hp max lake we were on. We topped out around 11mph with 3 guys and gear. If that were my boat for full-time use it would absolutely need to be a 25hp outboard.

I'd get E-start....and if it has power trim...even better :)

I would not recommend using your trolling motor and outboard on same battery for very long. (plus any electronics, lights, etc) As mentioned before...get a deep cycle for the trolling....get a regular cranking for the outboard plus electronics. Or in my case....2 deep cycles for the 24v trolling motor and 1 cranking for outboard.

Oh, and I'll also 2nd the comment about all the smaller 4 strokes now being made by Tohatsu. So don't let the name on the side sway you if the prices are wildly different. (unless there's a warranty or local service difference)

And if it's breezy or you have 2+ people in the boat you'll be glad you've got a 15 on the back :)