Ultimate outboards for V21

[spareparts]

I don't know where you got those weights at, but I've had most of those hanging on my cherry picker, I'll be the first one to tell you all the manufactures lie, the eagle series v6 150 Johnrude is a light engine, and a good motor, but its not lighter then an equivalent carb Merc. The ones around here are rotting away, don't see to many of them lately, and your stuck with plastic carbs that aren't available any more. Most of those other engines are much heavier than they list. I've seen the shipping invoices on a lot of newer motors, according to them, the crates must weigh close to 200 lbs. Down here, you can't give an etec away, or find some one that will admit to being able to work on one. theres a reason or that.

[Genie Aye]

Originally Posted by spareparts

Down here, you can't give an etec away, or find some one that will admit to being able to work on one. theres a reason or that.

That is because everyone is scared from the Ficht nightmare.

If no one knows how to work on them--it is because BRP is keeping training in house to their dealers, everything is controlled by the computer and you have to have the software to do almost anything on them. I have a certified Evinrude guy that says they are great and almost no issues (all engines have issues). There are not alot of dealers for sure. But evryone I talk to with a E-tec will swear by them--I ran into one guy at the dock, he had a pair of 150 e-tecs that had 900 hours on them in less than a season and swore they were the best engine he has ever owned.

Now I hear that the Opti's blow up around the 400 to 600 hr range and the Verado's are just junk. The Opti's have a issue was new to me--I always thought they were a great engine.

But I will disagree with you on the E-Tec's.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Originally Posted by Genie Aye

That is because everyone is scared from the Ficht nightmare.

If no one knows how to work on them--it is because BRP is keeping training in house to their dealers. I have a certified Evinrude guy that says they are great and almost no issues (all engines have issues). There are not alot of dealers for sure. But evryone I talk to with a E-tec will swear by them--I ran into one guy at the dock, he had a pair of 150 e-tecs that had 900 hours on them in less than a season and swore they were the best engine he has ever owned.

Now I hear that the Opti's blow up around the 400 to 600 hr range and the Verado's are just junk. The Opti's have a issue was new to me--I always thought they were a great engine.

But I will disagree with you on the E-Tec's.

For every person you find that swears by an ETEC or OPTI, you will find one who swears at an ETEC or OPTI. There are good and bad ones in both. Personally I would probably go with the OPTI over the ETEC myself, but that is based on fuel economy which the OPTI wins pretty much everytime. And the OPTI seems to be alot more forgiving with set-up whereas teh ETEC must be set up properly and propped out perfect to live a long life. ALOT ofETECS popped the first 2 years from dealers who didn't prop them correctly, and that is why EVINRUDE will no longer sell one without verifying that it was set-up properly now.

[cterrebonne]

I personally like the Opti better myself out of warranty. In warranty, any motor will do because the dealership will cover repairs.

[Stinky_Hooker]

Originally Posted by spareparts

Down here, you can't give an etec away, or find some one that will admit to being able to work on one. theres a reason or that.

Spare, I havent ever said anything because of the love on this site for Etec but most hardcore fishermen down here dont like them either.

One guy I know in my fishing club fishes Redfish tourneys hard along the Gulf Coast and he has blown up 3. He is actually sponsored by Ranger now and runs only Mercs or Yammies.

I know Yammies are top in popularity down here with Merc second..I am seeing less and less Etecs as the years go by.

Those down here that have never owned a Merc also call them "black anchors" and think they are POS but Ive always loved every one Ive owned.

[RidgeRunner]

Before EFI and direct injection you could take them apart and put them in a bag, they were all pretty much the same. Plug in the technology of fuel injection and they diverged rather quick.
300hp should be good for the mid to upper 60's IMO. The speed is only useable on long river runs, intercoastal, lakes and calm days.
The I/O that is so fast looks like a handling nightmare, needs more setup, LOL. Speeds above 55 just aren't practical in a V-20.
Beating an A-drive with a 450-500 hp stroker motor isn't gonna last. I'll stay with the outboards at sub-60 top end.