I'm in the market for a new outboard, in the 115hp range, everyone says I need to by a Yamaha 4 stroke but.......I've been researching the E-tec and am impressed with what I have read and seen. I've talked with several folks who have them and they love 'um!! I chatted with a marina manager today who sold outboards up in Michigan, he highly recommended the E-tec over the Yamaha and he sold both. Do any of you Cummins owners have any first hand experience with the Evinrude E-tec??

Thanks
Chip

 

I am service manager at a boat dealer that sales the E-tec. These are awesome motors. I also sale and service Yamaha and wouldn't take anything away from there product either. The E-tec has been a flawless performer for us. I hear the guys on the bass circuits saying they are having lots of problems but I also hear that about all the manufacturers. Its the brutal "gotta go fast and hard" environment of pro-fishing that kills the motors not "problems". (If you are a pro-fisherman you know exactly what I'm saying.) I've worked on everthing out there for 20+ years and the E-tec has got to be the best thing yet. 3 years "no scheduled maintenance", you'll change the oil in your 4-stroke Yamaha at least 4 times during that time. The only issue I have seen is used up spark plugs after 100hrs. When I've pulled an RPM profile I find they have been endlessly trolling for hours on end. The multi-spark ignition will kill the plugs in 100hrs at low RPM's.
I could probably go on for several pages but in nut shell I will re-power my boat with an E-tec when the time comes. (I have to wear out my Johnson first.) If you have any questions just ask! BTW I'm going to Dallas next week for a school on E-tec.
Raymond

 

Is the e-tec not just a rebadged ficht?

 

Might take a look at the Suzuki 4 strokes. Really quiet, fuel efficient and priced reasonable. Seem to be pretty tough as well. Not to take anything away from the E-tec, just another choice.

 

I worked on outboard for a couple of summers in Alaska.. where they get used HARD... the E-TEC's are a superb motor... I perfer to run evinrudes when I get the choice.... They are very efficient and clean burning 2-strokes..

Not that the Yamaha is a bad motor by any means... I just like evinrudes...

 

Response to LRDCHAOS-
Absolutley not. Ficht was one of the downfalls of OMC. This is a ground up redesign of the 2 stroke engine. All new technology developed by Bombardier. Ficht was pretty much a disaster, however, I still have customers running them with no problems at all.

 

I have seen good results with the FFI, ficht, in alaska.... not a bad motor.. thou the E-TEC's seem to use less fuel

 

I have a buddy that has a brand nre Yamaha 115 4 stroke. The holeshot isn't real good IMO but has great mid-range power. If I were going to buy a new engine, it would probably be an E-tec. I've heard great things about them. Also, has anyone heard anything on the new Yamaha 5.3 V-8? That has got to be a HUGE engine. I hope they have one at the boat show this year just so I cn see it!

 

My 200 H.O runs like a top, the way I can describe it is "RAW", boy she hauls, uses more fuel than My old Merc but it 25hp bigger, would buy another Rude for sure.

 

Reply to Big Smokey-
We have one of the V-8 Yamahas on order for this year. I was hoping we would stay away from that bohemoth, it's brand new and unproven (in my opinion). I'm sure it will be a nightmare to work on, the 250 h.p. 4-stroke is enough of a monster without adding 2 more cylinders. I'm sure there will be a 300 h.p. response from Evinrude with the E-tec.

 

In my humble and chastized opinion, if it isn't black, it isn't an engine. That goes for diesels as well as outboards.