Ficht Evinrude. Survivable?

[harringtondav]

Another boating pal + wife are spending the weekend at our place. I noticed his O/B as I was helping him launch.

1998 Evinrude 150 hp Ficht. I recalled stories about the problems from this forum, but I didn't say anything. Last night he mentioned he heard about the issues and researched before buying this used boat.

I said it has survived for 22 yrs, and so should be good. Is it? What is the Ficht failure mode?

 

[flyingscott]

Run it until it breaks and then sell it for parts.

 

[82rude]

Most likely only good for another 20 years.:joyous:

 

[Scott Danforth]

it was designed to last 15 years...... it lasted 22.

with proper maintenance, it may have a 30-40 year service life

 

[havoc_squad]

Run it until it breaks and then sell it for parts.

+1

Like a very old and overused car that you intentionally only buy super dirt cheap just to get you by for as long as possible to get you from A to B.

Soon as something expensive breaks (engine/transmission/etc), you let them haul it to the scrap heap.

FICHT motors are that type of boat motor. Parts support is poor and they are mostly resented/hated in the boat service/boat ownership community.