I probably put more hours on engines than most anyone you can find since I am on the water virtually every day from March thru November. I also communicate regularly with individuals that put a lot of hours on their engines like other guides and tournament anglers as well as communicating with with servicing personnel. From all that here is my take on outboards:

1. You can have problems with any outboard engine no matter what brand you buy. It is like buying a car...sometimes you just get a lemon no matter how good the track record of that model.

2. If you don't do the required maintenance on your engine you are just asking for problems...just like any car or other item you buy with an engine on it.

3. If you run your engine like you are in the Indy 500 all the time your engine will last about as long as the engines in those cars do unless you have a full time team of mechanics checking your engine every day and replacing parts that are getting borderline.

4. The more complicated the engine the more likely you are to have problems with it until the factory gets the bugs worked out....don't jump on a new model until it has been out for 2 or 3 years. Newer model engines are all complicated...they have to be to meet the new EPA standards.

5. Buy your engine from a reputable dealer that has a great service reputation...they will do whatever they can to work with you and your engine company to take care of any problems you have...trying to work directly with big companies on your own when you are only buying one engine as compared to a dealer who is buying hundreds does not carry much weight.

Having said all that, I put a new ETEC HO on my boat in June. I now have over 200 hours on it with no problems. Most new engines if they are not good ones will develop problems early on...within the first 100 hours...no matter which brand you buy. No matter which engine you buy...make sure you get a warranty...driving a new outboard without a warrenty that will take you thru the first hundred hours of so of use is like playing with a loaded gun...so you need to figure out how much you use your boat and buy your warranty accordingly.