Evinrude E-Tec technology

[luckystiff]

I've just been to my local dealer and Evinrude is coming out with a motor in 2006 that is a 2 stroke that is supposed to burn cleaner than a 4 stroke, its quiet, gets better fuel economy, lower emissions and weighs less. I'd like to know what some of the mechanics and folks on this form know about this? Is this the real deal?

Thanks for your time

[ChuckN]

The ETecs have been around for almost a couple years now. They are making more and more hp engines every year. If I were to buy a new boat/motor the ETec would be my choice.

You can check on Evinrude/Bombardier's HSOforum for all the info you need.

[Mille Lacs Guy]

The technology has been out there for a couple of years. Evinrude started with motors in the 40 to 90 Hp range and last year introduced a 200, 225, 225 HO, and a 250 HP. Next year they will add a 115, 150, and 175.

The technology is very good. A computer figures out exactly how much gas and oil to put in the cylinder at any given RPM. The result is a quieter, cleaner burning two stroke motor. I have heard a lot of people say that it has all the advantages of a four stroke with none of the disagvantes such as having to change oil, bad hole shot power and sometimes fast trolling speeds.

I have a 90 HP Etec and it has been both good and bad for me. The actual power head has performaed flawless for me. The motor is quiet has a lot power to pull my 18.5 foot fiberglass walleye boat out of the water and trolls really smooth and slow and does not have the fumes assoicated with most 2 strokes. However, I am on the 3rd lower unit because of mechanical problems from either the factory or my dealer not setting up the shift linkage properly. It seems they finally got it fixed on the 3rd try.

If you are buying a new motor I would definately look at the Etec but also look at the Yamaha and Suzuki four strokes and take a look at the Mercury motors as well.

If you have any more specific questions let me know.

[luckystiff]

Thanks for your quick reply. Any idea if they are having any mechanical problems. I see that there is no maintenance for 3 years on these new motors. It almost sounds to good to be true.

[Mille Lacs Guy]

You are correct on the no scheduled maintenance for 3 years. Just like any new technology they are having some isolated problems with blown power head. The technology is so precise that it something goes wrong it is not good. I know one guy that blew his power head on a 225HO and also spun the hub out on the prop. But overall I think most people have not had any issues with the motors.

[Doonbuggy]

Bombardier is very serious about promoting/selling the E-Tec design. So much so that they are not having Suzuki make anymore of their larger fourstroke motors and calling them Johnsons starting in with '06 models. It's all E-Tec for the larger hp motors.

This can be found at Bombardier's HSOforum under their press releases. Sounds like great technology! I can't say what the price difference is though between an E-Tec and a typical fourstroke.

DB

[TSCTSC]

I was in the market for a 40HP and my impression was that it was more expensive than a regular 4 stroke. Taking into account some of the problems with it and the premium, and the time that I would be out of the water should an issue occur with the motor, it does sound a little risky to go ETEC.

[waskawood]

TSC, what kind of problems are you refeering to?

[TSCTSC]

The problems that were mentioned anecdotally in the posts above.

[JohnMickish]

I will also be buying a boat this spring and this is one of the motors being seriously considered. You don't see many on the water but they are suposed to be great. I'd really like to hear more from people that own one. How many guys out there own one and are you glad you got that motor instead of something else?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't the Mercury Optimax and Yamaha's HPDI basically use the same principal?

BTW, my local dealer told me that the fuel comsumption between the E-tech type motors and the 4 strokes is basically a wash now. Idle they are both quiet, but at wide open the 4 strokes have it on being quieter. That's what I've been told.

[delmuts]

that is what they had said with the reviews in bass and walleye mag. the said at wide open the noise level was such as you could still carry on a conversation. so fara the few reports tht i have read are pretty good .i would call the dealers and ask them for names of people that have bought them and see what they have to say.

[PerchJerker]

I'm sure the ETec will be a fine motor, but it's still new and there have been a number of issues with them thus far (kind of like Merc's 200+ Optis - took them several years to fix the bugs in those motors). Don't confuse the advertising with actual reviews or reports. Bass/Walleye Boat magazine and PowerBoat Reports have several articles that have talked about problems with the ETecs - powerheads, lower units, spun props, etc. PowerBoat Reports does endurance testing on motors and reported that the boat company whose boat was being used to test the ETecs will no longer offer factory rigging for the ETec because of the problems with the motor (and the way Bombardier handled the problems). That's probably an isolated case but it should tell you something. I'm not saying to stay away from the ETec if that's the motor you want, and I'm not saying they're not good motors, I'm just saying the motor has not yet lived up to all the hype and advertising it's gotten.

[luckystiff]

Can anyone report to this thread that has an E-Tec, and how it's working for them? I'm in the market for a new 150-175, and just want to make the best decision possible.

Thanks to everyone for your valuable information.

[Mille Lacs Guy]

I have answered the post (2nd reply) and I have an Etec. Read the post to hear my impressions of the motor.

There couple of things that I have seen in the later posts that I would like to speak to. Number one is the amount of Etec you see out there on the water. I have seen a lot of them since I fish tournaments but the technology is new and you will start seeing more and more in the future. Also, I don't think the cost is much different than a Yamaha or Suzuki four stroke.

And the technology is similar to the Mercury Opti max or Yamaha HPDI technology but the Etec is much quieter especially quieter than the 135-225 Opti Max motors and all of the Yamaha. The the 225 Etec doesn't make much more noise than the 90 does.

Bass and Walleye Boats has done two tests that I am aware of that have had the Etec's in the test. There was a 90 HP shootout in which the Evinrude and Suzuki tied for the top spot and there was the 225 shootout in which the Mercury OPti Max XS came out on top. I have not seen anything in bass and walleye boats magazine that speaks to the mechanical issues that someone spoke to above. The mechanical issues I have talked about are from first hand experience or coming from somone I have talked to personally. I don't think it fair to say that there have been wide spread problems just some problems here and there.

[buzz]

I recently decided to repower my 1990 dusky. I made a deal with a suzuki dealer for 2 counter rotation 175 four strokes.When they began the install they found that the gill bracket was too small and the suzukis would not fit.I had to go to the e-tec for size and the 150hp counter rotation engines were $3000.00 more. I will be getting the boat back 1st of next week. Sure hope these engines are worth it. I will let you know.