I KNOW THIS IS A AGE OLD QUESTION BUT I’M BUYING A ALUMACRAFT 185 TROPHY AND WAS WONDERING WHICH MOTOR IS MORE RELIABLE AND DURABLE.ANY PRO’S AND CON’S WOULD BE GREAT.THE BOAT WILL BE USED MOSTLY FOR FISHING BUT I DO HAVE 3 LITTLE BOYS THAT ALSO LIKE TO TUBE AND MAYBE IN THE FUTURE SKI. 
My vote would be for the Yamaha
I have the Yam on my rig because I got burned so badly with the old Evinrude Ficht (1999) but honestly today, if I was buying a new 150, it would be a toss up between the e-Tec 150 and the Yam F150. The e-Tec have many many great features built in, whereas the Yamaha is a bulletproof hunk that puts out 162 HP and runs like the Energizer bunny. 
I have a 2007 ALUMACRAFT 185 TROPHY with 175 E-tech for sale. Fully loaded for fishing and a tow pole for pulling tuber. I have pictures and info on this site in the classifieds under boats. This boat has all the bugs out of it and well worth looking at.
If I was looking for a new boat, those are the two brands that I would be considering. Specific to the 150 hp catagory I would choose the Yami. If I was going bigger like a 225 or 250 I would probably pick the E-tec. I think that there are a few more bugs in the mid range hp E-tecs that still need to be worked out. And you did specifically ask about reliability. It is my impression that so many pros run big E-tecs that their bugs have all been addressed.
As someone already mentioned, the Yami 150 is a very strong 150.
Good Luck on your choice and congrats on the new boat.
FDR
Do your self a favor and look at the Suzuki. I know you weren’t asking about Suzuki but I was in the same situation you were a couple of years ago deciding between Yamaha and Evinrude and I ended up with the Suzuki. It is a very impressive motor.
I have a 150 e-tec on my alumacraft navigator and love the motor. Had a bad starter out of the box, but other than that, it has been a great motor. Runs great.
yami or suzuki. I currently run a yami 115 but my next motor with be a suzuki. not problems with my yami just like the suzuki.
JEFF I DID SEE YOUR ADD, BUT I REALLY HAVE MY HEART SET ON A NEW BOAT. SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG REPLY I JUST FIGURED IT OUT TONIGHT. B.C.
Yamaha 
Your not really comparing similar motors in my opinion. However, I’m a huge 4 stroke fan. THE biggest factor for me is noise levels. I love how quiet the four strokes are.
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Yamaha
Exactly
Wouldn’t the Yamaha be a little less in cost?
That was the case when I priced 50HP motors a few years ago.Etec was about 500.00 more than the F50(tiller).
Can’t go wrong with a Yammie!
THE BOAT I’M BUYING IS RIGGED FOR THE E-TEC AND IS ABOUT $700 LESS. I THINK THAT’S WHY I’M TRYING TO JUSTIFY BUYING A YAMI OVER THE E-TEC. I’M ALSO PUTTING A T-8 KICKER ON.
I have a 150 e-tec and a t-8 kicker on my alumacraft and am completely happy. IMO either the yami or the e-tec are good choices as they are both solid motors.
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I have a 150 e-tec and a t-8 kicker on my alumacraft and am completely happy. IMO either the yami or the e-tec are good choices as they are both solid motors.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD RIG?
got it early last summer. Have 85 hours on the e-tec, and probably close to that on the t-8 as well. I made numerous runs from one end of Winnebago to the other and back, some days going over 100 miles, just because it was fun to drive and I wanted to make some long runs with it to see how it did on fuel. It is still early in the life of the motor, but I have nothing but good to say about how it performs.
Thanks for your input I just can’t wait until the hard water is gone and we can go fishing. (in a boat.) 
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