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Posts: 80
Location: Clintonville, Wi | Bought a new 200 etech this winter had it out 3 times so far. This motor is unbelievable compared to my opti. |
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Posts: 32953
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | It's confusing to figure out with the 4 stroke to 2 stroke comparisons, etc.
I watched a tape in the Merc Booth at Minneapolis last night with head to head comparisons Mercury V6 and 90 HP Opti to E Tec. Merc won fuel economy, top end, and acceleration tests, both in their testing and Bass and Walleye Boats testing. Both are great motors, and what counts is how happy each consumer is when on the water. |
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Posts: 80
Location: Clintonville, Wi | i can tell you one thing i can already tell my etech gets better fuel economy than my opti the 3 times i had it out i did alot of running and the needle hasn't hardly moved. top end and hole shot are alot better i have 7mph faster at WOT according to my gps. Same pitch props on both motors. The advertising by evinrude I think is to try to show the consumer that in this time of "FOUR STROKE FRENZY" that there is a good Two stroke out there that is virtually maint free for 3 years.
Edited by vanertski 3/31/2006 4:28 PM
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Posts: 5874
| Mainteneance free for 3 years? I think not. Are you not going to check and replace the lower unit lube every fall? Is Evinrude going to replace that lower unit when it explodes because water got in it after some fireline destroyed the seal? Again, I think not.
Is this a 200 HO? If so, then I might believe the 7 MPH. Same pith props? Same rake, number of blades? Same boat? I don't know if one can truly determine fuel usage from 3 trips out, and guessing.
They all make great motors now. I don't know if one is actually so much better than another. A Ford-Chevy thing, really. Some decisions should maybe be placed more on the dealer, and his service, than on brand.
Edited by Shep 4/3/2006 11:00 AM
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Posts: 2325
Location: SE, WI. | <p>I was one of the first to own and run a E-TEC in the waukesha co. area. And after putting in 1100 hours of run time on this engine in the last 2 years I won't be going back to a four stroke any time soon.</p><p>Changing lower unit lube for 3 years is for the average fisherman who's run time is about 35 to 40 hours a year. I change mine twice a year. Manual tells you all this...READ IT...</p><p>I had nothing but problems with the hours I put in a year with the four strokes. I ran them for 6 years. First making oil, then using oil, and the water jackets clogging W/ lime and calcium deposits. And I've heard the same with other fisherman that put in comparable hours. It happens with several makes.</p><p>Etec's fuel economy was 10-12 % better than the four stroke and I'm sure Merc's is similar.</p><p>1100 hours of run time is a good test for a new engine and I feel it has met my expectations...AWESOME ENGINE...</p><p>With my experience with the ETEC its a far superior engine than a four stroke. If your considering four or two stroke I would look at the TWO. New and better Technology.</p><p>My boat never got squirrley with the heavy 4 stroke but does with the ETEC...MORE POWER...Lighter Engine.</p><p>EVINRUDE PRO STAFF !!!</p> |
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Posts: 1536
Location: God's Country......USA..... Western Wisconsin | Shep, yes it is a fact that Evinrude will warranty your lower unit in the first 3 years even if it breaks due to freezing. The folks at Evinrude told me that more damage was done because of poor lower unit maintenance. Standard 3 year warranty from the prop nut to the nut on top of the fly wheel is what is claimed. 7 year warranty through their spring program. 3 years no maintenance. You know me, I been Merc for 30 years, but this has got me thinkin. |
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Posts: 5874
| Jim,
What would prevent the lime and calcium deposits from doing the same thing in your E-Tech, or any other motor, for that matter? I think that is more a function of the water you troll in, than the motor. As for heavy, yes, the 4-strokes are heavier. and they do not have quite the same performance as a DFI 2 stroke.
How's that net working out for you?
M1, you really think that if a lower unit gets full of water, and gets destroyed, they will replace it, no question? We'll see. I'll still take the black motor. Mine's been flawless. |
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Posts: 2325
Location: SE, WI. | <p>Shep; I don't have all the answers, but I do have the experience and time on the water. 10 years ago I ran a 2 stroke Mariner 60HP.Put in all kinds of hours on that and never had problems W/ overheating. When the 4 stroke came out I tried them and after 1 year of running I experienced overheating because of the water passages being limed up. I owned 2 different 4 strokes and both after 1 year did the same thing.</p><p>Now after 1100 hours and 2 years of running hard I've had NO overheating with the ETEC.</p><p>I was told that the engineering of the block of the four stroke was the problem and that the water passages and the water jackets were simply not big enough once lime and cacium deposits formed,thus restricting water flow and then overheating. I agree that the hard water in the area is a problem not THE problem. All kinds of 4 strokes are now coming in With the problem of overheating especially on pontoon boats because of all the idling they do.</p><p>That is why I switched back to a 2. The water flow of the ETEC is like turning on the water in your stationary tub. Water flows out about 1 inch in Diameter.</p><p>Who better to ask than someone who puts in the time on the water and has the hands on experience. Thats why I got the pro staff deal. I was positive feedback for EVINRUDE.</p><p>If you don't run a ETEC than you should not comment on them especially speculate on what they will cover or won't warranty.</p> |
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Posts: 1536
Location: God's Country......USA..... Western Wisconsin | Shepster, when I sold them I was told directly from an Evinrude (BRP) VP that this would be the case. They really believe that there will be less problems this way than with careless customers putting in the wrong lube, to little lube or leaving the lube plugs loose etc. As stated time will tell, but they do have me thinkin............for now my black motor stays where it is. |
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Posts: 5874
| I just don't think you can make a blanket statement that 4-strokes lime up, and 2-strkes don't. Perhaps the fact that your last 4-stroke was basically an automobile engine turned on it's side had something to do with it. I can't answer for the first 4-stroke you had, as I don't recall the brand.
I know there at least 1 4-stroke out there with as many or more hours than you had on your last motor, and on this motor, and he's had no problems. Course this was a 4 stroke designed for marine use and trolling.
As for the scheduled maintenance, the Evinrude advertisement says and average of 3 years, or 300 hours. I can see why you change yours twice a year. You always have to read the fine print! hehehe Don't get me wong. I'm not saying the E-Tech is not a good engine. But it is not the do all, end all of outboard motors. As I say, they all make good motors. You had a bad experience, and now you are satisfied. That's what is supposed to happen, I guess.
You never did answer my other question. How is that net working out for you?
Edited by Shep 4/6/2006 11:36 AM
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