Yamaha vs Evinrude?

[Squirrel]

I am looking into a new Ballistic 7.8 and our local dealer (sunsport guernsey) can deliver it from stock with an Evinrude Etec 250 or they can locally fit a Yamaha Four Stroke F250 EFI.

Does anyone have any specific views on these options? I suspect the etec has more grunt, but there is a 5 year warranty on the Yamaha versus 3 on the etec.

[PeterM]

I suspect you have asked an unanswerable question! ( especially on here) . I have heard good things about both - I like the 4/s Yams personally - but thats what i think it comes down to personal preferance.

I wont even go near the weight / cost/ service / oil / petrol consumption issues.

[Squirrel]

OK, thanks for your response, I will narrow it down a bit. If service and running costs were equal, which one?

So I guess that leaves performance: ease of getting on the plane, top speed and towing.

[kwil]

I suppose that if you look at my profile you would consider me biased but the 3 year dealer services does cut your running costs of the Evinrude and as I understand they also have a 5 year warranty at the moment.

UK customers purchasing an Evinrude(®) E-TEC(®) engine from a participating authorised BRP UK dealer will benefit from an extended factory backed warranty.
Applies to customers who purchase a new, unused model year 2009 Evinrude outboard engine 40HP and greater, sold and warranty registered during this period. The extended warranty gives customers a 5-Year Factory Backed Limited Warranty, which includes a 3-year BRP Factory Warranty plus an additional 2-year or 1,000 hours of lifetime usage BRP extended coverage.

Not sure on the details though, its something to do with Evinrude are 100 years old this year.


Keith

[Mollers]

It's a no contest. If there was a better 250, I'd have bought it.

[Stoo]

Squirrel, you might want to have a look at this thread I started a year ago...
http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?...ghlight=yamaha as I was asking the same question back then.

Ultimately, I bought Yamaha because of the availability of a really good deal (a demo engine from the Hurricane dealer).

I've only put a few hours on the Yamaha since I got it late last season. My initial reaction is that it's quiet, clean, fast, a little heavier than my old 2-stroke, gets great mileage and a is little sluggish out of the hole. (...provoking the E-tec dealer who winterized the engine to comment "I told you so"). I think I have the wrong prop on it though. I am changing props this weekend and I suspect that that will fix that issue.

Part of my decision was based on the comments made to me by the Hurricane dealer (long before his demo engine was available...). He sells every brand of engine as an OEM dealer, and according to his customers wishes. He commented that the Yamahas had proven to be bulletproof, that the Hondas were as well, but overpriced and heavy and that the Etecs were very high performance, but his customers had been having problems with the oiling systems. (He had sold six 150s to a tour company recently and they were considering changing them... BUT, they were using them in the Arctic where sub-freezing use was common.)

Personally, I was overwhelmed by the propaganda provided by the manufacturers. All of the head-to-head comparisons were contrived and meaningless in the real world I felt.

At the end of the day, I wanted a good, reliable, fuel-efficient engine at the best deal I could get... and I was successful I think. Had this deal not been available, and the prices had been comparable??? Hmm, likely I would have gone with the next important factor: LOOKS! My boat is grey on grey, and looks great with the grey Yamaha. It would have looked funny with a white or blue Etec!

[codprawn]

2 strokes are my favourite. Modern 2 strokes are just as good on fuel as a 4 stroke but the engines are much lighter.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by codprawn

2 strokes are my favourite. Modern 2 strokes are just as good on fuel as a 4 stroke but the engines are much lighter.

Would have to agree with Codpawn,had numerous 2strokes over the years and a couple of 4strokes,the NEW 2strokes i.e e-tecs are awsome,both power AND economy.Pluss haveing just fitted a 130-etec I DID get a five year warranty!Haveing said all that the Yam is a good lump,and alot does indeed come down to personal preference.

[Squirrel]

Thanks for all the feedback. I am still none the wiser, but I guess there is a message in that as well!

We had a 200hp yamaha 2-stroke on the pro-sport we just sold and I always liked the gruntyness of it, but have not owned a 4-stroke before to compare.

[outboardtech]

Cant beat a yami