Dealers responses

[PeterM]

Just called various dealers to talk about prices for merc/suzuki /etec(yes really) engines for the mini ribcraft.

Amazing differing responses... Top service and conversation from Black Dog...... The only ones who could have a real conversation about what i want and what it would cost, and the other implications like weight efi v carb etc.

Top company and I've not even bought anything yet.

[whisper]

Yep Rob is awesome

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by whisper

Yep Rob is awesome

Oddly he added 20% to the cost when I mentioned you , but then took it off again when I mentioned Biff.......

[PeterM]

So ..of all the 20 -30 fourstrokes what woudl you buy & why ?

Tohatsu 30 seems light at 71kgs ( but I've been told they 'need' a dealer set up ...hmm really? )

Merc from Black dog are a firm favourite - and a decent price with 78Kgs for the 30 , 71kgs for the 25hp

Etec - not a chance for me ( sorry )

Suzuki - seem rare at this size - probably for a reason ?

Honda - at 84kgs - a little heavy

Yamaha - lovely but how much money !!!!

[matt h]

top bloke. just got a engine service pack and new prop from him.. always brill service

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by matt h

top bloke. just got a engine service pack and new prop from him.. always brill service

Oh - my price has just gone up again if you're speaking to him ...

But what would you buy - I'd love a yam - but so expensive - merc 25 I think is winning head & heart.

[chipko]

Suzuki are soon launching their new DF25A & DF30A with EFI and a claimed weight starting at 62kg.

[henryfreston]

Haven't looked at prices so might not be any cheaper but....

What about those selva outboards, the exact same as yamaha but with a different cover- if i'm right??

Just a thought that came to mind...

[benjytaylor]

I have to agree with Henry on this one. Look at selva (Yamaha) same engine just cowling painted white. I believe even Yamaha cover the warranty period

[Locozodiac]

Originally Posted by PeterM

Oh - But what would you buy merc 25 I think is winning head & heart.

Newer Mercs are rebadged same Tohatsu versions wether 2 or 4 stroke. A Tohatsu 30 should cost less than same Merc 30. A 30 will perform much better than a 25. Check both prices.

Happy Boating

[uncle al]

People just to let you know Robby might be a bit slow for a little while, his wife was air lifted by chopper and she is seriously ill

[CJL]

It is amazing how little time dealers have to give you when looking for new engines! I went to one place, asked about prices and quite detailed installation questions and he didn't know the info so he took my email and promised to get back to me. Nothing ever came of it and I took my business elsewhere. 6 months later I was back in the shop after some little bits and bobs and I mentioned I'd got a different engine brand that he didn't supply. His face and subsequent discussion suggested that he was shocked that I'd gone elsewhere. What did he expect???

That said I can heartily recommend Yellow Penguin in Poole and I've heard a lot of very good things about Black Dog but never dealt with them myself. Hopefully they both prosper and continue to give the customer a good experience!!!

Chris

[uncle al]

CJL I used to call yellow penguin the pink parrot, I think he was glad when I retired. Nice bloke though just dont tell him I said so.

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by PeterM

Etec - not a chance for me ( sorry )

Why not ? (perhaps I missed a thread?)

[PeterM]

Black Dog and yellow penguin came out top in my phone call enquiry :-)

Etecs for me represent to much of a ' risk '. While i do have maybe the best dealer just up the road they are so different from the way the rest of the market is moving its to greater an ask to commit to them.

Much like my yamaha i don't expect to ever sell...So want to know stuff so be about on 20 years time.

Fingers crossed for Robs Mrs....

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by PeterM

Black Dog and yellow penguin came out top in my phone call enquiry :-)

Etecs for me represent to much of a ' risk '. While i do have maybe the best dealer just up the road they are so different from the way the rest of the market is moving its to greater an ask to commit to them.

Much like my yamaha i don't expect to ever sell...So want to know stuff so be about on 20 years time.

Fingers crossed for Robs Mrs....

What sort of a risk ? I highlighted my question .. you seem evasive ?

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

What sort of a risk ? I highlighted my question .. you seem evasive ?

Not trying to be evasice and not really sure why you'd think I am ?

For me when I think about the number of OB sold and in use in the UK such a small % are etecs it starts alarm bells go in in my mind .

Much like electric cars - I'm sure they are great, but we mostly drive internal combustioned engined motors . Cars made of carbon fibre are lighter and more fuel efficient - but we mostly all drive stell shelled heavy monsters. We all drive 4 stroke cars - even moped and jetskis are all 4 strokes now.

Its much like the 2/ 4 stroke argument - its chalk and cheese - a marmite thing. I've had the chance to drive a 250 etec engined boat and it was great - great pick up , top end etc , much like the optimax I had . I ve also driven bug 4 stroke and little 4 stroke engined boats - verado , suzuki etc .

Just a personal choice and a really wonder how long the support will stay around for such realtively exotic engines. I think even optimax are slowly dying away as the improvement in 4 stroke tech continues.

[willk]

Originally Posted by PeterM

Not trying to be evasice and not really sure why you'd think I am ?

Maybe he thinks that you're trolling a particular opinionated etec owner and advocate?

I don't of course, I just think that you're a "mainstream" kinda buyer

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by PeterM

Not trying to be evasice and not really sure why you'd think I am ?

For me when I think about the number of OB sold and in use in the UK such a small % are etecs it starts alarm bells go in in my mind .

Much like electric cars - I'm sure they are great, but we mostly drive internal combustioned engined motors . Cars made of carbon fibre are lighter and more fuel efficient - but we mostly all drive stell shelled heavy monsters. We all drive 4 stroke cars - even moped and jetskis are all 4 strokes now.

Its much like the 2/ 4 stroke argument - its chalk and cheese - a marmite thing. I've had the chance to drive a 250 etec engined boat and it was great - great pick up , top end etc , much like the optimax I had . I ve also driven bug 4 stroke and little 4 stroke engined boats - verado , suzuki etc .

Just a personal choice and a really wonder how long the support will stay around for such realtively exotic engines. I think even optimax are slowly dying away as the improvement in 4 stroke tech continues.

Ok cool

Originally Posted by willk

Maybe he thinks that you're trolling a particular opinionated etec owner and advocate?

No .. I'm just in process of buying a new Etec ......

[Poly]

Originally Posted by PeterM

For me when I think about the number of OB sold and in use in the UK such a small % are etecs it starts alarm bells go in in my mind .

Much like electric cars - I'm sure they are great, but we mostly drive internal combustioned engined motors .

Really are those %age comparisons valid?

I would have guessed that etec had at least a 10% market share across the range of engines they sell (i.e. 30+HP). 0.1% of vehicles on the roads are electric. There are still major issues which prevent most people adopting electric cars (battery life, recharge time, distance between charges, long term resale value). I'm not aware of ETEC's being regarded as "risky new tech" by most people.

Its not like etecs are "THAT" different to 4 strokes anyway they still mix petrol and air, squeeze it and explode it with a well timed spark. And to my understanding Etecs are not that different to Optimax, HPDI, TLDI engines so there will be plenty of engineers around that have experience of this type of tech even if BRP were no longer around.