05 Evinrude FICHT

[fixit]

Any luck with these Motors?? I'm thinking about changing to a 225 Evinrude FICHT 05.. Great price at (hate to say it) Ed's marine.. May go for the E-tech but the price difference on the FICHT is awesome..... Now running a 250 Carb Johnson so any thing would be better on fuel..... If I do go to Ed's it will be a quick deal, Here's the money throw it in my truck and GO !!!!!!!!![tongue]

[Pat N Mike]

Scott, I'm in the same position, the carb Johnson runs great, so I may go in for the replacement soon to get a couple $$ out of it. Looking at the E-tec as well. Just make sure you have a nice dealer locally to service it if you go that route. Ed's is a buy-it-and-leave operation for sure !!! Let me know what you're doing, sounds like I'm right behind ya ! Guess I'll need 2' letters of "Pat N Mike" on the side and we'll be twins !!!! [wink]

And you know to check out the www.thehulltruth.com Those guys cover all the options & comparisons !

check out this one if you like reading....
(#702183) - Suzuki 250/four stroke or Evinrude E-Tec 250/two stroke??

if you have a second, b-mail the prices, I'm curious what Ed's has.
thx

Patrick
Pat N Mike

[maestro]

Make sure it's the saltwater version !

Here's a performance report for that motor. Different boat, but it should be in the ballpark as far as hull weight, etc. Nothing wrong with 3.15 MPG, especially when your getting about 1.5 now !

Good Luck.

http://www.evinrude.com/NR/rdonlyres/9271EE1B-F754-432C-AB2A-2F4E89B06145/0/PE203.pdf

[rockfisher1055]

Good Luck Scott, Just let me know when you want to slap a little blodd on the new motor.

By the way you need to come down some weekend and fish the rock on my boat this fall!!!!

Donny

[fixit]

Maestro, You know it !!! That fuel mileage is impressive.. 1.5 is a calm day, When i drop the bow it's even worse.....3.5 and we could fish the 500 curve all day....
Donny, I sure do hope to hook up with ya soon... I may be going to VA to pick up that motor this weekend.. Hell of a deal.. Cherry picker and a few connections and I'm good to go........

[TommyTuna]

check the warranty - some manu won't honor if not factory service center installed!

[fixit]

Will do TT..

[Neighbor Dave]

Scott,

I have a 98 150 FICHT, Yep, the one with the problems. I got about 1000 hrs before I lost the powerhead due to carbon buildup.

I beleive most of the major problems with the earlier FICHT's have been worked out.

Couple of comments/suggestions:
* I would run pure synthetic XD100 oil to minimise carbon buildup
* I'm not sure 3.15MPG is realistic. My best cruising economy is at 4000RPM/25MPH/10GPH.....around 2.5MPG on a 20'WA weighing about 3500lbs (includes motor/gas/geat/etc)
* If you install yourself, once you are done take it to a Evinrude dealer to check out and certify the install (that's what I did and had no problems with Warranty work).
* I assume you troll a good bit. Consider a kicker for trolling. I believe most of the problems with the FICHT's is carbon buildup at low RPM's

If I got a really good buy I'd buy another...if pricing was the same, I'd go with a 4stroke.

Here's a really good site for FICHT stuff.
http://www.boatsetup.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum;f=6;hardset=100;start_poi nt=0

Good Luck
ND

[fixit]

Thanks Neighbor Dave.. Nice site..... Was it hard installing your outboard ??? I do have a hydraulic lift...

[Neighbor Dave]

Don't know what kind of boat you have but it's not that hard at all. Since you have a late model Johnson it will bolt right on. Controls are the same. You will have to replace your oil reservour, the FICHT has a return line on it. Make sure you read the part of the manual about priming the oil, it's really important to get it primed right the first time.

If you have a lift, it should be about a 4 hr job (including beer breaks).

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

ND

[pursuit_2150]

Sorry I can't help on the FICHT question but I just love this Evinrude Ad.

http://24.176.130.87/content/public/2070.wmv

[fixit]

OMG that is Hillarious..........

[5514matt]

I have a 2001 200 ficht on a 24 wellcraft. It has been good to us, but uses plugs pretty fast. other than that no real issues. I get about 9-10 Gph at cruising speeds and usually burn about 50 - 60 gallons average on an offshore trip. The last time i was out we used 60 gallons on a 70 mile each way trip (140 round trip + trolling). Again, just make sure the plugs are kept fresh. I would not hesitate to get another one. The e-teks seem nice, but still kinda unproven.

[WildeOne]

fixit, Ficht and E-Tec are not even close, when compared carefully. WAY lass maintenance on E-Tec, even better fuel economy, especially trolling. The E-Tec burns extremely lean to 2K RPM. In fact, if the fuel charge wasn't directed at the plugs, it wouldn't ignite. My cousin has an E-Tec 90, runs it primarily at low RPM's and says it is unbeleiveable on oil and gas. I was considering a pair of Suzi 175 four strokes, but there isn't a decent dealer nearby and after I dug into the facts, the E-Tec 175's are what's going on the boat in the spring. Better on gas, fewer parts, less maintenance, good dealers close, lighter, etc. etc.

I know the Ficht price must be tempting, but does it come with 3 year BRP warranty?

BRP finally got the Ficht motors right, but they are discontinuing them as the E-Tecs fill the HP lineup. They have also packed in the resale Johnson Zuki's except for the 25/30 HP, which will also disappear when they get an E-Tec in that size. It's interesting to note how committed BRP is to 2 stroke technology in that very soon that's all they will have to sell. There's nobody even close to BRP technically when it come to 2 stroke motors.

Just my opinion and some food for thought. Good luck with you choice.

Jim

[Lone Ranger]

fixit.....Saw you launching that Sweet ride you have Sunday while at the Crabfest.As for Engines,I was looking for one for the last 4 months and here is what I found the concensus to be:
2002 and up Fichts...Good Motors....BUT still have that Poisonous Cloud[percieved] hanging there from the OMC days.Hard on plugs also and need to be indexed when installed.MAKE sure you call around and find someone that WILL work on it if you have any problems.I called a few places and they seemed to shy away from them!
Also the older Fichts,you CAN'T give 'em away!!Dealers WON'T take them on trade,If you have a Boat with one to Trade,They Won't give you any thing for the Engine.!!!I could have bought 2 2000 225 Fichts ,one with a blown powerhead and one with 350 hrs on it for $2500.00 Thats how bad the resale is on the older ons.The Guy STILL has the Engines!!!!I don't know if this holds water for the NEWER ones though.


This was my findings thru 4 Months of Engine Hunting.
If you deciede on a Suzuki ,I can get you a good deal at a Top Notch Dealer.I do know whwere there is a STEAL of a deal on a 2005 Optimax also,5 year warrenty in the crate.About $4k cheaper than Ed's!!!!!
Hope this helps.[Mike]
Mercury Optimax:Stay away from the 2000-2002 225's...There was a class action law suit in Florida on these year and HP. Engines.The 2003 and newer ones are GREAT Engines as Mercury Changed some things on the Engines.

Yamaha:DO NOT buy a 250-300 HP.HPDI.They are noturious for Blowing Powerheads,Yam is not even making them anymore.There are some that are ok,though.Yam. 4-Strokes speak for themselves[Great]Although the 225-4 is a little weak in the knees[206 hp]

Suzuki:The 4-strokes are Awesome Engines!More HP.than advertised and have an Excellent track record.A 250 Suzy would be an Awesome match for your Boat.Alot of people fear with the Suzy that there are not enough dealers around[for repairs],but Suzuki is signing up new ones all the time and most likely you Won't need them anyway.






NOTE: I have NO clue why my post reads like it does,I did not write it in this order!How the paragraphs got changed around,I have NO clue???????????Oh Well.

[billfish]

The Suzuki dealer in camgridge Md. Tommy's id an hornest dealer. I live in area and have not heard anything bad about him or his engines. I have heard that a person should check out some of the head to head mpg on the engines. The top engines were Honda and Yamaha I was told. I have a Suzuki 70 hp and have 0 problems with it. it has over 700 hours on it and uses no oil all summer long!
Bill[grin]

[lmontagnaj]

If you're interested in Suzikis, you might try giving Doug & Jimmy Whalen a call in Chesapeake, Va. the service is TOP NOTCH. They are also offering 6 years extended warranty right now at no additional charge.

Doug is a member of Tidalfish too.

Happy Hunting!!!

[fixit]

You guys are awesome, Thank you for all the GREAT input... Have to go with the E-Tech, Fantastic gas and great maintenance... Extra 3k but what the heck, I'll have it a looooooong time.. Purchasing a 225 and will have it on by December.....

[Pat N Mike]

Scott- SWEET !!! Call me when you're done, I want a ride !!!!!!!!!!!!

Patrick
Pat N Mike

[TerpHeels]

Don't do it Scott. I have visions of you and Pat smokin your way out the inlet. Pat's clothes sheadin at the shear wind velocity till he's down to his.....snap.......Wow, glad that visions gone.

[WildeOne]

Scott, if you send me your email address, I will sent you a couple of kickin' E-Tec video clip ads I think you'll appreciate. Terp is right, your clothes will disappear in the wake!
Jim
wilde1j@juno.com

[den]

Hey fix it, I just repowered with the E-tech so if you wanna check one out give me a b-mail and we can set something up.
It's 250 saltwater. I ran 65.7 miles the other day and burned 18 gallons of fuel. I have a 3 gallon oil reservoir that was full and was still full when I got back.
No smoke and quiet as a 4 stroke except when running at wot. I believe it is louder than most 4 strokes at wot but rarely do I run above 4500 rpm.
Good luck whatever you decidehttp://images.snapfish.com/344%3B598323232%7Ffp63%3Dot%3E2344%3D379%3D74%3C%3 DXROQDF%3E2323%3A5237%3A5%3C2ot1lsi

[isurus22]

What are the price differences between the E-Tec, Ficht, Suzuki, and say a honda 225?

[TommyTuna]

from evinrudes website

2005 PREMIER ESCAPADE 250 PTX

2005 EVINRUDE® E-TECTM 225 HP

BULLETIN#: PE311ENGINE: E225DPLDATE OF TEST: 10/06/2004

Engine
2005 EVINRUDE® 225 HP E-TECTM

Engine Type:... 90o V6
Horsepower:.... 225 HP @ 5150 RPM
Displacement:.... 3.3 Litre
Induction:...... ETEC DI
Operating Range:. 4500-5800 RPM
Weight:..... 516 LBS Dry Weight
Gear Ratio:.... 1.85:1


Boat
2005 PREMIER ESCAPADE 250 PTX

Material.............. Aluminum
Length................ 24' 9"
Beam.................. 8' 6"
Weight w/o Engine 2650 LBS Dry
Maximum HP........ 225
Fuel Capacity ....... 53 Gallons
Transom Height .. 25" Shaft
Steering................ Hydraulic


Propeller
BRP VIPER

Material................ Stainless Steel
Diameter Pitch ...... 19"
No. of Blades:. 3
Part Number.......... 176627


Performance Data
RPM MPH GPH MPG RANGE
500 2.5 0.27 9.1 433
1000 4.9 0.76 6.4 303
1500 6.6 1.60 4.1 197
2000 9.4 3.30 2.9 136
2500 13.3 6.08 2.2 104
3000 18.0 7.22 2.5 119
3500 22.2 8.69 2.6 122
4000 27.2 11.93 2.3 109
4500 32.5 15.12 2.1 103
5000 37.8 18.83 2.0 96
5445 42.5 20.49 2.1 99

Range (Miles) Based On 90% Fuel Capacity

#

Hole Position ............. #3
Jack Plate ................. N/A
AV Mounting:.. N/A



Test Conditions
Water Conditions.... Light Chop
Wind Velocity.......... 5 MPH
Air Temperature...... 75o F
Fuel Load................ 53 Gallons Full
Weight................... 2 Men (450 lbs.) Full Fuel, Test Gear 50 lbs.


Performance Summary
Top Speed ................ 42.5 MPH
Best Fuel Effi