I am thinking of re-powering my 2000 G.W. 228 Seafarer (currently with Yamaha 225 Saltwater) with a 225 four stroke. Any opinions on the best in terms of reliability, power-to-weight, or best technology on the market?

The venerable 225-hp four-stroke is a fabulous engine. Notice I say is -- meaning singular. That's because the Yamaha 225 four and the Mercury 225 four are one and the same engine. Take your pick. One's black and the other dark gray. Pretty much the only significant difference. However, before too long (wish I sould say just how long) Mercury will start shipping the 250-hp four-stroke that they've developed themselves. After running a prototype two months ago, I can safely say that this engine will bust the four-stroke market wide open. Great low-end torque with absolutely no sacrifice of top-end speed. I drove a 20-foot bass boat at 83 mph with one of these engines. It was very quiet, fuel efficient and all the other great attributes you associate with fours.

Never buy Mercury stuff! the 225 it's ok because is a Yamaha motor, but the 250 is a Mercury...get better the new 250 Susuki 4 stroke.

I would never put a mercury on my boat. Just got through repowering our boston whaler to honda 225 four strokes (very Sweet) from mercury optimaxes. Those optimaxes were crap. If this is any indication how mercury builds their engines then I would not leave sight of land with those black anchors on my boat.

I have a '04 Merc 225 4 stroke on my Angler 230--- extremely quiet and fuel efficient. I was a little disappointed with the hole shot (took longer to pull me up on water skiis than I had expected) but moved the 3000 lb boat at 45mph at WOT.