115 merc vs 115 etec

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dr3131

Recruit
Joined
May 6, 2008
Messages
3
I am buying a lund 1825 explorer and am trying to decide if I should put on an evinrude etec or a merc.
Can anyone give me any objective reasons why I should pick the Merc over the Evinrude. Obviously the dealer is pushing the merc slightly more than the evinrude.
THanks
 
Bigjohn1

Bigjohn1

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 19, 2005
Messages
170
Re: 115 merc vs 115 etec

Both are great engines with overall maintenance costs being very close for the average boater going 50-100 hours per season. The biggest thing which ought to drive your decision is the price comparison between the two engines and dealer support. The E-TEC will be a bit more peppy out of the hole with the Merc being a bit faster on the top end (if both engines are propped correctly). Really, they?re both good engine!

From the reports I have read, the purchase price of the E-TEC seems to be several hundred more but that might not be the case in your locale.
 
Silvertip

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,771
Re: 115 merc vs 115 etec

The dealer wants to sell you the Merc because there is more money it for him. Why -- Brunswick owns both Merc and Lund. Package costs from the Lund factory are therefore less but the savings are not necessarily passed on to the purchaser. Brunswick has title to 47 (last count) boat brands. Does that give you an idea why more Merc engines are sold than anything else?
 
ziemann

ziemann

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 28, 2004
Messages
584
Re: 115 merc vs 115 etec

I ended up buying a BRP product (Johnson) for my Lund Mr. Pike last year just to buck the Mercury trend....I was lucky enough to find a dealer close by that actually orders a few Lunds that are not rigged to accomodate customers like me. Most dealers seem to only be ordering them fully rigged due to that cost break with the Merc.... I really don't have anything against the Mercury....I just had a BRP preference....
 
jevery

jevery

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 16, 2006
Messages
538
Re: 115 merc vs 115 etec

Here?s a good comparison of the two. Both on the same hull, a MirrorCraft 1845.

http://www.mercurymarine.com/look_d...y=Title&Section=outboardChecks&optimax75115=5

http://www.evinrude.com/NR/rdonlyres/06E5DE3A-DA27-41A8-81A1-CF911380BFDA/0/PE447.pdf

The Optimax has a slight edge in MPH, best MPG, and WOT MPG. I use Ed?s Marine Superstore (.com) to compare prices on outboards. They sell the Optimax 115 for $7,200, but for some reason they don?t sell the ETEC 115. The ETEC 90 sells for $7,300, so the 115 would be significantly more than the Optimax. Ed?s may not sell that model because they?re not competitive in cost / performance ratio.
 
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bigtwin

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Mar 10, 2006
Messages
85
Re: 115 merc vs 115 etec

jevery said:
Here?s a good comparison of the two. Both on the same hull, a MirrorCraft 1845.

http://www.mercurymarine.com/look_d...y=Title&Section=outboardChecks&optimax75115=5

http://www.evinrude.com/NR/rdonlyres/06E5DE3A-DA27-41A8-81A1-CF911380BFDA/0/PE447.pdf

The Optimax has a slight edge in MPH, best MPG, and WOT MPG. I use Ed?s Marine Superstore (.com) to compare prices on outboards. They sell the Optimax 115 for $7,200, but for some reason they don?t sell the ETEC 115. The ETEC 90 sells for $7,300, so the 115 would be significantly more than the Optimax. Ed?s may not sell that model because they?re not competitive in cost / performance ratio.
Click to expand...

Why would the Optimax be 1 mph faster then the E-tec? It dosn't make sense, it is common knowlage that the E-tec is a better performer then the Optibomb (opps I mean Optimax) ;)
Then I read each performance report closely and noticed the Optimax was tested at 60 deg. F, and the E-tec was tested at 81 deg. F, thats a 21 deg. difference. This explains the diference in performance and mileage.
If it were my boat I'd go with the Evinrude, better performance, better reliabilty, lighter weight, and less maintance.
 
Kev144

Kev144

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Oct 16, 2007
Messages
159
Re: 115 merc vs 115 etec

bigtwin said:
Why would the Optimax be 1 mph faster then the E-tec? It dosn't make sense, it is common knowlage that the E-tec is a better performer then the Optibomb (opps I mean Optimax) ;)
Then I read each performance report closely and noticed the Optimax was tested at 60 deg. F, and the E-tec was tested at 81 deg. F, thats a 21 deg. difference. This explains the diference in performance and mileage.
If it were my boat I'd go with the Evinrude, better performance, better reliabilty, lighter weight, and less maintance.
Click to expand...

I thought maybe the OP wanted some non biased replies. I've owned both Evinrude and Merc. (currently merc). Both motors are great. The E-tec seems to be more high tech and you will pay for that but really, you can't go wrong with either. Which ever has the best price and warranty with dealer service is the key. Finding motors and deals are easy, it's finding the right dealer who will treat you right.

To this poster. The E-tec has had its share of problems. I had a good one but a friend had the first year E-tec and it was a waste of money. The E-tec will save you a tiny bit more at the pumps but you pay for it up front. It's all personal preference. Where I am merc seems to be 10 times more popular.
 
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bob01081969

Cadet
Joined
Jun 28, 2008
Messages
10
Re: 115 merc vs 115 etec

O.K here it go's I fish in local bass tournys here in Maine and I know of 2 members that have the same boat but one has the 3 cyl optimax the other has a RUDE V4 and the RUDE runs away at mid range the opit stays with the RUDE until 35 mph then the opti slowly falls back. The boats are Rangers and the RUDE Ranger is about 5 mph faster on top end, and yes I was there on several events when these two boats raced each other.:D
 
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