2000 Evinrude 115 FICHT Ram/ Problems corrected???

[C4]

Topic says it all. I am looking at buying a 2090 Maritime Skiff with a year 2000 Evinrude 115 HP FICHT Ram Injection. It is a one year old engine and seems to have had no problems... But I'm still wondering if Evinrude ever fixed their FICHT problems???<br /><br />Any help will be greatly appreciated...<br /><br />Michael

 

[JB]

Re: 2000 Evinrude 115 FICHT Ram/ Problems corrected???

Hey, C4. As I understand it, Bombardier has put a "Don't operate" recall on the 2000 200 and 225 'Rudes to fix a problem with fuel leakage under high pressure, but has given the smaller FICHTs a clean bill of health.<br /><br />Anyone care to add to that? Check at OMC.com.<br /><br />Good luck.<br />JB

 

[C4]

Re: 2000 Evinrude 115 FICHT Ram/ Problems corrected???

J.B.,<br /><br />Thanks for your input! I have read quite a few of your posts while trying to decide on whether to re-power my 17' Montauk or move up... I ended up selling the Montauk with it's 11 year old (never a single problem) Yamaha 90 on it. (BTW, it was a great match of boat to motor...)<br /><br />The Maritime Skiff http://www.mskiff.com I'm looking at seems like a great deal, and the guy who owns the company worked for Whaler for something like 18 years. My only remaining hang up is buying an engine with a less than pristine past.<br /><br />Today, I asked two OMC dealers here on Cape Cod the same question about the FICHT. One dealer said "Run from that deal: all FICHT engines are problems", the other one said "he had sold quite a few 115's and had never had a problem..."<br /><br />Any other opinions an a 2000 115 HP Ram Ficht are welcome!!! (and needed...)<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Michael<br />Cape Cod, MA<br /><br /> culmic@hotmail.com

 

[Dunk]

Re: 2000 Evinrude 115 FICHT Ram/ Problems corrected???

First, there's never been a problem with the V4 Ficht's. They run and act just like OMC said they would. The problems have been with the early 150-175's and this one update on the 200-225's. I wouldn't think twice about buying V4 Ficht, they are good engines. The only reason the CG got involved on the last recall is because of the OMC fold and they were worried about Bomb picking up the ball fast enough. If OMC didn't fold they would have had the problem covered before it even got to the CG.<br /><br /> Maritime Skiff's only claim to fame is the fact the guy that owns them used to work for whaler, like you said, but that the end of it. They no more resemble a whaler than I do. They are the most over price boats on the market. All they are is single skined rolled edge skiff. This guy is making a fortune selling these and he's doing it by saying is a whaler man. Don't buy into this. They don't cost a dime more to make than a Carolina Skiff. Look at their prices compared to MS. Sundance Skiffs are the same as CS except they have better bow entry to knock down the spray. That 12 degree bottom on the MS isn't going to do much good in the soft ride dept. Tyere's lots better values out there than MS.

 

[JB]

Re: 2000 Evinrude 115 FICHT Ram/ Problems corrected???

AAAUGH!!! Selling a Whaler and looking at a Maritime Skiff?? Dunk is spot on. Brunswick ought to sue that guy for trying to use the Whaler reputation to sell Yugos of the sea.<br /><br />Get another Whaler and put a FICHT V4 or an EFI 4 stroke on it. Once you've gotten used to a real quality boat, you are going to be unhappy with less.<br /><br />Good luck.<br />JB

 

[C4]

Re: 2000 Evinrude 115 FICHT Ram/ Problems corrected???

So, you say keep the Fitch engine and loose the maritime skiff!!??<br /><br />I did test a Carolina Skiff 1980 and found that it shot water straight out from the bow in 1 to 2 foot chop. I wouldn't want to be in one with 3' chop and a head wind... seemed like it would be a pretty wet boat!<br /><br />I'm not comparing the Maritime skiff to my Montauk. It is a very different boat, but it did handle the cross chop at Chatham Inlet every bit as well as my Whaler ever did. (This may be due to the fact that the 1890 MT Skiff that I tested was a full 2' longer than my Montauk...)<br /><br />The MTS 2090 that I'm thinking of getting is another 2 feet longer than that, and it handled the chop in Boston Harbor and the seas outside of Graves Light with no problem.<br /><br />I do agree that the price of a MTS is much higher than the Carolina Skiff, but it seemed to me that the Carolina Skiff was better suited for calmer waters. It didn't seem like a North East fishing boat. The MTS 2090 I'm looking at is a year old (as is the 115 Ram Fitch). The asking price with CC, LP, Tee top, radio, fish finder, a couple of large coolers, etc., on a new Calkins trailer, is $18,000. It has less than 100 hours on it. To find a 20' 6" Whaler that was similar r would take me well into the high $20's...<br /><br />Thanks for all the feed back! I am now clue less as to what to do next!!!<br /><br />Michael

 

[C4]

Re: 2000 Evinrude 115 FICHT Ram/ Problems corrected???

Any other opinions an a 2000 Evinrude 115 HP Ram Ficht?<br /><br />I'm closing the deal this Saturday...<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Michael