Re: Honda vs. Evinrude
I went through this exact delema last spring. Honda vs E-tec. Both are great motors. I ended up with the E-tec for a couple of reasons.
It is a lighter motor, big deal when you are maxing out a boat. I run and gun my boat, thus I thought the E-tec would be better for this. It was cheaper. I go to small lakes, where I am unable to have my motor in a full upright position to start. I have heard of people doing damage to their four strokes by doing this. I run my boat until ice up. I have experienced others around me having trouble starting their four stokes in the cold. I also like the minimal maintenance and winterizing, I'm lazy.
I have had my motor for a year now. I do not know what my hours are right now. I know I did over 80 in two months. I have done nothing but put gas and oil in it.
The E-tec is a very quiet clean motor. I am no longer choked out by the fumes like my old rude did. It uses very little gas. I have been complimented by four stokers on how quiet it is at idle, as we were having a boatside chat and I left it running. Yes at speed it is a bit louder, but so are the four strokes. I know for a fact that my 75 E-tec is quieter than my FIL's 15 Honda 4 stroke.
Again, both are great motors.