Carbs vs EFI

[Moe]

As with the computers in the electronic ignition systems on carbureted outboards for the last few decades, the computers that control both ignition and fuel delivery on EFI outboards, are covered by the outboard's warranty. There's no special warranty on them since they're probably one of the most reliable parts on the motor.

Some outboard manufacturers offer extended warranties on motors purchased during the slack winter period.

--
Moe

[Frank C]

... Some outboard manufacturers offer extended warranties on motors purchased during the slack winter period.

Steve,
Your question is a good one, and Moe's answer is particularly timely. In previous years Suzuki has offered a winter promo (usually during the first calendar quarter). Among other options, they've offered a free upgrade from the standard factory 3-year warranty to the extended factory 6-year warranty.

Even though I started my shopping in March of 1999, it was August before I bought my new Suzuki DF-60. Therefore, I paid about $600 additional for the extra 3-years factory warranty. You're beginning your EFI shopping at a perfect time! (BTW, at five years 'n countin' ... I've never been back to see the Suzuki dealer. Change the oils, add fuel, turn the key - it keeps on tickin!)

And as a final comment ... there's much debate about the weight of up-sized motors on the Mac's transom. When I chose the Suzi 60/70 block at 335#, there were fire'n brimstone warnings of invalidating the factory hull warranty and possibly damaging the hull or transom. Since then, Billy has mounted the Suzi DF-140 at 410+ pounds, and Mark has the DF-115, at same weight. Some basic precautions make it doable.

There's another recurring debate about the impact on sail performance of those 100 to 200 extra pounds on the stern. Yet, nobody's ever concerned about adding that same weight via a stern-rail passenger seat Wonder why

Anyhow, in my experience and opinion - no big deal in either case. The boat floats my DF60 true to her lines, she sails at 7 knots upwind, she cruises at 15 knots (4000 rpms) and she reaches 21 mph at WOT. Nothings better than shopping for new toys ... Have a Blast!!!

[Captain Steve]

Thanks for the info about timing my purchase into the winter. In researching this, I have noticed that outboards have gotten lighter as HP went up. 60 HP now weigh close to what a 50HP used to weigh. SO will look at 60 HP as an alternative. Cost is only 200/300 more.

[Jeff Ritsema]

The Evinrude Etek 75 that I bought was $6645. The manufacturer's warranty was 7 years, all inclusive. This was available this spring, 2004- things may have changed since then. This motor is available in 50HP and 90HP in addition. The 90HP is the same weight and size as the 75HP at a very light 305#. The 75HP is the Evinrude dark blue color; the 90HP is available in white as well as blue. The engine is also new in another very important regard, that is, it is built by Bombardier, a change of pace from the history of Evinrude "problems". Or, at least, that's what I'm betting on.

[Timm Miller]

Most of the Watermen in the Carolinas run Hondas....that tells me something....they're dependable, day in day out. I see a lot of advantages with EFI but the only draw back....if you have a dead battery, you're not going to be pull starting that EFI. You have to have some kind of power to run the computer the regulates the EFI. Carbs are simple compared to EFI....but I like things simple.

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

I wonder if EFI has yet made it into the mainstream of light piston aircraft...I'll bet its still pretty sparse. When I used to fly a lot about 8-10 years ago, airplanes still used carbs pretty much even though EFI had been in cars for at least a decade. In an airplane, I'm not sure if I would want to trust a computer to lean the mixture at higher altitudes.

Steve, if I was gonna go to the trouble of replacing my 50, I would go bigger than a 60 myself. Probably into the 90-115 territory. Weight and price is not all that much more for something that you will be using for years. Think about how much more quiet the bigger motor would be at the lower RPMs too. I hope to be able to do that someday but I still don't have enough of a reason to ditch the perfectly good 50, plus I can hand start it if necessary which is a plus.

[Moe]

Before I'd assume a carbed motor would pull start with a dead battery, I'd put a dead one on there and try it. (Don't try it with no battery in the circuit). There are quite a number of carbed motorcycles that won't bump start with a dead battery because of the electronic ignition.

The entire ignition and direct fuel injection of the new Evinrude E-Tecs will pull start with a dead battery.

I have two batteries and towing insurance. If I were going to be out of range of them, I'd get one of the small backup starting packs.

All that being said, I like carbs on my Harleys, not so much for simplicity, but because it's easier and requires a lot less dyno time to jet the carbs than program an EFI system.

--
Moe

[Frank C]

Dyno? Nobody dynos an EFI motor, they buy a programmer for $400 and just reprogram it!

More seriously, the reason for buying an EFI outboard is to avoid all of the above. None of my last half-dozen EFI trucks (about 20 years-worth) has ever needed to go back into the dealership, w/average of 50,000 miles each. If it requires a jump-battery to prevent hand starting it ... well can't remember the last time I crank-started one of those trucks either.

[Captain Steve]

Dimitri,

I may look at a larger engine. I have a firm offer for my Nissan 50 at $1000. Its a 98 with low hours. That price will probably cover the install and controls on the new one.

[Robert]

Honda has a strong following of boaters that like carbs. As long as they keep buying carburated outboards and as long as the Honda meets regulations they will keep their nitch. What used to be mainstream - carbs - will soon be a nastalgic nitch. Eventually some boaters will be paying extra for the carbs because they prefer them. When (not IF) Honda finally stops making BF50's with carbs expect the resale value to remain high to satidfy this nitch which I think won't go away for a long time.
..
The Suzuki EFI DF50 manual says it will start with a dead battery. The loud buzzer is the engine alarm test when starting the motor, just crank it quick to reduce its duration to a short blip. I think the buzzer might be physically located in the Suzuki gage, in case you want to hunt it down and unplug it.
..
E-Tek has proposed a new challenge: "make an outboard motor that has no break in period and needs zero servicing for the first three years" ..which competitor, 4-stroke or 2-stroke will step up and match or exceed that? I think it would be awesome to have a ultralight ultrasmooth very quiet 2cylinder E-Tek 4hp (to replace the Johnson 2cyl. 4hp 28 lb. 2-smoke) that weighs 30 lb. and can go without maintenance for three years to push around the dingy or canoe.

[Captain Steve]

Evinrude is made in Wis???

[Bill at BOATS 4 SAIL]

Evinrude and Johnson are now made in Sturtevant (Racine County), Wisconsin, by Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. They recently started shipping 200, 225, and 250 hp, six-cylinder, two-stroke obm's.
Some of their obm's are still made by others, such as Suzuki, but they are in the process of making all of their own, one group of sizes at a time.