johnson & evinrude outboards

[barryj]

after going to three different boat shows the past month(one in ky and two in tenn.)it appears to me that yamaha and mercury has taken over the outboard market, especially the larger engines. can anyone shed some light on the johnson and evinrude engines.are the 150 hp and 175 hp as strong and dependable as the mercs and yamaha. i was told more than once that the newer johnson and evinrude engines are dependable but they will not run with the mercs and the yamaha. thanks

[dpage70]

you're asking the old ford and checy question there. The E-tec is one hell of motor from everything that I hear. reliable and durable, again, from what I hear. I read on another post that Merc. is going to start buying the E-tec heads and putting them on their motors. I have no idea whether that's true or not but it was not disputed. as far as speed goes, all the tests I've seen they are at least as fast. This is all stuff that I've read so i don't know from personal experience.

[R19]

i was told more than once that the newer johnson and evinrude engines are dependable but they will not run with the mercs and the yamaha. thanks

Half of that statement is true. In 07 and (06 I think ) the larger HP motors are 4 strokes in the Johnson line up so they will not have the punch of the two strokes. They need to be compared to Honda or another 4 stroke motor for a apples to apples comparision.

When OMC bankrupt and Bombariader took them over around 01/02 they really took the direct injection motor to another level. In 06 motors had to meet a more strict EPA rating and they put all thier develoment into the Evinrude E-Tech. That motor has been on the market for over two years now and what few people I have talked two that actually own one says they are the best motor out thier. The early model OMC Ficht gave Evinrude a huge black eye but the old Ficht and the new E-tech are two different anamials. I think people are giving thier opinion based on the old style motor(ficht). Talk to an E-tech owner and they will tell you how good that motor is.

And for the record I have never owned a E-tech but that will be my next motor.

As for the E-tech not running with the Merc and Hammer they all are within a couple mph of each other. At faster speeds the hull/ motor set up plus driver ability to achive the full potionel out of the set up plays more of the part than the motor manufacture.

The Merc will most often be the fastest
The Hammer will be the most reliable
The Evinrude will save you more $ on fuel and oil

[livewell]

This just my opinion, I had a 1991 yamaha150 carb on a pro craft, I bought a skeeter with a 1999 200 yamaha vmax efi. I am running it on 200zx it will push it 72-73 with me and my brother. Starts fine and runs strong, but all the things I hear about the ETEC are good. The only thing I dont like about the advertising is that yesterday on the outdoor channel they had a brand new 30 minute show on it and the only motors they compaired the ETEC to was the yamaha and mercury 4 strokes not 2 strokes. Everbody knows the 4 strokes weigh alot more and dont have the power 2 strokes have. I say you would not go wrong with it. My friend has an 05 triton with a mercury 200 optimax, it is a real good motor. I would recommend a yamaha hpdi.