135 Evinrude 2002 Fitch

[bushwacker]

G'day from the Kimberley fellow Ausfishers..
Looking at buying another boat, has anyone owned or know anything about the Evinrude Fitch engines? I think they were the model before Etecs, what are they like in terms of fuel use, noise, and reliability? This is an 2002 model with 450hrs any info much appreciated.
Cheers.

[Skusto]

I personally would buy a boat with the Ficht engines as they are non to not be reliable, if buying would factor in a upgrade of engines. Google is your friend in regards to the Ficht Engines. No good reviews about them unfortunately.

[Chimo]

Fichts were not well respected and had issues.
However if the one your looking at is still going well its probably a good one and its probably been serviced by an Evinrude guy who is good and knows his stuff.

Get the service guy to check it over
If you can keep the same service people as used by the bloke your buying from then buy it given that you will get a good deal as Fichts are not worth anything much.

If the worst comes to pass, you bought a boat and trailer and got a free motor so you can now buy a new Evinrude G1 and get the same service people to look after it as it seems they are good.

Cheers
Chimo

[bushwacker]

Reliability is everything for me, most days fishing lucky to see another boat and we do big klms very remote..

[spud477]

I thought FICHT stood for
F*** I Could Have Trouble

[scottar]

Reliability is everything for me, most days fishing lucky to see another boat and we do big klms very remote..

Then look at new engines - regardless of brand. That way you know how it has been treated.

The general consensus with FICHT from people that are still open to two stroke, is much as Chimo posted. They weren't all bad engines - some models were more prone to failure though but any Ficht that has a few hours on it and is still running is most likely a good motor. There was a date ( some time after BRP took over and redeveloped) from which they were regarded to be a lot more reliable but by then the damage to their reputation had well and truly been done so a rebranding was in order with the next lot of development releases - E-Tec. Can't remember the date though - research into the history of Ficht/Etec/Evinrude/BRP and the info should pop up somewhere.

[Noelm]

I would keep looking, you want reliability, then a 14 year old motor with known reliability issues, and requiring someone who knows what they are doing to work on it is not your motor (in my opinion) and older carbymodel in good condition or a newer 4 stroke is the motor for you!

[tenzing]

you can get the general feel from the earlier posts.
Having said that I had a 2004 175 FICHT for 700 hrs over 8 years.
Never broke down , stopped or failed to turn over.
trade in was very very low.
probably still going great guns

[Flex]

The pre 2000 OMC built fitch's were a bad motor. I believe BRP took over around 2000 and fixed a lot of the issues. The major issue was OMC was going broke and sourcing parts from dodgy suppliers leading to failures, (few other issues BRP fixed to)
Added to this, it seems the larger blocked 200hp+ motors were the ones with most failures. The 175 and less were generally well received and very reliable.

I think the 135 is a detuned 150/175?. Not all fitches are bad engines like everyone thinks. Remember though, finding someone with diagnostic gear for them might be tricky these days.
I owned a 175 fitch(cant remember year). didn't own it long, but it was a good motor, plenty of power and economical. Nice and simple motor to so easy to work on if your inclined.

So I think a 2002 fitch is no less or more reliable than any other brand out there from that era. The technology is pretty solid IMO.

Reputation is hard to shake though. maybe use this to your advantage for a reduced price?.

[hainsofast]

If you are in Brisbane go to Downes marine, longest continually running Envinrude dealer in the world, and top blokes who know their stuff. They will give you great advice and will have all the diagnostics you are looking for.

[Noelm]

Why do these motors still get referred to as Fitch??, the name is FICHT, and always was....

[Chimo]

hainsofast

Tricky to go to Downes as bushwack is in WA Kimberly area...................see post 1

[Noelm]

Nah, if he left now, he could be there in less than a week.....

[stang69]

V6 FICHT, run as fast as you can...
in the other direction, and don't look back

[stang69]

If its grey, hip hip hooray.
If its black, I'd give it a crack.
If its blue, better for me and you.
Its its white, get that shite out of my site.