E-tec or four stroke?

[conco46]

E-tec or four stroke?
I don't know if this question has been done to death, but im keen to know, what is better, and I mean better for me, and that's were I need your help.

me mate has etec loves it to bits, his neighbour has yammy 70 four stroke, in 13mnth the yammy has had 2 services and a tune up and has standard prop (not stainless) the services & tune has cost him $1300 just over a year and is no better on fuel than me mates etec.

me mates etec is getting its first service coming up, at around $350, etec has had heaps more use, and both have had theres about the same time. the etec 75 is so quite and so good on fuel and I know this cause im in it a lot, but you do have to buy oil for the fuel?

so me mates etec is a lot cheaper in services but plus oil.
there both good on fuel
there both real quite
the etec is so much lighter
the etec has stainless prop standard

so any good points on why you like what better?
is one selling more than the other ( etec or all ther 4 strokes)
do u find etec smokey at all in larger hp?

if you don't have any advice or reason y u like 1 more than other just reply 1 so I can see the majority please, just for resale reasons

reason I ask is looking at getting a 20-23ft boat and want to be real happy with engine cause want to keep fishing setup for at least 5 yrs

thanks guys any help or reasons would be great.
iv had 2 boats under 5 meters so this will be my first offshore boat, so still learning alot

[Shark Poker]

This is going to be interesting.......

[ranga7]

Going off different threads since I've been a member on etec and 4 strokes on this forum id say 90% of members would say 4 stroke for lots of reasons. Suzuki suzuki suzuki.

[wayno60]

no question, 4 stroker

[Gazza]

Etec m8 , but they do have limited colour choices

[conco46]

Etec m8 , but they do have limited colour choices

haha white white or white

[Luke G]

Easy to sell a 4 stroke in the future. Very small buyers market for Etecs. The yammy will probably last longer, not that thats an issue with most people.

[Gazza]

Rolls Royce , Mercedes , and bmw's have limited marketshare2
Maybe 4strokers R like Camry(s) ??

[cobiaman]

Go the etec, dont listen to all these 4 strokers....

[ozynorts]

I have watched many of these Etec threads and have looked at them for the same reasons as you. I found their advertising deceiving as they promote the whole 300hr or 3 yr servicing thing but if you read their material there is a small asterix attached that says to consult the owners manual. That is because if you use it in salt water then they recommend additional oil changes every 100hrs. There is also the oil. If you follow the Etec gospel, to avoid problems then you must use the approved oil or problems arise. For me there is also the issue of the oil bottle sitting where I would like to place my second battery.
I would go for a 4 stroke for the reasons listed above and also because whether it is deserved or not Etec's have a stigma attached and therefore resale of the motor or a boat with them in my opinion appears to be lower.

[seatime]

I've put 100's of hours on Etec's (150 & 90) and 4 bangers (Suzi 140, 175 & 200, Honda 90 & 150, Yam 60), Evinrude Ficht 90, and countless premix 2 strokes in commercial applications.

Personally I love the punch of a Etec, the later of the Ficht's when set up right are excellent too. The 4's can't match them for spiritedness.

It's crucial that any motor is propped right and I would engage the input from a specialist mechanic and not leave it to a dealer.

[Humdinger]

chrysler

[fisho64]

Anyone who leaves there gearbox for 300 hrs without even draining it to check for water is a fool, sad to say. The lower unit technology is the same for all outboards-just an advertising ploy.

The thing I just donnt get with Etecs (and other DI 2S) is-If they are so good with 1/4 of the parts etc, then why arent they cheaper and significantly lighter than a 4Stroke? Some models are lighter, some are the same.

However, they appear to be pretty eco, but at the end of the day ON AVERAGE, they dont last as long nor have the same resale, by far.

[NAGG]

If you get a good etec ..... it can be a joy
It's about getting the good one !

There are just too many horror stories that are out there ......... no single brand would have as many - such a high percentage of problematic motors than ETECs (both anecdotal & personal knowledge)

I dont know of the same level of gripes with Yamaha , Honda , Suzuki or Mercury ....... the odd one but not double digit numbers

Chris

[Greg P]

Id have no issue buying/owning an ETEC up to 90hp. Couple of mates have 90s and they are up over 1200 hrs and have been good after a couple of early oil issues that resulted in limp home trips - bloody bullet proof actually. Not sure if I would buy a bigger one though. The 300 hr service interval would work well for these small outboards.