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Reply With QuoteSorrydog you're making that Etec look better all the time!!
Crappie Wall Hanger II
One more thing: Had a friend last year that brought us his 4-stroke 115 Merc that over-heated fishing out of Keaton Beach. Pulled the plugs and one of the plugs was bent at the tip. Looking through the bore-scope, had a hole right through the piston. Can't say for positive it was cause by over-heating but suspect it didn't help matters! Either way, not good for only a 3 year old engine.
Crappie Wall Hanger II
Trophy King II
I have a pro xs 150 on my z118 Ranger. Friend of mine that fishes bass tourneys has the same boat with an etec 150. I've got about 3 or 4 mph on him on the top end. Lots better fuel economy in my opinion and a gallon of oil last me several 34 gallon tanks of gas too. Highest top speed I've hit with mine is 64 on the gps by myself with a half tank of fuel. Mercury smart craft gauge shows it is burning 5 gallons per hour at a 35 mph cruise and 14 gph and full throttle. Only drawback is Mercury's are louder going down the lake so it's hard to talk to your partner. But, wind noise makes it harder to talk top regardless of how quiet it is. Oh and I've put 149 hours on mine in the last 2 years and only thing I've done to it is change the lower unit oil over to Royal Purple synthetic lower unit oil.
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Good points already. If you have to get parts for one Merc,Etech,yama,honda,ect is the question which one is eaiser to get parts,price and how many mech do you know that actually work or know anything about that motor. BASSBoatCentral has some good info.
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Trophy King II
Earl Kitchens is right about the pro xs 150 being strong. My old boat was a 374 v ranger. Had a 175 mercury xri on it. Dry weight of that boat was only 1200lbs. My z118 I have now is 1550lbs and it will run the same top end as the lighter boat with 25 more hp and uses about half the amount of fuel.
Crappie Wall Hanger II
Not trying to put-down Merc's and sure their are many that will disagree with me. But, I just find it strange that the ones we've seen with cylinder issues all related back to over-heating problems.Originally Posted by blindhog
Crappie Wall Hanger II
Haven't heard many issues on them. But I also haven't work on any. Most of my friends can;t afford them or to cheap (like me) to own one!
Trophy King
I've always been partial to Mercury motors and sorry dog …any motor will lock up after it's over heated!
Crappie Wall Hanger II
Perception and preference are everything. I asked a mechanic that works on both. He told me 75 hp or less go with ETEC. Above go with the Mercury. With that said my little 25 hp ETEC will out perform the mercury I had on it.
Crappie.com 3K Star General
What I'm trying to say is that 115s are an in between motor that is usually under power for most boats. Running a boat under power is like pulling a trailer full of concrete up hill. It will work and you may be able to go fast enough but it will eventually break or overheat. I was always told by experienced boaters to try to be near max HP rating when rigging a boat. I have learned the hard way this is true. That said most Mercurys put out more HP than they are rated for. My 150 gets around 168HP. Same year model Yammy only averages 147HP in its 150. I do not recommend the E-tec. I would go with the Mercury but the only comparable motor is the Yamaha SHO.
