Unbiased comparison of E-tec vs 4Stroke noise please

[606zpx]

Looking at boat hard.

I love the low maintenance and performance of the Etec as well as the relative simplicity

When at the Miami boat show my observations were that at idle all motors were very quiet. The evinrude was the smoothest shifting of the bunch (basically zero clunk) but this is likely due to the very low idle RPM. I was unable to make a direct comparison on cruise and wide open noise amounts.

I did ride on a 24' with twin 200 etecs. There was some noise but it was a low droning noise like an airplane and was pleasant overall but the motor noise was more than the noise of the water noise from the boat.

The only other boat I rode on at the show was a 24 Sea Chaser with single 250 Suzuki. That motor I would say was quieter to some degree but the rep did not really challenge the boat too much and of course I am trying to compare twin 2 strokes to a single 4 stroke in different boats which is impossible.

So.....those who are capable of giving an unbiased opinion....how does the noise compare, particularly at cruise speed. My current boat is a 21' with V8 and through hull exhaust so anything is an improvement but noise is a factor in my getting a new boat. What I want to know is at cruise speed with an E-tec can you still carry on a conversation? Can anyone also post any magazine specs on this?

Thanks!

[ubettcha13]

The mason that does our stone work has twin 200 ficts on anotched transom 2500 walk hydrasport You can't whisper over them but you can talk and hear reasonably well The E-tecs ar 30-50% quieter than these With a closed transom on a bracket You would be noticably quieter still But not in the league of the f225 or verado for whispering hope this helps His motors are 04's the only problem he had he broke a starter guess why

[606zpx]

Thanks,

I just found my Powerboat Reports data on the triple 250 comparison.

It looks like the Verado is hands down quietest at all speeds.

The F250 is louder at 30mph and 40mph and the Evinrude falls in between. Interestingly probably overall quieter than the F250 it appears.

Would like some user opinions though.

[Glen E]

Here's my take after driving*three. (have not driven the zuke)

1. the etec is for people who really like to be spec oriented - light weight and good performance - a bit thirsty in the mid range but overall a good solid engine. BRP is putting their money where their mouth is - with a 7 year warranty

2. The Yamaha , like many Japanese products is just solid and right - no specs really jump out at you but like buying a Honda or Toyota - promises what it delivers

3. The Verado is definitely an engine for 'early adopters' - specs are good but the motor is about 75 lbs heavier that the others - but it incorporates things the others don't have* - like digitized shifting with auto -synchronization, power steering and a Strong hole shot due to the supercharger - a more complex engine but the quietest of the bunch - good cruising MPG but thirsty at WOT. As I like having all the extra features, I bought Verados. So far they are very reliable - not one power head failure reported yet in over a year of production in consumer use.

4. The Zuke is the best all around player - good solid, strong performance in light weight - seem to heave some parts and dealerization issues but overall a great engineering tour-de-force. I'm not wild about their appearance but that's personal.



So there you have it - but don't listen to anyone here - (including me) drive all four and then decide.

[606zpx]

I appreciate it.

I like the Verado but there are a couple issues that I worry about but I agree that so far so good with these.

It will be impossible to test all of these unfortunately so I have to go on user opinion to some degree.

[606zpx]

bump Thanks to anyone else who replies

[606zpx]

Bump once more?

[Fletch]

What I want to know is at cruise speed with an E-tec can you still carry on a conversation? Thanks![/quote]
Yes. Definitely.

I've owned the following engines in the last 5 or 6 years:
Yamaha OX66 250
Evinrude/Ficht 225
Evinrude/Ficht 250
Evinrude DI 250
Evinrude ETEC 250

The Yam was the loudest at all rpms
The Ficht/DI engines were quieter than the Yam at idle and maybe slightly quieter at cruise.
The ETEC was noticeably quieter than the Ficht/DI engines at idle and cruise.

At idle, the ETEC is very quiet. When backing in and out of my slip, people are constantly asking me how I like my four stroke.
I've heard nearly all of the different 4 strokes at idle. They ARE quieter at idle but we're really splittin hairs here. I have not heard the Verado at idle or any speed.

At cruise, I've ridden on boats with Zukes, Hondas and Yams. To me, they were all about the same in noise level. I don't see where they were any quieter than the ETEC at cruise rpm - at least not as far as I could discern. At higher RPMs, four strokes make noise with the best of them. Again, I have not heard a Verado at cruise.

[Glen E]

my verados are the quietest of the bunch but not by so much that you would notice it - they're all about the same...you'd need a DB meter to tell...

[turbo]

Glen E & Fletch are both correct. The E-TEC and the 4-stroke motors are all very close and you would have to have a db meter to see any difference. The Verado is the quietest and the others are right at its heels. You can have a conversation at the helm with any of them.

[606zpx]

Thank you very much for your replies!

[abfish]

After spending all day on a boat with a Suzuki 115, and another long day with a Yamaha F150, I can say without a doubt that the Zuke seems much quieter at cruise. The Yamaha has a roar, or drone, like an induction noise that the Suzuki does not have.