I recently bought a used Ranger boat with an Evinrude 150 FICHT engine, the engine plate shows that the engine is a 2001 model, but the cover says 2006 EPA Standard FICHT RAM injection. What does this mean? Engine runs great no problems.
Your engine is 2001 (or whatever model year according to the engine serial number). That's when it was made.
2006 EPA label means that your engine has as much (or as little) emissions as an equally rated engine should have if built in 2006. This is according to the EPA guidelines at the time your engine was manufactured. in other words, your engine meets 2006 EPA emssion standards for outboards and is no more polluting than an equivalent 2006 model year engine (assuming a 2006 standard hasn't been changed in the interim).
EPA sets emission standards for many years (decades) ahead. Although these standard may change or be adjusted, but it's something of a goal for manufacturers to shoot for when it comes to engine emissions. So the manufacturers can R&D and prepare their products manufacturing for upcoming standards. Typically manufacturers wait until the last possible moment as there is little incentive (and it's expensive) to adhere to future emission standards due to changes in design, tech, etc.
Ficht was a huge leap forward, almost 10 year jump towards emission standards of 2006. Sadly OMC had a rocky start with Ficht and never financially recovered, even though their tech was solid. No doubt the other big names helped spread FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt) and bury OMC when few early Ficht motors were failing. Everyone else was caught with their pants down as OMC literally schooled everyone in the industry.
