Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

I was planning on going with the etec 150 or 150HO on our new Xcursion X23RF. But when I talked to the dealer today that sells Evinrude and Yamaha he was really trying to push the Yamaha. He said the etec runs good when it runs, but after the five year warranty is up it gets expensive. He says it runs so good because of the computer systems on it. But he said that when something goes bad it's usually a computer and expensive to replace after warranty. I'm not trying to bash Evinrude, believe me, I still have one slated to be put on our boat when it gets in. But now he's got me second guessing myself. I guess I'm kinda looking for reassurance that I'm going with the right motor, lol. Please give me your experiences. Thanks

i have a brand new etec 150 on my tri toon and love it (6 year warranty) ,40+mph, i have a yamaha 70 , a johnson 115 and a merc 175 on my other boats, never had a problem with the johnson, the Yamaha and Merc had some minor problems and parts were very expensive for it, you should be able to get an extended warranty for the etec if you purchase before the 6 year is up, what really sold me on the etec was for $1200 (a new computer) or $600-$800 (to re program the current computer) I can make my 150 a 200+hp, this will void the warranty but after 6 years it is nice to know that it is an option. the 135-200 are the same exact motor, just chipped differently.

I would say he some carryover Yammies. Computers control everything on motors today

I would not be afraid of the Etec. They are a great outboard. The Yamahas are too, though. I think the dealer is probably getting a spiff from Yamaha to sell them, so he is trying to push it onto you. I loved my 250 Etec, never a problem. Easy and cheap to maintain. Tell him to prove why to go Yammie vs Etec...

Both are great motors, the Etec has a TON of safety features built in that will kick it into protection mode if something goes wrong avoiding a lean burn down, something older carb/efi 2 strokes didnt have. The ONE thing a fourstroke has over a 2 stroke is the ability to go lean and not burn down almost instantly. Honestly I wish BRP Etec snowmobiles were as reliable as the Etec outboards so I wouldn't have to pull so many snowmobiles home in the winter. I also wouldn't be surprised if Johnson makes a return in a few years as BRPs 4 stroke line up, BRP knocked on 4 stroke (yamaha) sleds for years saying how bad 4 strokes were then released there own 4 stroke sleds.

My 2006 E-Tec is only a 40hp, but I've been very happy with it. I am always suspicious when a dealer is pushing something....
Check these links. You may be able to find more info about any computer issues.

http://www.evinrudeoutboardforum.com/ev ... rts-forum/

http://www.etecownersgroup.com/?forum=136482

I have a etec 150HO on my manitau VP aurora 24. I am very happy with it. No issues at all. Great motor, especially on the holeshot

Thanks for the replies guys. It helped to put my mind at ease. Its just that I've never had an outboard, I've only run l/0 's.

jlh wrote:I have a etec 150HO on my manitau VP aurora 24. I am very happy with it. No issues at all. Great motor, especially on the holeshot

jlh -

Do you have to use a jack plate with the HO? I read somewhere that it sits lower or something because of the shaft . But I'm not even sure if they were talking about a pontoon or not. I've read so much stuff online in the last couple of months on the Etecs that my heads spinning , lol! Thanks again to everybody that replied!

No, a jack plate is not needed, motor is a 20" shaft. I do have a power jack plate just so I can raise/lower the motor as needed as we have some shallow areas I like to get into. Without the jack plate I ran the motor in the second hole.