What’s everyone’s experience with them ? Seems like there’s ALOT for sale on marketplace lately . Anyone have any inside information if brp plans to keep servicing these things with the new low profile engine they are throwing on the Alumacrafts ? Id like to think some parts have to cross.. I’m likely staying away from them but curious side of me wants to know if they are that bad or if theres a way to bullet proof them .
It would take a VERY severe discount for me to buy one, and I would put the savings aside to replace it with something else at a later date too. And I actually like Evinrude’s, it’s just tough to put that kind of money into something that may or may not be able to find parts for. I doubt there is much spill over from the rotax engine to the Etecs.
Stay far away from anything 150 and up for sure. Major powerhead issues you see them for sale for a reason. My buddy bought a Vexus with a big etec for about half what it would go for if it had any other motor on it because of this.
I had a 225hp and a 200hp E-tec. The 225 I put 600+ hours on that I had to have the ECM re-flashed. The 200 I had an injector stick open at 300 hours. I have a friend that had a 250hp that a cylinder went down on it. I don’t know how many hours it had. They are pretty good motors as long as you maintain them correctly. There aren’t too many people that are working on them anymore, so I would check to make sure you have someone that could do any needed work on one if you are looking to buy one. My dealer is no longer working on them. For that reason I wouldn’t buy one anymore.
About a month ago I was talking to a Ranger salesman about used boats and how cheap they are if they have an etec on the back and he said if you buy one your basically buying a hull and a trailer and whatever electronics are on the boat because the motor holds zero value. As said above, if you can get a smokin deal on one, used Verado’s are a dime a dozen or set the savings aside to repower eventually.
I think a lot of it depends on the size motor and rig. I have a 115 Etec on my 175 Alumacraft and I really love it. I bought it used from the original purchaser. Super easy to maintain, very easy to winterize, gets good fuel economy and oil consumption is negligible.
I’m sure I’ll take a little beating when/if I sell it, which is too bad since it’s such a great motor.
Great until its not, where are you when it gives you a problem? Are you in a area with no cell service? Commercial fisherman who work miles offshore use mostly Yamaha. Life is too short to gamble on technology that not only has to bring you to fish but also has to bring you home.
The dealer that sold me my Yamaha also at the time sold E-techs, you could not GIVE one to any mechanic in that shop.
Great until its not, where are you when it gives you a problem? Are you in a area with no cell service? Commercial fisherman who work miles offshore use mostly Yamaha. Life is too short to gamble on technology that not only has to bring you to fish but also has to bring you home.
The dealer that sold me my Yamaha also at the time sold E-techs, you could not GIVE one to any mechanic in that shop.
That goes for any motor if it breaks down.
I had a 225 gen 2 and put 500 hours on it. Never had an issue.
With that said the gen 3 was actually a pretty cool motor tech wise but only a handful of places will service them now. Parts are still available for now.
Almost zero crossover to the rotax motor that nobody will want.
They are so cheap you could buy two damn near . A saw a 300 for sale for 6 grand . As big of Yamaha fan boy as they come but dang makes a guy wonder.
They are so cheap you could buy two damn near . A saw a 300 for sale for 6 grand . As big of Yamaha fan boy as they come but dang makes a guy wonder.
It’s one thing to buy a boat rigged with one. It’s another to repower with one.
OMG no one in their right mind would repower with an etec. Holy cow, not a big one anyway.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>isu22andy wrote:</div>
They are so cheap you could buy two damn near . A saw a 300 for sale for 6 grand . As big of Yamaha fan boy as they come but dang makes a guy wonder.It’s one thing to buy a boat rigged with one. It’s another to repower with one.
I’d never repower with one , but if I had a 300 for 6 k I’d be interested in a spare parts motor to hang in the shed .
Nope, BRP burned that bridge and Helene washed it away. Anything ETEC would be out of the question at this point. You may find a bolt or two that matches the new Rotax engines but they are a completely different setup. I doubt 1% of the parts would cross reference.
Great until its not, where are you when it gives you a problem? Are you in a area with no cell service? Commercial fisherman who work miles offshore use mostly Yamaha. Life is too short to gamble on technology that not only has to bring you to fish but also has to bring you home.
The dealer that sold me my Yamaha also at the time sold E-techs, you could not GIVE one to any mechanic in that shop.
Exactly my thinking. The places we go and sometimes in very unfavorable conditions, a reliable motor is a must. Way to easy to get in a very bad situation if the big motor were to quit. When you guys say you put 500,600 or 700 hours on a motor problem free that’s barely getting broke in. People in the Midwest just don’t use their boats as a general rule. My last boat had a Suzuki and that was one phenomenal motor. I think that one had around 2500 hours on it when I sold it. Current boat has a Yamaha on it and it’s been a bullet proof motor as well but lacking performance big time. That one currently has well over 2500 hours on it. What people around here consider high hours and people down south are two totally different things. I don’t think an etec would ever crank out that kind of hours but maybe I’m wrong. I know a guy up here that had a G2 with the 10 year warranty and practically gave that motor away after the 3rd power head.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>tim hurley wrote:</div>
Great until its not, where are you when it gives you a problem? Are you in a area with no cell service? Commercial fisherman who work miles offshore use mostly Yamaha. Life is too short to gamble on technology that not only has to bring you to fish but also has to bring you home.
The dealer that sold me my Yamaha also at the time sold E-techs, you could not GIVE one to any mechanic in that shop.Exactly my thinking. The places we go and sometimes in very unfavorable conditions, a reliable motor is a must. Way to easy to get in a very bad situation if the big motor were to quit. When you guys say you put 500,600 or 700 hours on a motor problem free that’s barely getting broke in. People in the Midwest just don’t use their boats as a general rule. My last boat had a Suzuki and that was one phenomenal motor. I think that one had around 2500 hours on it when I sold it. Current boat has a Yamaha on it and it’s been a bullet proof motor as well but lacking performance big time. That one currently has well over 2500 hours on it. What people around here consider high hours and people down south are two totally different things. I don’t think an etec would ever crank out that kind of hours but maybe I’m wrong. I know a guy up here that had a G2 with the 10 year warranty and practically gave that motor away after the 3rd power head.
Agree with this…in the Midwest we think 500 hours is a lot. The guys running down on the Gulf regularly put 5000 hours or more on the Yamaha’s, Hondas and Suzuki’s. I spoke to a guide in the Keys and he said they give the motors a refesh every 2500 hours. Some motors will go 10,000 hours but usually the cylinder walls are shot by then.
I know a couple guys running big Etecs on Rangers without issues but they are nervous every time they go out. I wouldn’t want that stress every time I take the boat out.
The wondering when not if would be one sick feeling to have. There’s no way I could do that with a family on board. One thing if it’s on small or sheltered lake where being helpless without power wouldn’t pose much of a safety threat but out on big water where that big motor is the only thing you have to rely on is a different story. I sure wish there were more options for boats that came with Suzuki’s on them but that’s just not the case it seems.
“Agree with this…in the Midwest we think 500 hours is a lot. The guys running down on the Gulf regularly put 5000 hours or more on the Yamaha’s, Hondas and Suzuki’s. I spoke to a guide in the Keys and he said they give the motors a refesh every 2500 hours. Some motors will go 10,000 hours but usually the cylinder walls are shot by then.
I know a couple guys running big Etecs on Rangers without issues but they are nervous every time they go out. I wouldn’t want that stress every time I take the boat out.”
Yeah no Mercs on the coast. LOL
10000 hours is not happening on the regular. Life span of an outbound is not even half of that. 5000 hours is not the norm either.
Those motors are going through way more maintenance than a 500hour motor here. Many are basically rebuilt in their lifespan.
People here think changing the lower unit oil once a year is regular maintenance.
Either way you slice it they depreciate much quicker here. Most boat/motors with 500 hours here will not sell or not sell for high retail. Why cuz it is a lot of hours here. Especially on a boat less than ten years.
Don’t matter what brand it is.
The wondering when not if would be one sick feeling to have. There’s no way I could do that with a family on board. One thing if it’s on small or sheltered lake where being helpless without power wouldn’t pose much of a safety threat but out on big water where that big motor is the only thing you have to rely on is a different story. I sure wish there were more options for boats that came with Suzuki’s on them but that’s just not the case it seems.
Yeah crazy scary stories of people stranded with any brand motor on a lake in Minnesota in a bad situation. Sorry doesn’t happen often. And if it does I am willing to bet motor brand has very little to do with it.
ETEC yammi merc Honda etc or any others brand you want to list.
I do like a good ole Chevy ford dodge debate though.
I actually like the e tec, power pushing motor. It’s to bad the service shops don’t work on them any more because they can be a great motor. My knowledge is with 150s and under. And I would buy one. Especially for cheap.
I think you just like controversy in general, ripjig 
I am looking at upgrading my boat in the next few years and will not consider boats with an Etec on the back, no matter the price. Unfortunately it sounds like many others feel the same.
I have been looking for used boats also and when you see the price you can guess it has an Etec on it. Looking for an impact or competitor or Yamaha.
“Agree with this…in the Midwest we think 500 hours is a lot. The guys running down on the Gulf regularly put 5000 hours or more on the Yamaha’s, Hondas and Suzuki’s. I spoke to a guide in the Keys and he said they give the motors a refesh every 2500 hours. Some motors will go 10,000 hours but usually the cylinder walls are shot by then.
I know a couple guys running big Etecs on Rangers without issues but they are nervous every time they go out. I wouldn’t want that stress every time I take the boat out.”
Yeah no Mercs on the coast. LOL
10000 hours is not happening on the regular. Life span of an outbound is not even half of that. 5000 hours is not the norm either.
Those motors are going through way more maintenance than a 500hour motor here. Many are basically rebuilt in their lifespan.
People here think changing the lower unit oil once a year is regular maintenance.Either way you slice it they depreciate much quicker here. Most boat/motors with 500 hours here will not sell or not sell for high retail. Why cuz it is a lot of hours here. Especially on a boat less than ten years.
Don’t matter what brand it is.
Yeaaaaaaa ok. I’ll bite. 5000 hours not normal? Would be completely rebuilt? Come on! Really?! That’s pretty standard where people actually use their stuff or use it as a tool for what they do for a living. I don’t ever recall seeing any replace powerhead In anyone’s maintenance schedule.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Ripjiggen wrote:</div>
“Agree with this…in the Midwest we think 500 hours is a lot. The guys running down on the Gulf regularly put 5000 hours or more on the Yamaha’s, Hondas and Suzuki’s. I spoke to a guide in the Keys and he said they give the motors a refesh every 2500 hours. Some motors will go 10,000 hours but usually the cylinder walls are shot by then.I know a couple guys running big Etecs on Rangers without issues but they are nervous every time they go out. I wouldn’t want that stress every time I take the boat out.”
Yeah no Mercs on the coast. LOL
10000 hours is not happening on the regular. Life span of an outbound is not even half of that. 5000 hours is not the norm either.
Those motors are going through way more maintenance than a 500hour motor here. Many are basically rebuilt in their lifespan.
People here think changing the lower unit oil once a year is regular maintenance.Either way you slice it they depreciate much quicker here. Most boat/motors with 500 hours here will not sell or not sell for high retail. Why cuz it is a lot of hours here. Especially on a boat less than ten years.
Don’t matter what brand it is.
Yeaaaaaaa ok. I’ll bite. 5000 hours not normal? Would be completely rebuilt? Come on! Really?! That’s pretty standard where people actually use their stuff or use it as a tool for what they do for a living. I don’t ever recall seeing any replace powerhead In anyone’s maintenance schedule.
Sorry, Rip, but you’re wrong on this one. 500 hours for a Yamaha or Suzuki and they are barely warmed up. Like mentioned, go talk to any guides that run their equipment everyday and they’ll tell you the same. They are usually religious about maintenance though.
Yamaha recommends oil changes every 50-100 hours. You’re going to tell me that 5-10 oil changes into the life of an outboard it’s cooked?
Go on the Yamaha outboard owners group Facebook page and ask them how many hours they have on their xyz motor . There’s some impressive hours . I’ve seen over 10k…
I’d bet most motors die an early age around here from not using them enough . Plugged fuel filters injectors ect ect .
The little lakes around us I bet my motor has 5 or 6 oil changes and less than 25 hours on it. Takes 2 minutes to cross a lake. Im sure down south it would be easy to rack up the hours if every start up was an hour or better.
Straight from the yamhama maintenance website itself.
“Due to Yamaha’s design and engineering excellence, their outboards typically last for 1,500 and up to 3,500 hours before needing a major overhaul or being replaced.”
Apparently Yamaha needs to change their hours on their own website.
Do guys run them longer? Of course
Is 10000 hours the norm? Definitely not.
Matt where did I say a motor at 500 hours is cooked?
Just saying the depreciate around here because people think 500 hours is a lot. Which I agree is not the life of the motor. Or even close.
It would take a pretty steep discount for me to consider an ETEC now. I’m talking more than 50% off of comparable sized outboards.
As far as the hours comments…when we were in Barbados the last 2 trips we did some snorkeling and diving around shallow ship wrecks and the guide’s fleet of ~20-24′ bay boats all had twin Yamaha 150s. He told me that he puts on about 300-400 hours per year on his outboards and trades them all out on a staggered cycle the 6th year. So he’s running around 2000 hours before trading and has said he never does anything but routine maintenance. I asked him about what he gets for the used ones and he said he tries to get about 2/3rds of what he originally paid when swapping them out but it varies. I believe all of their boats were rigged with twin 150s.
I’m in the corner that Midwest boaters often don’t run their outboards enough (myself too). Most of the people who have outboard issues that I know either don’t do the basic maintenance, or let them sit for months on end between seasonal uses.
It would take a pretty steep discount for me to consider an ETEC now. I’m talking more than 50% off of comparable sized outboards
Ditto.
I got ya, Rip. I do agree that it’s perception in the Midwest.
I fish pretty regularly and I have 250 hours on my Yamaha that I bought in 2019. Folks that get out a few weekends a year are only putting minimal hours on. Length of ownership and hours on the motor don’t correlate all the time.
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