Which outboard for wife's deck boat
 

OK we are a two boat family. My 28 Skater and the wife's 256 Cobia deck boat. She has a tired 1998 250 Yamaha outboard on her deck boat. I'm considering repowerong with one of the new four stroke 250 or probably 300 HP outboards. Any recommendations. The deck boat is used for skiing tubing and cruising. She does like to go fast!

Thanks

I know it is not a four stroke, but look at the Evinrude Etec. Barely uses any oil, very clean, fast, lighter weight, and little maintenance.

I would go etecs, they seem to be the easiest and most trouble free out there, but I don't think they have a 300

they do have a 300 e-tec

http://www.evinrude.com/en-US/Engine...V6/ETEC_300_V6

The 300 only weighs 528lbs. The four stroke Yamahammer weighs in at over 800lbs!

Forget the oil burners. Go with Verado 300, 648#,power steering,runs on 87 octane, get up to 7 yr warranty, DTS,good low end torque, top end and fuel economy. I have 2 of them, been very satisfied. Keep in mind its a deck boat not a race boat.
http://www.mercurymarine.com/engines...inder/?model=2

Right now Etec's also come with a 5yr warranty at no cost to the customer. Let me know if you need a quote.

Etecs are the way to go now.

Wow, I expected to be thrashed on the idea of the Etec over the 4 stroke. Maybe the tide is turning.

Verado, at last check the coast guard in the Keys had 1300 trouble free hours

When the sailing association in my fathers town was looking to repower their boats they asked me to find out what was the best. At first I said Merc. Then I started to look at the other stuff and slowly moved over to the Etecs as being the way to go.

Skate,
I live in the boating capital of the world down here in S. FL.
We do not see many ETEC's. They are not a bad engine but the 300 verado with DTS, Power Internal Steering and a 7yr warranty is the way to go. If you really want some speed step up the 350 verado. Had 3 on a Fountain. They are strong.

Also I believe you will find not near as many people to support them.

Etec has fewer moving parts, 15% less weight, better fuel economy, less emissions, and less maintenance than the Verado.

You can have the full electronic gauges or simpler ones if you like also.

The only reason you see more Mercs on the water is because Brunswick owns so many boat companies that most new boats have Verados.

For a repower the E-tec is the best option out there, period, unless you had a Merc on previously

Really, Just was on Lake Norman NC where there are a lot of Pontoon boats. Didnt see 1 ETEC. I didn't realize Brunswick bought all these boat companies without telling anyone. You will literally see hundreds of Verados to 1 ETEC down here. Not all on new boats either and thats not counting the number of Optimax's or Yamahas either. Not saying it is a bad motor. Just facts.

These are all good answers to the original question. The caveat, (and real answer to your question) is which brand(s) can you have easily serviced where the boat lives.

Etec is great technology but there are very few service locations. Check around by you. If there is an Etec dealer/service center next door, then you are in good shape.

In Florida, it seems as if Yamaha owns 80% of the salt water engine business. Merc seems to own 80% of the fresh water engine business. So, it really depends upon where you boat and which businesses operate in your area.

T

Thanks for all the input. I'll let you guys what the boss ends up with !

You can also get DTS on Etecs its call ICON....

http://www.evinrude.com/en-US/ICON

I will muddy the water some and vote no on the eTec. I have a friend that has twin 250 eTecs on a offshore CC with about 500-600 hrs on them and it has come home on one engine far too many times IMO. A wide variety of things, some fuel some ignition, once lower unit, I think last count was 9 times. I would go 4 stroke all day long. Torquey and quiet and quiet boats are nice. :-).

Mercury Verado. If it ain't black send it back!

Warranty , dealer network , etc. Seriously

I love the Verado.
 

Plus you have the verado club. I have 450 hrs on an 08 250 and never an issue. The Verado club is a great resource. You will learn everything you want to know about a V-rod. You also get your questions answered in short time by the mod of the site.

And , if you pay the contributor fee , you get on the board with the certified verado mechanics. Plus Glens personal cell phone , available 24-7 if you had an issue.

But , no porn like here.:coolcowboy:

The new Yamaha 4.3L 300 looks pretty nice.

562 LB each - or 172 Lb less per pair than the Verados.

Nothing bad to say about the verados or the etecs.


Uncle Dave

Extra Verado maintenance over etec consists of a whole 7.4 qts of engine oil and filter change every 100 hrs. Is that a big deal? Pump oil out from dipstick with boat still in water or drain from above lower unit area boat out of water. Takes a whole 15-30 minutes. How many gallons of 2 stroke oil and what will be the cost used by the etec in 100 hrs? As mentioned Verado Club priceless. Buy maintenance items from their cooperating venders at a discount.

http://www.seven-marine.com/motors/technology/

Go big or go home :)

fixx
 

Did you know that mercury and yamaha, and i dont know if they still do but use to share the building on the 4 stroke engines..

Never had any problems with the yamaha..

Unless you're ready to re-rig with new controls, gauges, etc., you'll probably want to replace it with another Yamaha. Costs for all the other accessories add up fast.

What kind of shaft lenght do you need? The new Yamaha 4,2's only comes in 25" and 30".

Talked to a guy a few weekends ago, who has gone from an "older" Yamaha 250 4 stroke to a new Etec 250 on a Campion Explore 682. He said that the low end power from the Etec is just fenominal, compared to the Yamaha. Got no idea about how the 4,2 Yamaha compares to the Verado and Etec's torque wise thou.

All in all, Yamaha, Merc, Rude, they all have a good product. E Colby has a good point about the re-rigging.

My personal taste would make me put on a Merc, but hey that's religion for ya.

The Seven Marine 557 or Verado 350sci would be cool on that thing:coolcowboy:

Seven Marine 558 on a new 32 or 36 Skater Flat Deck and tell mom and the kids to hang on!:evilb:

I've had an assortment of pontoon boats, with various outboards, Evinrude, Yamaha, and now a 200 Verado, on a 25 ft. Southbay tritoon. So far i like the Verado best. Very quick, and very quiet. Everyone that's ridden in the boat is impressed with the power.

There, fixed it for ya:D:evilb: More room for beer and tuna:evilb::evilb:

Yes but what about all the extra parts to fail like valves, springs, cams, the supercharger, and intercooler? Verados thus far have held up pretty well, but as the years go on, simpler is ALWAYS better in the long run

Another vote for the ETEC. I bought a new 250 HO to replace my old V8 Johnson. Very quiet, starts and idles like fuel injected auto, very strong out of the hole, and burns half the fuel of the old 300 V8. Great local service from Riverside Marine in North Little Rock Arkansas.