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Have only owned straight inboard. Going to new 29' CC and shopping outboards. Aware of problem history with I believe 98-00 Evinrudes before Bombardier picked them up. Looking at pair of 225. 7 year warranty offer is earning my favor. Yam and Merc dominate our area (Tampa Bay). Any feedback on newer model Evinrudes appreciated.
As reported by "Seahorse", one of the most knowledgable outboard guys on the net: "Act now and get a 7-year warranty with a new Evinrude. This is the 3rd year with Bombardier at the helm and the quality control is outstanding. In fact, Evinrude just won the JD Powers award for customer satisfaction, and took it away from Yamaha who had it in previous years." Source
One can take Seahorse's advice to the bank ... no, let me rephrase that ... he's more reliable than any bank I've ever seen !
IMHO if you're buying this season, get the Evinrude DI outboards. Me? I'm waiting a year to see if Bombardier comes out with their new E-Tec motors but in V6 250-300hp power !
__________________ [red]MISS TEAK[/red], 25' Parker mod-V Sport Cabin "Life's too short to own an ugly boat ..." www.classicparker.com
I own and am all for BOMBY, with a 2001. With the 7 year, jus remember your gettin 3 year with BOMBY and the remaining 4 with ???? Be very specific and find out EXACTLY who the third party remaining (4) warranty company is that is giving the additional 4 year warrantny, I dunno but problems have been had with extended warranties provided by the manufac with a third party co that they sell em off on..............
The past problems were with the 150/175 "small" V6 and were before Evinrude was purchased by Bombardier, which make it ancient history E-Tec has replaced Ficht on everything under 100 hp and should go across the board in for 2005 MY.
As for the extended service
Quote:
Extended protection program is a FPC Premium Marine
Protection Plan administered in the United States by a Protective Company, or in Canada by
another third party administrator. Bombardier is not responsible for fulfillment of extended service
plan obligations. Service plan has a $25 US deductible per service visit and a transfer fee of $100
US. For questions regarding the promotion, see your participating Evinrude / Johnson dealer or
write Bombardier Sales Administration, 2004 Retail Promotion, 10101 Science Drive, Sturtevant,
WI 53177.
IMHO, I would take the $1000 discount off of a 250 hp !
I own and am all for BOMBY, with a 2001. With the 7 year, jus remember your gettin 3 year with BOMBY and the remaining 4 with ???? Be very specific and find out EXACTLY who the third party remaining (4) warranty company is that is giving the additional 4 year warrantny, I dunno but problems have been had with extended warranties provided by the manufac with a third party co that they sell em off on..............
???? = The Bombardier family holds 35% of the investment group. Bain Capital, a U.S.-based private investment firm, has 50%, and CDP, a Canadian public pension fund management group, has the rest.
I think the other 4 years are in good hands if you are referring to the sale of the company. I never heard of manufacturers offering third party warranties.
If you want the additional 4 years of warranty, be sure that the dealer you are purchasing your Evinrude from is a participating dealer. I just purchased a new Evinrude two months ago from a dealer that is supposed to be a participating dealer. The dealer stated that he would register my motor for the additional 4 year promotional warranty. I called Evinrude last month to confirm that my motor was indeed registered with them, and they confirmed that it was, but that only pertains to the 1st 3 years of genuine Evinrude warranty. When I asked then about the additional 4 years of warranty, they said they are not involved with that warranty and that I would have to contact my dealer to confirm that has been taken care of. To date, I have not received any documentation from the 3rd party warranty company regarding my additional 4 years of warranty. I contacted my dealer the other day and they did not return my call. Naturally, they will be receiving another call. Personally, I'm a little disgusted with how Evinrude makes it a point to promote their additional 4 years of warranty, but stays completely uninvolved with the entire promotion other than to advertise it. So good luck with getting your additional 4 years of warranty. Me, I have no idea if I even received it.
Warranties always sound good when you buy them. Its those ifs, buts, special clauses, conditions and exlcusions that crop up when you need to use the warranty service that scare the heck out of me. I have had warranties on a number of different products (not outboards). Some worked as promised when purchased. The experiences I had on others were enough to make me want to pull my hair out.
First of all, the Ficht Ram is currently the best engine on the market! The extended 4 years of warranty comes from a legit company that has been in business for a long time! After you purchase the engine the dealer should submit the paper work to FPC, which will promptly send you all the documentation, and a helpful CD on engine maintenance.
personally i think the evinrude is as good a motor as there is available & i am a yamaha owner.i own 4 yamaha's but if i were to repower today i would buy an evinrude
I have a 2001 225 Ficht with 170 hours. It uses the same 3.3L block and technology as the current motors. The motor is very powerful, starts immediately and I can't get it to smoke. The only issue with the motor was at around 100 hours, the EMM was acting funny and the motor would not idle correctly. Bombardier replaced the EMM immediately and airfreighted the new one to my dealer.
If I were to repower today it would be with a new Ficht just because of the good experience I have had so far.
Do you think there is a reason "Yamaha and Mercury dominate market"?
Why do you think Evinrude is offering a long warranty? If you answer to cover for bad reputation, how will that affect re-sale? A long warranty is nice, but of little comfort if your motor's in the shop in July, waiting for parts.
Why do practically all premium boat builders rig exclusively w/Yamaha?
There was a recent question at THT about the value of late model V-6 Fichts, the general consensus was $3,000-$4.000. Do you want to be in that position as a Ficht owner?
Keep in mind, there are thousands of Ficht owners "upside down" because of reputation of Fitch and last Evinrude "belly up"
Lastly, what do these nameplates have in common? Corvair, Vega, Pinto, Firestone, Ficht?
Crimminy using your logic Fish Factory ... due to the issues as of late on Yummie HPDIs and FSs ... they wouldn't be my 1st choice of an OB.
Much of what you said is true, less your last parting shot ... what you also referred to is history that is a few years old, but yes ... many owners were hurt. and left unsatisfied.
Within the past 2 years however, Evinrudes using an "improved" version of the Ficht technology (and Bombardier quality systems) have been about the best overall performing outboard out there.
__________________ [red]MISS TEAK[/red], 25' Parker mod-V Sport Cabin "Life's too short to own an ugly boat ..." www.classicparker.com
Meanwhile, the continuing saga of my Evinrude promotional warranty ....
I called my dealer this past Thursday to inform him what Evinrude told me (i.e. that they (Evinrude) are completely uninvolved with the extended warranty promotion and that I have to work out with my dealer, the fact that I do not know the status of my additional 4 years of warranty). This was news to my dealer. He (the dealer) thought that by submitting the info for the Evinrude three year factory warranty, that Evinrude would be handling the registration of the additional 4 years of promotion warranty. I called my dealer today and he said that he contacted Evinrude on Thursday and is waiting to hear back from them.
Here's a recap of the facts. I bought a new Evinrude on 01/10/04. At the time, the dealer informed me that I could have my choice of promotional warranty, or cash. I opt'd for warranty. When I called Evinrude to follow up on the dealer having registered my warranty into, they told me that I was indeed registered for the 3 year factory warranty, but they (Evinrude) are not involved with the promotional warranty (Sorry, I'm aware that I mentioned that 3 times now in this thread).
So in my case, there is some kind of disconnect between dealer and Evinrude. Or my dealer's just trying to B.S. me. I don't know. But I'm going to write a letter and send it to Evinrude today, Because I have this notion that if I don't act now, it'll be passed the promotion period, then the response I'll get is: Sorry, the promotion period has ended.
If it comes down to me and my dealer, and Evinrude does not come to the resue on this one, it will leave a very sour taste in my mouth regarding Bombardier. But I've been know to pass judgement too quickly and end up eating my words, so we'll see. I hope it ends up that I get my warranty and that I look like a jerk for spouting off about it at this time. But for now, at the very least, I'm annoyed with the situation as I'm sure you can tell. Now I went and annoyed all of you because of it. Sorry.
Look at all the recent threads on here and on FS about which big DFI outboard people prefer and you will see the Ficht is by and large the top pick.
I personally feel at the present time you could be safe buying an Opti, an HPDI or a Ficht. Yamaha seems to have the bugs worked out of the 250 with the service bullitens (I think its 5 now) and the Optis and Fichts have been solid for a few years. I wouldn't buy a 300 HPDI or a 4 stroke Suzuki yet just because they are new. It has nothing to do with not liking Suzuki or Yamaha.
The 200,225 and 250 Fichts have been great motors from the beginning. The 99 and 2000 had a fuel related upgrade and since 2001 there have not been any upgrades available.
Its common knowledge that the problem motors when it comes to Fichts were 1998 and 1999 150's and 175's.
Your entitled to your opinion on "all Fichts", but it is in no way based on facts....just what you think.
Do not hesitate at an Evinrude. I have owned black engines my entire life. I purchased a 1999 225 Ficht and it has been a great engine. There were not issues w/the 90 degree blocks, only the 60 degree blocks, as all have mentioned. I would buy again in a minute and all the incentives are in place for any problems you could have for the next 7 years!!! Good luck
'04 Evinrude DI Outboards 
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E-Tec has replaced Ficht on everything under 100 hp and should go across the board in for 2005 MY.
using your logic Fish Factory ... due to the issues as of late on Yummie HPDIs and FSs ... they wouldn't be my 1st choice of an OB. 
