Ultimate outboards for V21

[cterrebonne]

I think a 200 HPDI would be a really good choice. 475lbs and I would think should run upper 40's

As for the big block E-tec I think it would weigh too much. My V-20 had a 225 Ficht and it was too much weight on a bracket for my liking.

[THEFERMANATOR]

i'm with SPare here, a 175 OPTI is a good match or eben a 150 OPTI. And the 150 YAMAHA 4 stroke is a powerful 150 with many dynoing closer to 175(hence why YAMAHA doesn't make an engine between the 150 and 200 4 strokes). 175 or 200 small block ETEC, and the 175 SUZUKI would both also be good choices. But for the ultimate match I would say the 175 OPTI or 200 small block ETEC.

[bgreene]

Originally Posted by THEFERMANATOR

i'm with SPare here, a 175 OPTI is a good match or eben a 150 OPTI. And the 150 YAMAHA 4 stroke is a powerful 150 with many dynoing closer to 175(hence why YAMAHA doesn't make an engine between the 150 and 200 4 strokes). 175 or 200 small block ETEC, and the 175 SUZUKI would both also be good choices. But for the ultimate match I would say the 175 OPTI or 200 small block ETEC.

175 hp Optimax.......... weight 431 lbs......or approx 56 lbs more than 150 Rude carb'd.
Advantages
Likely much better fuel economy.....weight a fair compromise........WOT on V21........likely 44-47 mph.

200 etec...................weight 425 lbs.........50 lbs more than 150 Rude carb'd.
Very good fuel economy, WOT on the V21 likely the same as the Opti, maybe slightly more.

Lots of sevice options for either...and likely the " best all around outboard choices for V's"

[Genie Aye]

I have the 200HO 3.3 E-tec and love mine. The weight is more than the 2.6 200 for sure--but has not caused me a issue yet--including 65 miles offshore. Fuel burn is awesome for the engine--It is better than my freinds with the 200 Yammi 4 strokers and I eat them up in out of the hole and the top end.

Personally--the 45mph range on GPS is comfortable in these boats--getting over that is starting to get a bit light feeling for me.

The 200HO is rated at 218hp at the prop. And yes--I have hit 53.4 on GPS with it--but why?
As mentioned before--how often can you actually run that fast? Not often--but for me in the Northwest waters--the extra power is important when you are throwing a extra 900 lbs on for a Tuna run, then Tuna on the way in. I have run over 200 miles in the ocean fishing on a tank and had 5 gallons in the 60 left--and that includes 4 hours of trolling--7 to 8 knots and we all know what that does to fuel burn.

[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.