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| Im sure this has been talked about numerous times but looking for unbiased insight. Looking to purchase a new Ranger 620. Having a hard time deciding what motor to put on it. 250 HO Etec or 250 Pro XS. Also does anyone have any experience with the 15 etec kicker? |
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| I run Yamahas, but I'd take the Merc over the Evinrude, no question. |
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Posts: 147
Location: Chesterton, Indiana | Vote 2 for the merc! |
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Posts: 633
Location: Madison, WI | I run a merc now and i still vote e-tec! Best 2-stroke made you wont be dissappointed! |
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Posts: 32885
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Pro XS. |
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | Pro XS.
Edited by TJ DeVoe 4/1/2012 11:28 PM
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| All great motors but I've got to say that I've fallen in love with my E-Tec 225 HO on my 620. I've been running it for 3 seasons now and it's been flawless! Super easy maintenance and zero oil changes. I enjoy knowing I can get 300 hours before I need to get it back in for service and I recently had the 300 hour service done for $400 and there was zero problems. It starts up first time and every time and is up on plane quickly. Quiet and fast as well. Evinrude E-Tec along with the other motors mentioned are reliable and a good choice. As of now my next boat will have an E-Tec. I'm very pleased...
Again, Merc, Yammy and E-Tec are all fantastic outboards and I'd be happy with anyone of them but so far loyal to E-Tec. |
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Posts: 433
Location: Cedarburg, Wisconsin | I have a 2010 200HO E-TEC and it is the best motor I've owned. Unbelievably good fuel consumption, low end power to spare, and you can talk in a normal voice and be heard while cruising down the lake between spots in that 4200RPM range. Never ran an Optimax so I can't comment on them other than listening to them and I'd take the E-TEC for just sound. I'd get another E-TEC in a heartbeat if ever the situation came up. Either way, they both are good motors overall.
The 15HP E-TEC is a chunk of lead at 185 pounds. It might be a great runner but putting that kind of weight on the transom along with a big V6 might be too much for the boat to handle. I'd check that out carefully before you get one.
Maybe give Pamp's in Green Bay a call, they may have already rigged a boat with the 15 E-TEC and a 250HO. Best always to talk to someone that has actually run the combo you are talking about than getting opinions. |
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Posts: 5874
| Either main motor works well. Merc is probably the better all-around performer, better on fuel, and oil, but the E-Tec is a bit quieter.
E-Tec kicker is a pig at nearly 200 pounds. Pro-Kicker is less than 90 pounds.
Pro-Kicker tips the scale on this towards Mercury. |
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Posts: 433
Location: Cedarburg, Wisconsin | Pro kicker 90#? For a 15HP??? When did this happen? Last time I checked the 15HP was somewhere around 150#?????? My 2008 9.9 Pro Kicker is well over 100#. Plus the Pro Kickers are not injected 2 strokes.
Edited by Almost-B-Good 4/2/2012 9:42 AM
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Location: Des Moines IA | One thing to consider as well. Repair shops. AS a Suzuki owner, I know first hand that there are WAY more Merc shops out there than anything else. Search out a reputable service shop before you make your decision. |
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Posts: 443
Location: Indiana | I have a 225HO on my 620 and wouldn't trade it for anything. Easy maintenance, and runs great! |
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| My buddy got a new 2010 Ranger 620 with an ETEC 250 HO.
SWEET motor. Between him and I we swore we would never own a Merc, so that's why he got an ETEC.
I will say it LOVES gas and oil. Best he was getting last year was like 3 MPG, I don't know if his gobbles more than the others, but I have done research and the Merc does get better mileage and uses less oil.
Midge |
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| PRO XS! |
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Posts: 5874
| Almost-B-Good - 4/2/2012 9:40 AM
Pro kicker 90#? For a 15HP??? When did this happen? Last time I checked the 15HP was somewhere around 150#?????? My 2008 9.9 Pro Kicker is well over 100#. Plus the Pro Kickers are not injected 2 strokes.
9.9 ProKicker is 96. 15 Prokicker is 135. Sorry I blew up. Going from memory. I should have looked it up, as you should have.
ProKickers are not injected 2-strokes for sure. That's why they don't weigh 200 pounds. The Evi is a detuned 25 e-tec, cause they don't have a 9.9 or 15 e-tec. Couldn't get the small displacement e-tecs to run. It's also more money than the Merc 15 ProKicker. |
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Posts: 433
Location: Cedarburg, Wisconsin | I looked it up and my Kicker is 108#  Are the new ones really lighter? I haven't checked lately. All I know is that E-TEC 15 is a mountain of lead and a half, designed for big ocean boats, not our freshwater rigs. 15ProKicker wasn't available when I got mine or I'd have definitely gone with it. I was wrong on the weight for that one, sorry!
Manufacturer Mercury
Model Year 2008
Model 9.9 Pro Kicker 20 in.
MSRP $3,185.00*
ENGINE
Engine Type 2 cylinders (in-line)
Horsepower 9.9 hp (7.3 kW)
Displacement 12.8 ci (209 cc)
Bore x Stroke 2.16 x 1.73 in. (55 x 44 mm)
RPM Range 5,000 - 6,000
Fuel Induction System 2-valve single overhead cam
Lubrication System Wet sump
Ignition System CDI w/electric spark advance
Starting System Electric or manual
Cooling System Thermostatic control
Exhaust System Through prop
DRIVETRAIN
Gear Ratio 2.42:1
Gear Shift F-N-R
ELECTRICAL
Alternator 6A (electric)
Alternator Output 76W (electric)
MEASUREMENTS
Shaft Length 20 in. (508 mm)
Weight 108 lbs. (49 kg)
OPERATIONAL
Steering System Tiller or remote
Trim System Power tilt
Propeller Standard equipment
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Posts: 5874
| They must have shed a few pounds on the 9.9.
The only drawback about my 9.9 ProKicker is trolling higher speeds for muskies. The low gear ratio requires really opening it up if I want to troll about 3 1/2 MPH. A higher pitch prop would solve that. |
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| I love my Etec! Its quiet and its has power. It also is a ease to winterize! |
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Posts: 60
| Another vote for Etec. My general impression is that main motor quality has improved across the board. Mercury seems to have overcome the major problems they were having 4-5 years ago, Suzuki's are rock solid as are Yamahas, and Honda's are good but heavy.
Get a good warranty and a good dealer that is going to be around for the long haul, no matter which way you go!
Steve V |
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Posts: 5874
| Mercury Optimax motors have been very reliable since 2002. They had a problem in 2000 and 2001 with some of the 3.0L Optimax motors. The fuel rail and injector issues were resolved in 2001, and since 2002, these motors are amoung the most reliable produced.
Still, IMO, the kicker is a deal breaker. Just can't justify a 185 pound kicker. |
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Posts: 582
| i would go Merc over Evinrude. Not because i believe one is better than the other, just that the Merc has WAY more avenues for service help. All things being equal, you could flip a coin. All new outboards are good these days. |
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Posts: 111
Location: Weyauwega Wi. | I would go with the Merc. I had an e-tech and it melted down 3 times. Now I know that with new technology comes growing pains,BUT and this is a big BUT. The second time it melted down on me I was on the 3rd day of a 2 week vacation in Canada. I was also 12 miles out on LOTW. There was a marina in town. I got on the phone with Bombardier and was told my motor wouldn't be fixed it time to salvage my vacation. I offered to buy a new motor (they had one there)... I was told that they would not give me any kind of a deal on the new motor. I have a 200 opti now and great customer service. Best of luck to you on your decision. |
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Posts: 21
Location: Wayzata, MN | Yamaha 250 Off Shore..... from a Yamaha guy. Also, it would negate the need for a kicker, which I don't think I would buy next time,....
But if it was down to a 2 stroke, I'd lean towards a ProXS. |
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motor for new ranger