evinrude etec reliability

[dnardy]

Hi all,

I'm looking at a Quintrex Freedom Sport, with a 130HP Evinrude Etec. unsure of year but see pic

I keep hearing about vague reliability issues with these motors from one Facebook group: they have electrical issues, my mate works sea rescue and they are always getting call outs for these motors, they're expensive anchors etc etc.

I'm tossing up between this boat and another with a Yamaha 100. Evinrude only has 183 hours. Yamaha has 314hrs.

Any opinions on these motors?

[Rebel]

Yamaha any time.

[Bob9863]

I've owned both brands in similar sizes and both are brilliant, the Evinrude motors are super reliable IME and the Yamaha is a bit smoother, quieter and user friendly.

Both should be great motors, I'd focus more on the boats themselves.

[bigkingie]

Remember it is an orphan - not being made anymore. Parts might get hard to get, as well as finding someone experienced in servicing. PS: they do seem to have more than their fair share of reliability issues. 

[mangajack]

Run time hours is misleading with aging engines.

There are plenty of 20 year old engines with less than a hundred hours on them....that means it has still had 20 years of time for internal corrosion.

I would opt for more hours on a younger motor rather than low hours on an old motor.

Etecs with some age suffer the same problems as any other breed. 

Back when they got their arse kicked with grenading they were all newer motors that failed.   Suzuki is still suffering a problem with newish powerhead failures...

 

 

[dnardy]

Thanks all. I rang the local mechanic who used to be an Evinrude dealer and he advised me to steer clear. I have since pulled the trigger on a 2010 Stacer Easy Rider 509 with a 100HP Yamaha. Ill post pics when I pick it up - pretty excited.

[Bob9863]

Sounds like a good boat, looking forward to some picks.

[dnardy]

 

This is the one I ended up with. Hopefully take it out on Hume this weekend.