OK Etec owners...

[Stoo]

I'm about >this< close to buying a 150 Etec. I've read lots of great comments on here and done my research...

Does anybody have a reason why I shouldn't buy one???

[RIVA]

buy a 175

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Stoo

Does anybody have a reason why I shouldn't buy one???

Because you wear short shorts with sandals?

[Stoo]

Originally Posted by RIVA

buy a 175

I have actually been wondering about that! I gather it's the same weight and so on... I haven't priced one, but I suppose it's not a lot more. I was going to run it past my insurance carrier to see what they have to say... Either that, or just get the dealer to get me some 150 stickers or the cover...

Have you had any problems with your 250?

Originally Posted by Mollers

Because you wear short shorts with sandals?

Not today... it's about 3 degrees above freezing!

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Stoo

Have you had any problems with your 250?

Nope, I've not fired it up yet.

I rang the order through for the prop today.

[John Kennett]

Originally Posted by Stoo

Does anybody have a reason why I shouldn't buy one???

Evinrude seem to be very confident about them, particularly compared with 4-strokes. They've just produced a flyer/poster aggressively putting their case:

THE TRUTH BEHIND EVINRUDE E-TEC AND 4-STROKE OUTBOARD ENGINES

Myth 1: "The 2006 EPA & 2006 EU legislations make 2–strokes illegal."
Fact 1: Evinrude is worldwide emissions compliant

Myth 2: "4-stroke engines are cleaner because 2-stroke outboards expel oil directly into the environment."
Fact 2: Evinrude engines have simply the cleanest outboard technology available

Myth 3: "4-strokes achieve the best fuel economy."
Fact 3: Evinrude gives you superior fuel efficiency

Myth 4: "4-stroke outboards require less maintenance than 2-strokes."
Fact 4: Evinrude outboards require the lowest maintenance

Myth 5: "Four-stroke outboard engines offer more torque than other outboard technologies."
Fact 5: Evinrude engines offer the best power to weight in the industry

Myth 6: "4-stroke outboards are quieter than new DI 2-stroke engines."
Fact 6: No other outboard engine gives you a quieter boating

There's more blurb in the full version attached.

Obviously this is sales material and should be regarded as such. However there do seem to be a lot of happy ETEC owners out there, and not many horror stories.

[Stoo]

Originally Posted by Mollers

Nope, I've not fired it up yet.

I rang the order through for the prop today.

LOL... Well you're a lot of bl**dy help then! Obviously you have forsaken all others in favour of an Etec, so that must be a good thing!

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by RIVA

buy a 175

Nah get a 200hp - they are all the same weight!!!

I would love an ETEC - I just wish they would bring out a nice light 400hp V8.........

[Stoo]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

Obviously this is sales material and should be regarded as such. However there do seem to be a lot of happy ETEC owners out there, and not many horror stories.

Thanks John. I spent some time with a dealer last week that sells Merc, Yamaha and Etec. His opinion after listening to me about the type of boating I do was that either the Yamaha or the Etec would be great engines for me. I have had two bad experiences (i.e. 2 blown heads @ $8000.00 each) so I am "disinclined" to go with them again. Plus, I still think the 2 stroke makes sense in a marine environment...

My Yammie is running well, but with the current strenght of our Canadian dollar relative to the US, the prices have come down considerably... $18.5K two years ago, about $13.5K today!

[Mollers]

I actually put a deposit down on a Suzuki DF 250. I'm not a massive 4 stroke fan, but thought that the DF would hold up well when I eventually sold the boat on. Ian at Liverpool Powerboats sold both, so he was getting the sale eitherway. However, he is a big fan of Etecs and basically reckoned it beat the DF in every dept. He rang me in December to say that BRP where running an Autumn deal which dropped the price of the Etec to that of the DF and that they were offering free extended warranty to 5 years. Bye bye DF.
Humper and I were having a deal on a pair, he also then went for Etec as he'd had on his previous 'flume ride'.

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Nah get a 200hp - they are all the same weight!!!

I would love an ETEC - I just wish they would bring out a nice light 400hp V8.........

A 300 Etec would still be quite a step-up from the Suzy Choo Choo. Too many ponies and the old 'Pro Spurt' might start to fall to bits.

[tim griffin]

Got the 200 Etec on the one of the school ribs 1 year old and 240 hours on the clock still purrs like a kitten .
Love it to bits.

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Mollers

A 300 Etec would still be quite a step-up from the Suzy Choo Choo. Too many ponies and the old 'Pro Spurt' might start to fall to bits.

Nah not enough - if she will handle 2x 250 then a 300 won't tax her much!!!

It's a choice between the Mercury 300xs or the Verado 350 - or maybe the Etec as you say.

[bedajim]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Nah not enough - if she will handle 2x 250 then a 300 won't tax her much!!!

It's a choice between the Mercury 300xs or the Verado 350 - or maybe the Etec as you say.

How many hours on your Suzy and how much

[OceanEco]

We have a few companies that used to use them out here. They went thru 8 power heads in one year(200HP). Another company went thru 2 power heads in one year(200hp as well). The warranty stood up but both companies took their new etecs and sold them and bought Suzuki df 250's. Bear in mind the engines see about 1000 hours of use in a year. I run df140's right now and I would love to go to the etecs for power and weight issues, but I am not so sure how they are in a commercial environment. The warrenty for pleasure use seems unbeatable. A pair of 175 would be ideal for me. The df140s have been pretty good to me except they are very prone to overheating. I cracked a head last year with just over 1000 hours. Good luck with your choice, I went back and forth between optis, etecs and suzuki and finally settle on the df 140's. I have run yamahas for a long time but ended up with a lot of repair bills not to mention the weight.

[Stoo]

That's not good, but as you point out, that's a huge number of hours....

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by bedajim

How many hours on your Suzy and how much

Very few hours but don't really want to sell it cos it's lovely - just my boat needs lots more grunt. Anyway Nasher has 1st choice but you never know...............

[GED]

running etecs on 4 Aircraft ribs, 2 have 175 and 2 have 225Ho, no problems at all mine is now 2 years old and as good as new

[Chris]

Stoo, Just sent you a PM.

[Stoo]

Thanks GED.. and Chris, I have replied!