would you buy a rib with a evinrude motor

[marky116hk]

Hi
would you buy a ri with evinrude etec motor as they no longer around. I wondered if this was why ribs with evinrudes dont seem to be selling?

thanks Mark

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by marky116hk

Hi
would you buy a ri with evinrude etec motor as they no longer around. I wondered if this was why ribs with evinrudes dont seem to be selling?

thanks Mark

All depends on the particular engine/hull and price. Everything will sell if the price is right.

[Johno99]

I bought my 5m bombard last year with an Evinrude 60hp and very happy with it. I had a slight problem getting someone to service it but I did and and the company that serviced it thought it was a very good engine and no problem getting spares apart from normal problems with all spares. The company specialise in Evinrudes and there were boats everywhere there with them fitted and being worked on.

[beamishken]

If it was an old school two stroke yes no problem if it was an etec it would need to be cheap enough that I wouldn't be too miffed if I had to replace it. First sign of trouble with one I'd bin it as their problems seem to domino. Definitely wouldn't pay top money for an etec powered boat. Great when there running but awful to work on & not great to repair.

[Johno99]

Hi Beamishken
Is that advice from experience please?

[ptm]

The ‘only’ problem I had with my etec was user-related gearbox damage, presumably inflicted by the previous owner. I ran it for 6 years from 2017 when it was then 6 years old with no other issues. Parts and servicing were not an issue towards the end of my ownership. What the situation is at present, I don’t know. You are best talking to an outboard servicing and repair business and seek their advice.

[Johno99]

If I had read Beamishkens comments before I bought my boat I maybe would have thought twice but I’ve got it now. I’ve read many many reviews and they mostly seem positive, apart from a couple that have mentioned saddles breaking. For me it’s quiet, very economical compared to my 40hp Yamaha on my last boat and starts on the button. But the same with anything second hand you don’t really know what previous owners have done to it.

[beamishken]

Originally Posted by Johno99

Hi Beamishken
Is that advice from experience please?

Yes I do some work for a big dealership when they cant cope with the volume of work or have anything out of the ordinary to do, all the guys think the same

[Johno99]

Oops, okay I’ll just have to keep my fingers crossed. ��

[Pikey Dave]

Just for balance, I had a RIB with the much maligned FICHT engine, predecessor to the Etec, and then my next RIB had twin Etecs. I never had any major problems with any of the engines. One of the Etecs had an injector changed under warranty. They did have a couple of design flaws, IMHO. One being that the charging regulator was built into the ECU, so if the regulator failed, you were into changing the whole ECU at great expense. As long as you knew the quirks, they were a fantastic engine. The power to weight ratio & torque was phenomenal & probably unmatched in any of today’s crop of motors. Servicing was a breeze & much cheaper than a modern 4T.
Make sure ALL the battery connections are tip top, including any battery isolators. Never connect/disconnect/changeover a battery connection with the engine running, fit a good water separating/2micron filter inline with the fuel line from the tank (always good practice, regardless of engine) use the XD100 oil or good quality TCW3 on the correct settings. Enjoy.

[beamishken]

Originally Posted by Johno99

Oops, okay I’ll just have to keep my fingers crossed. ��

I wouldn't worry, they are great when they work but be careful sinking money into it if you have problems but it may give you many years of good service

[smallribber]

Originally Posted by marky116hk

Hi
would you buy a ri with evinrude etec motor as they no longer around. I wondered if this was why ribs with evinrudes dont seem to be selling?

thanks Mark

I certainly would if it was at a good price. They are generally very good engines but I think there were a couple of Pigs. I am afraid I don't know which ones they were though

[Wave Rider]

I own a 2012 90hp. No problems with anything for now. My mechanic says problems plugging into the G2 versions. I think if you buy nowadays then you need to build into the purchase price its replacement outboard. Remember the 4 strokes are heavier so older boats may not be ok with transom weight. Hope this helps.

[Dry Run]

From experience, I woulde say that the smaller sizes (up to 200hp) seem pretty good. The larger ones seem to have more problems. But so do many engine manufacturers. The biggest problem for us is parts. The local agents don't like to sell you the parts (even if they have them) unless they are doing the work As others have said, great engines all the time they are working.

Certainly true that E-Tec engined boats are harder to sell at comparable prices nowadays.

[mhill]

When they work they are great but when they stop working they are increasingly costly to repair which along with the availability of spares is pushing the prices down.
Same as the Optimax or Optiboom engines from Mercury, I remember sitting in dealer trying back as a teenager and the tech is great with low eight, high torque and lower fuel consumption vs 4stroke of similar vintage.
Don't forget the need for the costly lube oil with is also getting harder to come by, failure to use the good stuff will lead to an early death.

The units will always have some value especial to the evangelical die hards and may level off, ultimately id budget for a replacement.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by mhill

The units will always have some value especial to the evangelical die hards and may level off, ultimately id budget for a replacement.

Agreed Speaking as an Etec fan, if buying an Etec engined boat right now, the price would have to reflect the fact that the engine is now a disposable item, for all the reasons you mention. I would be buying the hull with a view to re-powering the boat. I'd run it until the Etec became unviable & then repower. Any use I got from the Etec would be a bonus.