On Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:10:36 -0700 (PDT), JohnDeere
wrote:

I'm interested in changing the main on my utility boat to something
around 70hp, probably an oil-injected 2-stroke although I've not
completely ruled out 4-stroke. I've been wresting with using the 60hp
E-Tec or the 70hp Yamaha.

As you probably know, the Yamaha uses old-school carburetion. My
local Evinrude dealer is naturally badmouthing carburetion, claiming
that today's bad gas (read as 10%-15% ethanol, along with sediments)
creates frequent trouble for carbureted engines, making the the old-
school 70hp Yamaha inferior.

Fist off - If your local dealer is bad mouthing carburetion, then he's
a moron. Find another ETEC dealer.

Secondly, yes - the direct injection system handles the goop and crap
a little better than carbs do, but by now, most of the goop and crap
has been filtered out of the supply system and the 10/15% ethanol gas
you are getting is fairly clean. The station filters and the filters
on the engines can handle anything that is left over.

The fact of the matter is that while I kid Harry and Gene about
"inferior ancient technology" (it has been around since - well,
forever), improvements in computer controlled management make the new
engines efficient in comparison to the older engines. Where ETEC has
the advantage is that the technology is different - it's two stroke
using direct cylinder injection with a massive dose of computer fuel
management which takes into account a whole host of factors in
computing the most efficient fuel use. On my engine, as an example,
it's a 90 degree block, different gearing and I still manage to get
some really outstanding fuel efficiency. Guys with the 60 degree
block in the same engine do even better than I do.

It's really a question of what you are comfortable with. I started
with FICHT right out of the box and wasn't disappointed. I repowered
with the ETEC and haven't been disappointed.

Like me, do you say "hooey" (or something stronger) to that?? I doubt
there is more sediment in gas today than in the past (suddenly making
carburetion "inferior"). I don't remember carburetion giving me fits
of trouble when I used to own them. Admitting that my wrench turning
skills are limited, I cannot imagine why injection technology handles
fuel sediments any better, for that matter, but I'd grant that efi is
easier on fuel and would choose efi in the Yami 2-stroke if offered as
an option. It looks simply like Yamaha offers the largest hp
(consistent with my mfg's recommended max hp) for the lightest total
weight.

There is a difference between Electronic Fuel Injection and Direct
Injection. EFI injects fuel at the intake valve, Direct Injection
injects fuel into the cylinder. Just so that you know.

My ETEC is very efficient and averages (WOT to idle on an average run)
3.5 to 3.67 gallons/hr. That's a 200 hp HO pushing a 20 foot Ranger
bay boat.

The ETEC 60 inline twin weighs 240 pounds, the Yamaha 60 237 pounds.
You aren't saving much in terms of weight.

The simple truth is this - you get amazing amounts of quiet power at a
very efficient burn rate with ETEC. A 60 ETEC on that boat, as you
describe it, will out perform a 60 or 75 four stroke any day of the
week. Guarenteed.

Although a near second choice, the sometimes-reported midrange
troubles with E-Tecs make me a little nervous. I can't really tell
from postings on various boards if Evinrude has completely dealt with
the problem--even after having years to do so. Since this is a
relatively light weight aluminum utility (925# dry) I'm pretty
sensitive to keep engine weight to a minimum. Chunky Hondas (4-stroke
anyway) and the 75hp Optimax are out.

I'm not sure what you are talking about with "problems". I'm fairly
well plugged into things and I don't know of any mid-range problems
with ETEC.

Care to explain?