Mercury 115 Optimax or Etec

[Borch]

Is the ability to dial down the RPM's hype or a valuable tool?

Yes it's a very nice feature.

[Down2Earth]

Been running the 115 Etec since 2008. Not one problem to date.

[mwal]

Update to my E-tec post. The reason my 1999 was repowered with an E-tec and a 15 hp 4 stroke were that 115hp motors are not really designed to be long term trolling solutions. I think Groms pointed that out in his post about his opti. If you are trolling occasionally either the E-tec or Opti will serve you well if you can live with there speed limitations. If you troll all the time you would be better off getting a kicker motor that is designed to just idle down and troll. I learned the hard way and carboned up a ficht with constant multi hour trolling using drift socks to slow down. Opti and E-tec love to run free especially an E-tec they recommend. being propped to high rpm at wide open 5800 5900. No matter what you choose make sure you are turning the right rpm's at full speed.

Mwal

[gregg52]

. The only why to eliminate this is to burn no oil with the fuel. Oh that is a 4 stroke.

or use the wind

[tacklejunkie]

. I learned the hard way and carboned up a ficht with constant multi hour trolling using drift socks to slow down.

Have you used anything like Ring Free or similar products?

[mwal]

Yes I used the OMC equivalent in every drop of gas. My Mechanic said Fichts were notorious for carboning up if you trolled a lot. If you look on the net there is a lot of info now out there on de carbonization procedures for them. He said they were best used to run wide open between spots. Those motors if run on xd-100 and propped to run the rpm's at 6000 and were de carbonized once a season held up pretty good in the 115 range. If you used them as trolling motor or slow cruiser they did not last as I can attest to. My E-tec's do no trolling use xd-100 only and the additive to the fuel and have not been in a shop except for lower unit oil changes and plug changes per scheduled maintenance.

Mwal

[gregg52]

far as the trolling goes

i've backtrolled with mine all day never loaded or coughed

all day

mines is a 150

i can get down to bout 2.3 2.5 going foward on flat water

but i do have a 20 ft glass boat

to which i was alittle concerned buying that iit would be underpowered

but it shoots out of the hole with 2-4 people in it

not real fast though perfect conditions trimed out 44 is bout top speed