My best mate has a 90 etec on his boat. First one was replaced with a deal they couldnt refuse after finding out the bolts going from the leg up into the block were so badly corroded(electrolysis) they didnt want to attempt to fix it.

He laughs about the 300hr service, he had to replace his plugs at around 150 hrs as the motor was running like a 3 legged dog.

Second 90 etec they got the computer blew up, they replaced it under warranty.

About a month ago when he was about 15 nm of the cape it wouldnt start.

This has all taken place in the last 3 years.

I have a 80 yam 4st 2005, get it serviced every 100hrs and have never ever had a problem.

The head mechanic i use has 30 plus years serving outboards and has just changed to a different boating dealership selling etecs, the advice he gave me is stick with your Yamaha.

This is a unbiased veiw just stating what happened leave the choice to you good luck.

Etecs smell yucky

I have an etec 90. Have had issues with a stuffed injector under warranty, but still a good motor.

I think it is fair to say a Yammy will be less issues and more reliable, but the etec will have heaps more low down grunt (Yamm 4 stroked gutless low down, my old mans 225's were feable off the power band) and less servicing. I had my first services at 320 hours....no dramas, and they insist the next service does not need to be for another 300. There is nothing to do except change plugs, check the idle speed and new oil in the leg, impeller and anodes.  

Yammy 4 stroke better resale value.

I would buy and etec again, but would also buy a Yammy as well.

Mines a 60 Etec, has gone like a dream, never had a single problem with it. Just had the 300 hr service about 20 hour ago.

Uses the same amount of fuel as mates Honda on similar size boat so cannot and won't complain.

Bear in mind that an Etecs' oil is $250+ for 20 litres. Will you get the difference in less frequent servicing costs compared to the price of the oil? Dont forget that you only gain 2 services ie 4 st. 100...200...both at 300..etc

Get some quotes for the servicing of each and what type of fishing you do.

 service interval , have you ever looked at what your water pump impellor looks like after just 100 hrs there is no way i would ever leave mine much longer than that

and really how much hole shot power do you need in a fishing boat unless you plan on using it for skiing

Spoke to Craig, the marine mechanic who did the service, and he said that the impellor was like new considering it had been up the river on quite a few occasions doing searches assisting the water police in mild flood conditions and down the channels netting and crabbing in shallow water so I am more than pleased with it and would buy another one tomorrow if I was to get another boat.

Yep, they gave me my impellor after 320 hours, could have gone another couple of hundred hours easily. Looked fine. Like anything, if your dragging your boat over sandbars etc, more frequent chnage is required, but anyone can change an impellor, so no need for a specificand expensive service just for that.

I even offered to bring my etec in for a 150 h servoce, and they said, fine, but we will just check it over and not do much, so dont bother. It really is NOT a gimmick. The major reason a 4 stroke needs regular service if for oild and filter chnage......2 strokes dont have this requirement....they burn the oil....and yep, this is an extra cost that needs to be accounted for, my take compared with my mates similar sized 4 stroke is the fuleconsumption is similar, the oil cost is extra, which ir more than offset by the servicecost difference. Not a lot in it though. 

And yep, agreed, you dont need a great hole shot for fishing, that is true, but nice to have when fishing reef breaks and getting out of trouble when a set comes etc.  

 I serviced a 3 year old yamaha 60 4stk with 2700hrs last week that had never had an impeller change and it was still pumping water....

Wel lalot easier to trot down the local boat dealer to get some xd100 then to get a service, so cost may be negligable but convienience is on the etec side.
West aust seems to have a love for 4strokes so re-sale prob in the favour of 4stroke but there are fans of all brands..

 I have had a bad run with my etec,the first powerhead went at 84 hours and whilst there was some conjector on what caused it to fail BRP replace the complete powerhead which I am wrapped with the new powerhead has just developed a problem with 54 hours on it. Looks like some bolts have corroded on the top popper valve and has sprayed salt water into the engine under the cowling,the starter motor fails to engage because of this.This is getting fixed as we speak but I discovered that my warrenty has been shortened because of the new head.If I had the cash this motor would be sold and my time with etec over, but when its running its been the most responsive engine Ive ever had and live up to all its claims.I reckon I have a lemon but there are alot of happy people out there with etecs.I will give this motor another chance and hope to be pleasantly surprised.

 my mechanic reckons there is hardly anyone in perth that is available to service etecs as they dont want to know about them

 best bet, do away with the motor and get a set of oars

Run a 115 Suzuki 4 and these two dont compare.

Stick that up ya!!

don't think there is much doubt that etecs give more trouble than the other big outboard manufacturers, but they certainly seem to sell a few , so they're doing something right.

Why would a mechanic not want to service an etec ? I would have thought - less time on job, less parts, check idle speed and off to the next servicing ! Money for jam !

Talking about corrosion on the etec's - I wonder what the anodes on the engine would have been like ?

Most don't want to service what they do not know.
Pretty easy and cheap if you have the diagnostic software.

I got a quote for a full 100 hr service on a 115hp etec, north of river - just over $800 complete !

Does anybody have the price for a 115 4 stroke,  100 hr service cost ? Can be any type of 4 stroke.

Is it just me, or does $800 seem quite alot for what seems not much ? I am certainly no motor mechanic,  and do not wish to offend any of the good mechanics out there !

My other question is this : What are the preferences out there for servicing - 1. Take it to the dealer ?, or 2. Mobile mechanic ? - Has anybody had a bad experience ? 

 1978 IL6 140HP Mercury, goes like stink, still the best weight for HP outboard after all these years.

Is that pun intended? haha

 John my 250 verado is going to be $900 that's for a 200hr

 mobile mechanic! tell him the model, he gets all basic parts and you dont drive anywhere except the launching pad!

 Cop this, awsome speed, how quick would you be to the FADS in this!

http://youtu.be/6sMZz7_7BRE

Modern motors are "lame" compared to these firebreathing monsters

Only kiddin.

I think that a modern inboard engine could be considered as well as a viable alternative to eggbeaters when they are in the big HP range to power bigger boats.

for its 300 hour service from a local company! $1100 plus extra if the control cables need adjusting which they do! bloody rip of merchants!

 What does it take to do other than the lower leg service?

It is after all a V6 Commodore engine and very easily serviced, with parts not expensive at all.

Oil change, filters, check all hoses and electrical connections, maybe even some spark plugs and a simple diagnostic check.

Do it yourself and know it is done propperly.
I estimat $110 in parts to do it.

okay my two cents worth , i had 2st evinrudes on all of  my 8 boats  and never had any issues , i wanted a 150  Etec on my current rig  e very happy with it but got shafted and eventually put a Yammy 4 st on and are very with it , my tech told me what you save on etec oil you will use to change the oil on the 4st but i have found some yammy dealers very expensive compared to others ,   my question for the ETEC /yammy bash is how many etecs have been sold and service over the last few years compared to the yammy 4 sts

what do you mean?  you got shafted on the 150 etec or the motor?? what happened?

you can't hide from the amount of probs people have had with their etecs.  

don't get me wrong,  i love the weight and holeshot advantages , but i do most of my hrs at v low revs.  4 stroke territory

buy once , buy right.

I'm with Grayzee , tell us more about the " got shafted " - your comments are very open ended !

The consensus seems the etec's have had their fair share of problems - mostly under warranty from the sounds of things !

I own a 2008 115 etec on my barcrusher - it also had a problem under warranty - Prop shaft seal failed and apparently was a common problem , problem fixed with a different type of seal.

Grayzee , what size/type motor and rig do you have ? I also do alot of trolling and thought that my etec ran on the smell of any oily rag - I would be interested to know the fuel usage at low revs and is it really that big of a difference ?

Etec smell!! 

If you are prone to seasickness, and are going to be doing a lot of trolling, drifting with engine running, I would go for a 4st.  If you are just gonna head out to anchor up and them come back at speed, an Etec would be ok.

I personally would stick with my 4st.

My etec does smell if the wind direction is right ! My etec is up for servicing and I am curious as to the difference new spark plugs/timing will make to the smell .

My wife is not keen on my rig because of the etec, as the smell does make her seasick as well.

If I had been buying my boat brand new, I probably would have opted for a 4 stroke ( 150hp Suzuki/Yamaha ) - I like the articles I have read on these motors. But, because I could only afford second hand, and as the old proverb goes " beggers cant be choosers " or something similar !!!! I will have to make do for the time being and maybe repower in the near future . BUT , the etec is growing on me and am very happy for now !

Got a 250 e-tec on my 660 Ilander, never had a problem, good friends with a mechanic who knows e-tecs well, he always says just change your filters and your fine for 300 hours.

Like all engines though if your in our nice clean river systems alot checking impellors is a must!! We just finished a 7m Hardtop with a 250 suzi on it....... More planing surface area on the 7m than mine.... I can do 45-46 knots in a 1m swell he can do 36-38.

Like everyone says fishing doesn't involve going flat stick everywhere but the extra kick in the pants when low revs always helps in getting out of holes.... ie. a 2 stroke won't labour as much so less fuel consumption when the boat bogs down.

I love my e-tec but also like the idea of a nice quiet 4stroke...... I think game on if there was ever a 4stroke e-tec!!!

This comparison gives everyone a real account of motors, if you read the article, WOT on all motors noise is the same, lower speeds differ with noise, at trolling speed the ETEC was the most economical, i have a 300 ETEC on a 24ft and couldn't be happier,

http://www.fishingworld.com.au/news/honda-struts-its-stuff

going on the specific question at the beginning of this thread 115 Etec vs 115 Yam, is it a big stretch to put it out there that the F115 Yam is one of the more reliable and proven outboards of all time? I bought one just cos it a 4S, but cant recall ever reading anyone slagging them on forums and they always get a good write up.

They were (I think but please correct me if wrong!) Yamahas first 4 stroke and they must have put a bit of effort into it cos 10 years later its virtually unchanged, still a competitive weight and sells like hotcakes.

Curious if anyone has had a failure of one and what happened?

also, impellors-the 2 things that f++k them is sand and lack of use.