Is 1997 Evinrude 225 a risky purchase?

I am new to motor boating and am looking to buy a 24' deck boat that has a 1997 Evinrude 225 with around 100 hours. A couple of people have warned me that:<br /><br />1. Evinrude was having problems with quality control in the late 90s.<br /><br />2. A six year old engine with so few hours is in some ways more risky than a motor with more hours.<br /><br />I would appreciate your thoughts.

Re: Is 1997 Evinrude 225 a risky purchase?

You don't say if it is carbed or Ficht injected.<br /><br />Avoid V6 Ficht engines made before 2002.<br /><br />#1 was true for '98 to 2001 OMC-built engines.<br /><br />#2 is just gossip.<br /><br />Good luck.

Re: Is 1997 Evinrude 225 a risky purchase?

90 degree 'loop V' motors are fairly easy to work on. carbs are easy to rebuild but check out good before you buy.

Re: Is 1997 Evinrude 225 a risky purchase?

Octagonkirk:<br /><br />I have a 96 225hp v6 90 deg looper with about 300 hours on it. It recently seized up. The problem was that the rubber fuel hoses that "loop" to each carb had begun to break down inside near the connection point to the carb causing the line to "kink" at that point. The result was that fuel was being restricted. I premixed my fuel at 40:1 and it always ran fine. It was getting enough fuel at low rpm's but when I ran it at 3/4 to full throttle it was leaning out the top two cylinders. The upper crank bearing sheared off and stuck out the top of the engine. I would recommend changing any fuel lines whether they need it or not. I'm also going back to the VRO oil pump instead of premixing. If you maintain them annually and replace every 3-4 years then you shouldn't have a VRO failure. Anyway, good luck.

Re: Is 1997 Evinrude 225 a risky purchase?

YOU WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY CRAZY TO BUY AN OLD FICHT....I CANNOT BEGIN TO TELL YOU THE NIGHTMARE WE SUFFERED ON TWIN 1998 150's<br /><br />EC