Experience with E-Tec outboard motors anyone?

[rbgarr]

My neighbor is considering a repower. Some goals are to minimize storage, fuel, commissioning and mechanic bills. These engines are touted as being low maintenance and stingy on fuel use by comparison to other similar size motors (he's considering 115-150 hp), both 2 and 4 stroke. Any experience with one? If they do need maintenance, do 'regular outboard mechanics' know how to deal with them?

Thx-

[webfoot]

We have a 40 on our 13' whaler that we have had for over a year now. The only maintenance has been a simple recall. Did have a tree fall on it in the Patriot's day storm cracking the cover and lower case, $1100 which ins. covered thankfully. It does over heat easlily if any seaweed gets wrapped over the intake or if I'm running fast in a chop. That is mostly because of the hull I think, but it is very sesitive. What is nice is it starts right up with no choking and if it does go into alarm mode you can still run it at 1200 rpm to get back to shore.

[rbgarr]

Webfoot,

Did you get it at that Bath Marine place in Woolwich? If so, how are they to deal with?

[pipefitter]

I work on a lot of boats with the etecs and with all the new motors. The people who own them love them(I ask) but the same is pretty true for all brands. Another popular choice is the mercury verado which is a supercharged four stroke but a giant in comparison physically,at least in view but not sure if the weights are that much different. I think at wide open throttle,the economies are comparable. From what I understand from the local mechanics,the etec is a live computer tuned motor based on OMC's FICHT motors which Bombardier bought with the buyout of OMC. I haven't heard of either suffering too many warranty issues since they have gotten the bugs out since their inception a few years ago.Yamaha also is in the hunt with their two stroke HPDI (high port direct injection) motors which also has seen their share of needed refinements. The gas economy differences I think is really more profound on the smaller engines when it comes to 2 stroke vs. 4 stroke engines.

[rbgarr]

The gas economy differences I think is really more profound on the smaller engines when it comes to 2 stroke vs. 4 stroke engines.

My experience also, but what hp range are you referring to? In my case, the Honda 30 sips gas compared to the Mercury it replaced.

[webfoot]

rb.. we got ours at Bamforth's in Brunswick. They are great people to work with.

[rbgarr]

Thanks. Didn't think of them.