This has been a real interesting experience.

I've been in the market for a new boat - Mrs. Wave wants something a
little bigger so she can go on day trips when she has time. We
settled on a 23 foot CC with step down console or if necessary, a 23
WA with cuddy.

I have a brandy new 200 HO ETEC, so I figured the best way to do this
was to reinstall the FIC?HT on the Ranger, sell it and use the new
ETEC as power for the new boat.

Thus, I want to purchase a boat w/trailer without an engine or engine
controls. Pretty simple concept right?

I started with the boats that I have been impressed with in the past.
I'm not going to name the specific manufacturers - you all know which
ones I've mentioned as favorites. I called around to dealers in my
area and presented the proposition to them - boat and trailer only.

You would think I was pulling teeth with pliers.

The first question invariable was "are you installing an I/O?". No, I
have a new ETEC 200 that I will install or have installed.

"Oh, you don't want an ETEC - those are junk engines. They've had all
kinds of problems with those engines. What you want is (Insert Yamaha,
Mercury, Suzuki - engine of their choice here)."

I replied to this with "Well, that's not your problem - that's what
will be going on the boat - so can you deliver it that way?"

Invariably, the answer to that was "We don't service ETECS". Again, I
replied with "Not your problem - that's my problem".

Next up was "Well, we could, but installing that engine will void the
warranty on the boat". Which begged the question from me "So if I buy
a boat with a T-top and vacuum head, installing the ETEC will void the
warranty on those items?" The reply was invariably yes.

Uh huh...

At this point, I resorted to contacting the manufacturers directly by
telephone. In every case they referred me back to the dealer and
didn't want to deal direct.

To be fair, I still haven't heard from one manufacturer (starts with C
and ends with R), but I've had good relations in the past with them
and expect some measure of cooperation.

It would seem to me that this would be a fairly easy thing to do -
apparently not.

As I learn more, I will post the results.

Onward and upward!!