Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
 
Old 21 May 2014, 09:42   #21
Member
 
Landlockedpirate's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: St Helens
Boat name: Wine Down
Make: Maxum
Length: 8m +
Engine: Inboard
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 934
So to sum up.

Lots of people appear not to like Etecs, but have no direct experience.

People who have owned them like them, but there are issues with electrics if not properly installed or maintained.

The broken saddle problem appears to be race boats (confirmed on Boatmad) with just 1 recreational failure.

If things go wrong out of the warranty, its expensive. Welcome to boating

So at the momment I cant see any reason to dismiss the Etec for our replacement engine, but the staggeringly light weight of the Yam 70 keeps jumping up at me
__________________
Landlockedpirate is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 May 2014, 09:47   #22
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Dorset & Hants
Boat name: Streaker/Orange
Make: Avon/Ribcraft
Length: 4m +
Engine: 50Yam/25 Mariner
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,551
Quote:
Originally Posted by Landlockedpirate View Post
So to sum up.

Lots of people appear not to like Etecs, but have no direct experience.

People who have owned them like them, but there are issues with electrics if not properly installed or maintained.

The broken saddle problem appears to be race boats (confirmed on Boatmad) with just 1 recreational failure.

If things go wrong out of the warranty, its expensive. Welcome to boating

So at the momment I cant see any reason to dismiss the Etec for our replacement engine, but the staggeringly light weight of the Yam 70 keeps jumping up at me
Its a dilema - down to personal choice and gut feeling
__________________
PeterM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 May 2014, 09:49   #23
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Surrey
Boat name: Fugly & Rokraider 1
Make: Pac 22 & Porter 6.5
Length: 6m +
Engine: Ford 250 & jet,DT140
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 681
We have been running E Tecs on the club RIB fleet. I think we have 2 x 115's and 11 x 50's. We had some electrical issues with one of the 115's where the wiring had been routed badly around the engine by the factory and a wire got burnt and shorted. The others have been pretty reliable and are very punchy and responsive. They are very high tech and fiddly. You have to tell the computer which oil you are running and it adjusts the oil delivery to suit.
That said, we are going to ditch the E tecs apparently, because they wont allow us to buy the computer that would allow us to do our own maintenance on the engines. We have a very competent marine department and would have happily paid for them to go on the factory maintenance course.
Our local agents are rubbish and charge an extortionate price. So poor marketing and support strategy means
that they are going to lose a regular customer who will replace the engines every 3 years. Looks as though we are going Yamaha instead.
__________________
Rokraider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22 May 2014, 01:04   #24
RIBnet supporter
 
gotchiguy's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Dinard, Brittany
Boat name: Into the Red
Make: Osprey Vipermax
Length: 7m +
Engine: Evinrude E-tec 250HO
MMSI: 235 076 114
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,957
RIBase
Quote:
Originally Posted by willk View Post
Make sure that the battery connections are always 100% and never run one with the battery disconnected. Never "switch" the battery isolator when one is running. The EMM is horribly sensitive and horribly expensive. All the rest is excellent! I had two of them and they were great.
The battery connections and switch problems are well documented and easy to get right. I would disagree with your statement of not running the engine without the battery though. It's one of Evinrude's selling points that they don't need a battery to run unlike four strokes. Even the top 3.4L big blocks can be pull started from cold with no battery connected......

Which makes it all the more surprising how easily the EMM fries with dodgy battery connections
__________________
gotchiguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22 May 2014, 09:10   #25
DGR
Member
 
Country: UK - Wales
Town: Barmouth
Boat name: Blue Marlin
Make: Ribcraft
Length: 7m +
Engine: Yanmar 315/Bravo 2X
MMSI: 235020218
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 827
Quote:
Originally Posted by matt h View Post
Im guessing thats why the RNLI use yams and mercs/suzukis due to reliability etc.
That's possibly not very fair to the ETEC - the RNLI are unlikely to use it because the chances of restarting a capsized one will be very small - and they'll almost certainly get more of that type of abuse than an engine on a leisure boat.

Chances of a capsize kit/mod on an ETEC?!?
__________________
DGR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22 May 2014, 09:40   #26
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Surrey
Boat name: Fugly & Rokraider 1
Make: Pac 22 & Porter 6.5
Length: 6m +
Engine: Ford 250 & jet,DT140
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 681
Quote:
Originally Posted by gotchiguy View Post
The battery connections and switch problems are well documented and easy to get right. I would disagree with your statement of not running the engine without the battery though. It's one of Evinrude's selling points that they don't need a battery to run unlike four strokes. Even the top 3.4L big blocks can be pull started from cold with no battery connected......

Which makes it all the more surprising how easily the EMM fries with dodgy battery connections
I assume that the manual start option is designed for when your battery has gone flat rather than not running a battery at all? Without a battery in the system, I imagine there is a high risk of a power spike, that could fry the ECM? With a battery in the system, it will have a dampening effect.
__________________
Rokraider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22 May 2014, 09:52   #27
Member
 
HUMBER P4VWL's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Wales
Town: N Wales Chester
Boat name: Mr Smith
Make: Humber
Length: 6m +
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,238
Note re Optis, the 75/90/115/125 are the same block.

When you compare weight if engines you'll find brands use one block for a range if hp. So a 75 opti is likely heavy compared to other brands, but the 125, a very light bit if kit, if you get the jist.

We had a 90 on a 5.4, brilliant, though it did make the transom waterline low, but they are all like that. A 115/125 opti mmmmm

Benefit of Optis is the number of units sold way outstrips others like etec. They had problems at first launch in early years 2002 ish but they're resolved. That's the point though, tried and tested technology.
__________________
HUMBER P4VWL is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22 May 2014, 10:32   #28
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Southampton
Boat name: SMH Rib / War Shot
Make: Ribtec / Scorpion
Length: 4m +
Engine: 100hp Yam/150hp opt
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,069
RIBase
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rokraider View Post
We have been running E Tecs on the club RIB fleet. I think we have 2 x 115's and 11 x 50's. We had some electrical issues with one of the 115's where the wiring had been routed badly around the engine by the factory and a wire got burnt and shorted. The others have been pretty reliable and are very punchy and responsive. They are very high tech and fiddly. You have to tell the computer which oil you are running and it adjusts the oil delivery to suit.
That said, we are going to ditch the E tecs apparently, because they wont allow us to buy the computer that would allow us to do our own maintenance on the engines. We have a very competent marine department and would have happily paid for them to go on the factory maintenance course.
Our local agents are rubbish and charge an extortionate price. So poor marketing and support strategy means
that they are going to lose a regular customer who will replace the engines every 3 years. Looks as though we are going Yamaha instead.
I think there are unofficial sources of the software and cables?

Where are you based? Without wanting to "name and shame" I'd be interested to know which agent is not so good.
__________________
Searider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22 May 2014, 10:58   #29
Member
 
SteveHall's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Lancs
Boat name: Beretta
Make: Ballistic
Length: 6m +
Engine: 175hp e-tec
MMSI: 235035778
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,736
RIBase
Ive had a few issues with my etec, but been able to fix it myself at home.

Its never left me stranded and never let me down!

I love it though! I normally do lots of slow speed idle work but after the run at Easter with fresh fuel and plenty of WOT the power was amazing!
__________________
Steve
Member of S.A.B.S. (Lancashire Division)
https://www.justgiving.com/blind-sailing
https://www.facebook.com/rib.beretta/
SteveHall is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22 May 2014, 12:23   #30
Member
 
Ian M's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: New Milton
Boat name: Jianna
Make: Osprey
Length: 6m +
Engine: 200 E-TEC
MMSI: 235076954
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,940
Quote:
Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL View Post
Benefit of Optis is the number of units sold way outstrips others like etec. They had problems at first launch in early years 2002 ish but they're resolved. That's the point though, tried and tested technology.
What? Are you saying E-Tecs are not tried and tested technology?
On a personal note, I've tried and tested mine for 5/6 years now without a glitch.
__________________
Ian

Dust creation specialist
Ian M is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22 May 2014, 13:08   #31
Member
 
HUMBER P4VWL's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Wales
Town: N Wales Chester
Boat name: Mr Smith
Make: Humber
Length: 6m +
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,238
Etecs, whats the problem ?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian M View Post
What? Are you saying E-Tecs are not tried and tested technology?

On a personal note, I've tried and tested mine for 5/6 years now without a glitch.

No, I inferred they aren't AS tried and tested as they've sold less units for a shorter timeframe with that 2S modern technology.
__________________
HUMBER P4VWL is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22 May 2014, 13:17   #32
RIBnet supporter
 
bedajim's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Rutland
Length: no boat
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 2,500
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian M View Post
What? Are you saying E-Tecs are not tried and tested technology?
On a personal note, I've tried and tested mine for 5/6 years now without a glitch.
Ian

To be fair the first 3 yeas on the front lawn doesn't count

Jim
__________________
bedajim is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22 May 2014, 13:28   #33
RIBnet admin team
 
willk's Avatar
 
Country: Ireland
Length: 4m +
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 14,910
Quote:
Originally Posted by bedajim View Post
To be fair the first 3 years on the front lawn doesn't count
H-P just got younger...
__________________
.
willk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22 May 2014, 13:42   #34
RIBnet supporter
 
bedajim's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Rutland
Length: no boat
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 2,500
Quote:
Originally Posted by willk View Post
H-P just got younger...
......................
__________________
bedajim is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22 May 2014, 13:44   #35
RIBnet supporter
 
bedajim's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Rutland
Length: no boat
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 2,500
Quote:
Originally Posted by willk View Post
H-P just got younger...
I wish, sorry can't put it down to youth. Must be those I rib with in the 250 Etec club
__________________
bedajim is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23 May 2014, 13:00   #36
Member
 
Ian M's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: New Milton
Boat name: Jianna
Make: Osprey
Length: 6m +
Engine: 200 E-TEC
MMSI: 235076954
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,940
Quote:
Originally Posted by bedajim View Post
Ian

To be fair the first 3 yeas on the front lawn doesn't count

Jim
Ba____d I was quoting time since the garden gnome era
__________________
Ian

Dust creation specialist
Ian M is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23 May 2014, 16:57   #37
Member
 
colcreate's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Cheshire
Boat name: Gollione
Make: Avon Searider 5.4
Length: 5m +
Engine: 90hp
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 347
RIBase
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rokraider View Post
........
That said, we are going to ditch the E tecs apparently, because they wont allow us to buy the computer that would allow us to do our own maintenance on the engines. We have a very competent marine department and would have happily paid for them to go on the factory maintenance course.
........
Looks as though we are going Yamaha instead.
You don't buy a computer from Evinrude but you do need their software (and cable) which will run on virtually any windows laptop!

Quote:
Copied from the Evinrude FAQ's on etecownersgroup website:
Can I obtain the software and cable needed to diagnose my E-TEC?
The diagnostic software CD and interface cable can be ordered from an authorized dealer. The latest CD covers the E-TEC motors and all the FICHT engines.
You will need a serial port on your laptop or a USB-to-serial port adapter kit to hook up the interface cable.
I have also read that the "Yamaha Service Software is only available to dealers" (although like with Evinrude there are lots of copies floating about from unofficial sources.....)

Since this seems to be your major reason for changing brands you might be better checking this out properly with both manufacturers beforehand.
Please let us know how you get on. It would be good to set the record straight.
__________________
colcreate is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23 May 2014, 17:49   #38
RIBnet supporter
 
bedajim's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Rutland
Length: no boat
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 2,500
Quote:
Originally Posted by ian m View Post
ba____d i was quoting time since the garden gnome era
😄😃.......
__________________
bedajim is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 May 2014, 09:29   #39
RIBnet supporter
 
gotchiguy's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Dinard, Brittany
Boat name: Into the Red
Make: Osprey Vipermax
Length: 7m +
Engine: Evinrude E-tec 250HO
MMSI: 235 076 114
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,957
RIBase
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rokraider View Post
I assume that the manual start option is designed for when your battery has gone flat rather than not running a battery at all? Without a battery in the system, I imagine there is a high risk of a power spike, that could fry the ECM? With a battery in the system, it will have a dampening effect.
I'm sure you're right. Fact is, you would never try and pull start a 3.4 litre big block unless in seriously dire straits. All I was referring to was a couple of videos posted on the etec owners forum a couple of years ago showing it was possible due to the engine starting so quickly (unlike optis which need a full crank rotation I think) and that they don't need a battery to run unlike all other brands afaik.
__________________
gotchiguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17 August 2014, 03:12   #40
Member
 
Seafox47's Avatar
 
Country: Canada
Town: St catharines
Boat name: Seafox
Make: Nautica
Length: 6m +
Engine: Twin evinrude 90 ete
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 23
Whatever the perception is, i love the etec's. I have a pair of 90 hp units and they run perfect. Have put atleast 600 hours and never had a problem other than water in fueltank and it caused one injector to run rough. Engine still ran and got me home. Not sure if any other engine would have been any better.
__________________
Seafox47 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT. The time now is 10:39.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.