Evinrude Ficht ram injection motors

[KevO]

I'm looking at buying a 2000 18' Javelin Renegade w/ a 2000 Evinrude ficht 150 on it.  Just wondering what you guys think about these motors?  I would really prefer a mercury but it's a pretty good deal if everything checks out with the motor.  How fast do you think a boat like this will run also?

[Bassnajr]

Don't buy it .....these engines have a tendancy to blow up. I looked at a Javelin also...but it had no motor. Guess why???

[acar555]

Have it checked out.  If it has lasted this long it is a good one.  If it has the updates it will be fine.

[R520dvx]

You will be fine if updated ....

[Bassnajr]

Have it checked out. If it has lasted this long it is a good one. If it has the updates it will be fine.

I disagree...once a lemon???? I'll bet he can get just as nice a boat for the money without this motor.

What are you going to pay for this Javelin???

[scrutch]

During my research last year before I bought a boat, one thing that kept coming up was people telling me to stay away from the Ficht.  They said that all 2 strokes can be finicky, but the Ficht is the worst of all of them.  Especially when it's not used every weekend and it sits unused for a couple weeks.

I'm not even close to an expert, but I made sure I spoke with a lot of experts before I bought a boat.  (AND, I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night) ;D

Oh, and, I bought a boat with a Merc on it.

[senile1]

I bought a Stratos with a 200 HP Ficht three years ago and it runs like a champ; however, I did my homework before I bought it. I did plenty of research and discovered the recall work for my motor was a replacement of the injector flange and hold down bolts. If the motor has the 1/2 inch bolts rather than the 1/4 inch bolts the recall work was done. Make sure the engine is propped to run at 5800 - 6000 rpm and make sure the owner is running Evinrude XD-50 synthetic oil and using the recommended spark plugs for the motor. Have the motor checked out by a reliable mechanic before you buy it and make sure he/she performs a compression check on the motor. The extra $125 - 200 bucks for the check-up is worth it. (I would do this anytime a used boat and motor is purchased.)

There were some Fichts that had major head problems and I believe those were the 1998 - 1999 150 HP and 175 HP motors. They may require more work than the 200 HP motor that I have. Below is one of the links I read before I bought my motor. There were others but I can't find them at the moment.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=79617

[Siebert Outdoors]

I'd pass. I also have a Ram 225 ficht. 01 model. I have one of two years the computer can be rebuilt. Others can not. If you buy one and the puter poops out your out 2500 bucks. I was lucky and paid 1k for a computer rebuild. (this is what I was told by the dealer)

Overall the motor runs great and strong. One thing I like is its quiet. Very quiet. I can talk on my cell while driving reasonable speed.

In the end I'd still pass on it. 

[Lcomfort]

I have owned 3 new Bass boats and 4 used ones. I have owned all merc 200, 225 and the last three 1 250XB and 2 250XS's cept for my first boat a 225 rude ram powered Stratos and my 3rd boat a Yammy 225HPDI powered Skeeter

The Yammy/Skeeter was a fine rig and I enjoyed it never had a problem with that engine it ran great and was turn key every time I got in the boat.

That 225 Rude Ram Ficht... I bought the boat used for a great deal had the engine checked out and it was perfect with low hours and the engine was good it ran well and was fairly fast.. one thing I found out about the rude rams they are really touchy about being propped well... I never really liked the engine but it was a fairly good engine after about 3 months of the owning the boat I had fuel injector issues, had them fixed and about 30 hours of use later the same thing and I fixed it and sold the boat.

I have owned my fair share of boats, My Dad has owned a lot of new boats so I have been around them all my life.

I used to be real big in to having the fastest bass boat in the club and I owned a Bullet 21XD with a Merc 2.5 Super shorty with some mods and boat with no gear and half tank of gas would run 109MPH on GPS.. I know my boats and engines.

I would NEVER buy another Engine then a Mercury Opti/DFI I really enjoyed there EFI's as well... If I found a great deal and it was Yammy HPDI powered ide go with it but other then that I wouldnt have anything but a Merc on the transom.

Have it checked out and test drive the heck out of it and go with what you gut tells you.

A light load and half tank of fuel if propped right the boat should run mid 60's.... with 2 people and full load of gear and fuel I would say mid to high 50's.

[KevO]

Yeah, from the sound of it im gonna hold out for the mercury I really want.  It's still early in the shopping season for me anyway.  Thanks for all your input.

[Way2slow]

Wow, I guess since I like the Evinrudes and Johnson, and also like my 1999, 225 ficht, I had better not get into this one.

Of course since I don't know anything about boats and motors, I wouldn't be qualified to comment here anyway.  Let's see merc Opti, aren't those known best at Opti-pops.

Funny thing about those merc's though, they can be blowing left and right, but those that like them have no problem with that. Go over to scream and fly and read all the post about the blown mercs.

[fishn hard]

I used to be real big in to having the fastest bass boat in the club and I owned a Bullet 21XD with a Merc 2.5 Super shorty with some mods and boat with no gear and half tank of gas would run 109MPH on GPS.. I know my boats and engines.

What lower unit and gear ratio was you running and what prop was you running to take that 21Xd to 109 and how many RPMs that is smokin

[fishn hard]

Wow, I guess since I like the Evinrudes and Johnson, and also like my 1999, 225 ficht, I had better not get into this one.

Of course since I don't know anything about boats and motors, I wouldn't be qualified to comment here anyway.

Funny thing about those merc's though, they can be blowing left and right, but those that like them have no problem with that. Go over to scream and fly and read all the post about the blown mercs.

LOL yep thats the way it is but we all know its not if they blow its when they blow  i like them all but Ill stick with the MERCS 8-)

[Way2slow]

Kinda hi-jacked, so I deleted.  Sorry

[fishn hard]

Yea, I know.

I do like that 109 mph 21XD bullet though. Paul Nichols had to use a JSRE built mecr cranking over 400hp to get a 119. That was turning over 10K rpm. Maybe Bullet needs a new test pilot.

I get over 300 hp out of my old Johnnyrudes and run them hundreds of hours. A 2.5, 300 merc is good for about 100 hours before it's time to install new rings.

Wait a minute though, I've already admitted I don't know anything about these things.

LOL you cant hide I know your rep on scremand fly 

[senile1]

Wow, I guess since I like the Evinrudes and Johnson, and also like my 1999, 225 ficht, I had better not get into this one.

Of course since I don't know anything about boats and motors, I wouldn't be qualified to comment here anyway. Let's see merc Opti, aren't those known best at Opti-pops.

Funny thing about those merc's though, they can be blowing left and right, but those that like them have no problem with that. Go over to scream and fly and read all the post about the blown mercs.

I like my Ficht too as mentioned in an earlier post above, though I have read plenty about some of the issues that occurred with some of them at their introduction.  Your knowledge on boats and engines precedes you, Way2slow.  I, for one, would appreciate your comments. 

[Siebert Outdoors]

I would bet this comes down to ford vs chevy argument.

I like the motor, over all. I just hope I dont have another computer issue. I shouldnt.

Right now if I was in the market for a new motor it would be an etec or Yamaha.