Have a look at the merc 200hp optimax. 225kg, and a 5 year warranty. The best DFI 2 strokes on the market. You will halve your fuel usage going from that old Johnson.
cheers andy

I've heard that the optimax is noisy, How do you find it?

They are not as quiet as a 4-stroke, and no more noise than an e-tec. I like the DFI 2 strokes over the 4 strokes for the performance the only negative is the bit of extra noise.
cheers andy

There is a member on here that has a as new 200 hp yamaha salt water series sitting in his shed after just upgrading to a 300 hp etec, jus might be worth a look and dave a bit of the folding stuff

Salt Water Series are a Carby Two stroke, Already have a Johno Two Stroke that I'll be trading In or Selling.

If I did go the Etec I would still drop the leg every year, Maybe they lubricate the leg bolt threads really well during assembly? That's about the only place you would think would be an issue?

I can see where a bolt that's been sitting there for 3 years, subjected intermittently to a saltwater environment, would seize up, but what if the service comes up a lot sooner than that? My 90hp Etec is 10 months old and has 200 hours on it so that first service (and the removal of the bolts) is going to come up a lot sooner than 3 years and I would think that corrosion/seizure problems would be less of an issue than if the motor were just sitting there, not being used as much.

No question the BRP marketing mob really lay on the crap when it comes to how great their motor is...probably more so than all the other outboard manufacturers. But given the amount of hours I use my motor I'd have to have saved at least $1000 from not having to have it serviced yet, not to mention time lost on the water while it's in the shop. When that service DOES come I will be a bit concerned but if they quote me something ridiculous I'll just do it myself since it will be out of warranty anyway!

End of the day, get the best motor for your boat. Honda set the bar what, 10-12 years ago when they brought 4 stroke technology in and the others have had to follow suit so whether you go 4, 2 or DFI, you're going to get a good product. Any outboard maker who's gear is not up to scratch is going to get left behind and they know it.

Just a question on the 5 year warranties offered by (I think) Honda/Suzi/Merc...is that 500 hours as well? And are they non-declining...that is, is everything that was covered at the beginning still covered at hour 499?

That's impressive....someone could rack up 1000 hours or more (and I probably would!) and still be in warranty! The only reason I didn't go Honda when I repowered last year was because it was heavier (and considerably more expensive) than the Etec, as were all the others (including Optimax) and I still ended up with 30 more kilos on the back than my old setup (twin Yammie 2 stoke 40's).

Couldn't be happier with the Etec though...apart from some stupid warranty issues early on which really fired me up, it's been great.

I noticed at the boat show that the 2009 etec 200 HO has had water inlets added to the front edge of the leg as well as the standard ones on the side, don't know why, the only thing I can think of is better cooling?

I have an ETEC 60,except for a computer change [warranty]the only problem is floating weed,and we have heaps up here,partially blocking the water inlet ports.One has to keep an eye on the discharge until we get a couple of miles out into clear water.
The ports are too small in my opinion so maybe they have fixed it up with the newer models

The inlet holes you are talking about are a low water pickup. Im pretty sure the 200hp optimax has them aswell. I know the verado's do. And for seized bolts for not being out for 3 years that would be the least of the problems. I know of a 225HO e-tec that has had 3 driveshafts in less than 50 hours. I have heard way to many horror storys about e-tecs, just FICHT all over again.
cheers andy

3 years is for fresh water use only,and yes oil hasn't changed if you clock up hrs it needs to be changed,but being a two stroke its only gearbox oil and you could get away with running gear oil for that long but? an inspection would be a must,car gearboxs only ever get topped up but they dont get exposed to salt water seeping in
With the impeller that would last 3 yrs as long as its not running alot of shallow water exposure to sand and mud would put extra wear on it
The only bolts wich get removed for service are the leg for impeller and prop for greasing and plugs of coarse.
JMO any two stroke can withstand a 3 year service depending on operation conditions.

The water in our ocean here doesn't get salty enough to effect the warranty/service schedule until you get past the Fads and I never go farther than that so I'm right

Seriously, according to my owner's manual, the only stipulations for saltwater use as opposed to fresh is that grease points/propeller splines have to be lubed annually/100 hours instead of the three years/300 hours. Other than that, warranty/service schedule is unaffected.

hi jason,JMO l dont think your going to get the answer your looking for here or any fishing forums or even from dealers as there going to push there own brand.
suzuki owners are going to tell you how great a motor they are and the etec owners will tell you the same.
then you will get options from people regarding the etecs that have never owned one or been on a boat with one and tell you how theyve heard of problems with them, l use to be one of those people.
as an etec owner l think its a great motor,having not owned a suzuki l cant comment .
it all comes down to what you want your motor to do .
be economical
give great performance
or both of the above.
its your investment and only you can make the choice.
good luck.
paul

a 350 chev stern drive  lol.you wont have the arguments about which outboard to go for

RUSS & SANDY

"A family that fishes together stays together"

No thanks Russ, Sea Rescue are busy enough

having had big 200 & 225hp Suzuki's back in safa land and having brought out with me a pair of them again in 2004, I'm a suzuki fan through and through!!! I loved the big 2 stroke Suzi's and love the 4 strokers even more!!!!
Having said that, the new Etec's are top 2 strokers and will match the suzuki 4 strokes mile for mile. Tuff choice, but IMHO I'd still go 4 stroke Suzuki 175hp or 200hp,

I'd look at the 175hp Suzuki, as it's light, has less moving parts than a V6 and they top motors. Torque on them is good and I have seen them stay with 4 stroke 200hp V6 off the mark, only suffering on top speed.

If you after ecconomy, reliability, lower service costs and weight factors, buy the 175hp Suzuki.

Tony

Full-time piscatorial-idiot, in The Vines. "It is always in season for old men to learn." Aeschylus (525-456 BC) Greek poet.
Supporter of Meals on Reels

mate of mine in Karratha has a 200 etc on the back of his cruise craft.

He has done 330 hours in 10 months. Never had an issue, never been serviced, not even had the spark plugs changed.

He said it still runs just as well as when it was brand new.

when i repowered my boat looked at etec in the fine print three no service is for fresh water they recomend a service every year in saltwater with the price of there oil
which they sort of insist you use, and they havent proved themselves give them another 4/5 years let everyone else test them. i went for yamis they have been great suziki was my other choice but got a better price on yamis(fours)
try seasport marine champion dr kelmscot they did the best deal for me good trade in price as well. they also deal in etecs

Yeah, bit of a plug but Mike Lanigan at Seasport Marine was great to deal with last year when I traded my then V6 150 Merc in on a 150 4 stroke (great motor).

John

I head a little FURTHER NORTH each year,
Leave the cities behind, out of sight of mind,
.......

Yep, there's always two sides to a coin. Luckily 'tails never fails' worked for me.

John

I head a little FURTHER NORTH each year,
Leave the cities behind, out of sight of mind,
.......

Went the 200hp Suzuki, thanks everyone for your comments.

Jason,

Can you keep everyone posted on the fuel economy of the new motor compared to the old one? Litres per hour at cruise etc....

Ok no probs, should have it on in the next couple of weeks.

Mates got the 200hp Suzie and it uses just under 2lt per NM at 24 kts.

I do the maintence on it for about $300 in parts

Make sure you pick up a workshop manual in the price for the new Suzie comes in handy..

The 175HP 2 stroke on there at the moment uses 1.2lt per km, so on a 100km day out we use around 120lt of fuel, on the new donk should be using around 70lt to 80lt a trip. Should get a 30% min to 40% fuel saving without the smell and noise. When we go out past the 200m line the amount of fuel we use is scary