Evinrude FICHT Outboards

[Guest]

I would like to know if anyone has experience (good or bad) on the 115hp Evinrude FICHT engines. Comparison with particular interest to fuel economy and reliability. Any other info appreciated.

Thanks

David Nixon

 

[jfm]

Are you asking becuz you are thinking of buying one? If so, be very careful as until recently FICHT has been unreliable. I do not have experience of one, for this very reason, IMHO Mercury and Yamaha much better

JFM

 

[Geoffs]

I've no direct experience, but I look around at engines that are running, and from I have seen, ought to add IMHO, the Mercury Optimax seem the best of the direct injection 2 strokes. They tick over very smoothly, no vibration or 'wobbling' and complete lack of smoke, even when revved up from tick over. The HPDI Yamahas I've seen run very rough and smoke like a conventional 2 stroke.

The FICHT series, when introduced, burnt through pistons when used on part load. Evinrude say they've fixed this, but..........? I believe the FICHT system is less complex than the Optimax. But I say again, the Optimax's I've seen, up to 200HP, seem first rate, IMHO.

 

[jfm]

Re: Optimax

Agree above but now only applicable if buying s/hand because Merc do not make a 115hp optimax anymore, the optimax starts at 150hp AFAIK. Axshully, at 115hp, you will find the fuel consumption of a new Merc 115hp (or might as welll buy a 125, they're the same) very light anyway, so benefit of DFI over carbs would be small anyway.

David, sorry maybe drifting way off your question now, what are you trying to do? Are you buying a new engine, or s/h, or do you already have a Ficht that you want to fix, or what?

JFM