There was a link on here a while back with some awesome video comparisons between the yammy 4 stroke and the Etec. I don;t own either but thought the comparisons were quite worth the look see. I may be interested in an upgrade soon so anything you can find out, I would appreciate you sharing the info.

There are heaps more on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-7I00cZUE0

yea i was all for them but have heard a few stories that has put me off ,having knowing a few people with the yammys they swear by them as being very relieable,thats wot i am after,not so much the power of a 2 stroke,but will try to stay open minded thanks andy

Would also look at the Suzuki and honda 4's as they are both good motors. What sort of boat is it going on. I had the same drama when i repowerd by boat.

Good luck

yea bouttime it will be going on a 18 foot baron ,and yes have heard good reports about the suzies and hondas, wot a delema decisions ,decisions havent looked at prices of the hondas and suzes yet thou,and have heard stories about the e-tec thats  put me off

Go 4 stroke, I'll never have a 2 stroke again!

Yammy/Honda and Suzuki (what I have) are the bomb, quiet, economical, no add oil required and if you get the right sized donk they're more than powerful. The resale value will be better IMO also as people are switching, could/will make a difference when ya trying to sell it!

JMO

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I have a Yammy 4 stroke and it's fantastic , power , economy , and bloody QUIET !!!!!!!!!

Flungy.
"Lifes Good"

Here in Durban South Africa, Yamaha have had many years of following, in the "Old South Africa" one could not obtain parts for American motors due to boycotts, so Yamaha built up a large reputation,there was also a large supply of Yamaha "Pirate" parts for the commercial and Sharks Board boats.
Yamaha have gone the 4 stroke route, but 4 strokes are heavy for small boats and expensive to boot, on a small boat space for fuel is also important and also adds weight.
I have Yamaha motors on my 18 foot boat but I would now have bought E-Tecs if they had been available when I bought my Yamaha's back in 2002, Yamaha's also appear to oxidize around the screws and joints in Durban which is notorious for salt corrosion problems.
I have fished on boats with E-Tecs and they are as quiet as 4 strokes,not smelly (important on dive boats) and easily as fugal on fuel.
Many of use visit beautiful Mozambique which is still "Backwards" and lots of dive operators etc have to send their boats and motors (even Yamaha) down to Durban for important servicing, so if you are in the "Bush" or "Outback" E-Tecs may be a problem for local service support?
It appears to me that Yamaha have been slow to update their outboards as they where fortunate to have had a good world wide customer support, but E-Tec motors are manufactured by a very large company that has also given Yamaha a "Run for their Money" on PWC boats,so keep an open mind when looking for new outboard motors!

Here in the upper Hemi, yamaha are the No:1.
I have a 50hp 4stroke on a 21ft c.c. and can troll for 7hours at 4.5-5.5knots and still have a couple of litres left in the (yamaha) 24litre tank at the end of the day.
Its 9.6 years old and I've done all my own servicing from the end of the warantee period.
Its never missed a beat and if it does after posting this I'll burn my sub to this post!!
Only one small problem and thats the 5amp alternator, tho with prudent use of the double pole switch both my 70amp/hr batteries have kept charged ok and I've only had 2 replacments since new.
My next engine will be a yammie 80 4 stroke cus that comes with a 10amp/hr alt.
Here we are supposed to have the saltist water in the world and make millions of tons of it from the sea for use in Northern Europe.
Yeh I would say you need a little care with anything in contact with the wet stuff.
I got thro 2 tilt pumps before I cottened on and gave the last one a double coat of rod epoxy - its what the guys from japan advised - since then its all been rot free.
Get a genuine plug spanner and you'll never have a seized plug, especially if you blast the entire engine with silicone spray from new and after every service.

You go Yamaha, I'm glad I did.

Used to have a 2 stroke 75 yamaha on my boat, never had a prob.
go 4 stroke, nice and quiet and economical.

(Sex is great, but fishing lasts all day!)

it took a while,been away for a while,but got a 115 yammie fitted today 4 stroke,so weather permitting water trial
 tomorrow ,
cheers ray