This is from another site........................11-28-2010, 04:28 PM
Cape Cod Basser
Slot Fish Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 117
Go with the Yammi
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I had a 225 HO Etec on my last boat (2006 model). From my own personal experience the hype about "no service required for three years" is a joke. During my three years of ownership I had multiple problems, including a mystery failure to start problem that resulted in several trips back and forth to the dealer. The biggest problem however, was that the lower unit needed to be replaced at the start of my third year of ownership.
It is true that these motors have tremendous low-end torque, but I think this contributes to the high rate of problems with their lower units. Apparently it was such an issue that the lower unit that replaced my old one was a redesigned lower unit that supposedly could handle the stress of all that torque.
Well for me the bottom line was that Evinrude used the gimmick of "no service for three years" as a major marketing point, when in reality they pushed out a motor without doing enough R & D to understand that all that power would stress the lower unit of the motor. The mystery starting problems were never fully resolved, but I was told that "computer upgrades" were done. If there were computer upgrades needed, then the "no service for three years" was simply false advertising.
For me, I was obviously an unsatisfied customer. I hear the Yammie four strokes are bullet proof. If you go with the Etec, make sure to inquire if the lower unit was replaced.
Good luck
Big Rod
www.bigrodsguideservice.ca