Since Bombardier retooled ever part in every engine as well as every part in every manufacturing machine, the comapny claims that the engines have been elevated to near perfect. Ficht technology utilizes fewer moving parts than any other direct injection process. With all this in mind, if you were in the market for an outboard, would you consider a new Evinrude or Johnson?

Do you mean that out of 40+ readers, not one has an opinion on JOhnson or Evinrude engines?

I have a number of outboards from OMC, Suzuki, and Merc. All of them pre-1996 carbed motors. All of them have been very reliable. I have a pair of Suzuki 150's on my 23'center console with 850 reliable hours. I got really exited about the direct injected motors when they came out but all of these horror stories have me shaking in my boots. The Suzuki's suck gas and I could really benefit as I'm sure we all can from the fuel savings. My recreational time is limited and I want my outboards to work. They cost a s@#tload of money and they should be reliable. I want DFI motors bad, but I'm going to have to keep polluting until they show improved reliability.

I have a 70 Hp Suzuki, the EFI port injected 4 stroke, and I like it a lot. Good fuel economy, fires instantly, hot or cold, and runs flawlessly. I have two buddies with two strokes, the Evinrude has been fixed twice, and isn't quite right, and the other is a Force. Lets say the Force is frequently down, leave it at that. My brother has a new Yamaha 50 4 stroke, carbed, and it is in for troubles already too. I like my multiport injected 70.

[sp1]

I have'nt been on this board for awhile.
My next outboard will be an Evinrude Ficht.
Bombardier is a great company,and I believe it's the best thing that could have happened to John/Rude.The new Fichts are so good that I would'nt even consider a 4 stroke.Actually, as you probably know,most of the old Fichts were trouble free too.

I am looking at 2 FishHawk Bay flats boats the 200 and the 220. with Either Johnson 150 or Evirude 200 FICTH.
They have a great price on these boats the only consideration is that the dealers are approx 1-3 hours drive and regualr services is a question.

Our family has run OMC products since the late sixty's, but since I bought a 1986 Yamaha, it has never been in the shop except for P.M. and one carb rebuild because stupid didn't do his end of season maintenance. It is going to be hard for me to go back to OMC.

Under the circumstances, I'd say that it's going to be impossible for you to ever go back to OMC. THe company no longer exists. Yamaha builds superb engines. But if ever confronted with not being able to get one, then I might consider one of the other manufacturers with a high level of confidence.

Barbardier did a lot of fixing and refinement to the original Ficht design and the engines are now almost perfect. Their performance is better than both Mercury and Yamaha and they now come with a 3 year warranty. My next motor will definetly be a Evinrude.

I understand the OMC people at the test facility told the brass NOT to release the ficht engines, because of problems.
They did it anyway and I don't consider that a real smart move. They have paid, but I guess I'll wait and see. I am convinced four stroke is the way to go.