How important is it to stay away from E-Tec engines now? I know they don't make them anymore, but two great boats include fairly new versions of them. Should I avoid them like the plague???
Its important to stay away from them
if you don't have a local mechanic that can work on it. A modern e-tec uses completely different tech from most 4-strokes. 2-stroke / direct injection technology is different enough that you can't take it to a mechanic without experience.
Usually the ex-Evinrude dealers are still around and have mechanics familiar with the engines, and still have all the old diagnostic software, and access to all the parts. Keep in mind - Evinrude / BRP didn't go broke - they just stopped selling new motors. You can still get factory BRP parts and the warranties are all still valid. My Etec is a 2019, and had a factory extended warranty. I talked to the local dealer here in Vancouver, and they still honor it. Etecs tend to be really polarizing because a few models got a terrible reputation - also, BRP's sudden exit from the market in 2020 took a lot of etec owners buy surprise and burned a lot of bridges. That said, some models seem to have a fine reputation - If you see a boat with evinrude power, definitely research that specific model before writing it off.
I've got a 2019 135HO (2.6L V6 model), and no real red flags came up when I searched the model, and the maintenance history was solid. I definitely got a bit of a discount on the boat versus, say if it were running an equivalent Merc, Zuk or Yam. Finger's crossed, all good so far. Anyway, once you've driven an etec it can be hard to go back. They just put out so much torque, its hard to compare to anything in that same hp class. My 135HO puts out a ton of low end torque, and gets up/out of the water instantly. At 3000rpm the motor is putting out peak torque @ 200ft/lbs, which is more peak torque than a 200hp Yamaha or Suzuki going flat out. They punch way above their weight, especially at low-mid range rpms.
I think the AB models have a decent rep. This is the 2.6L V6 (Etec / G1) and encompasses the 135HO, 150hp, 175hp, & 200hp model range - very common. Evinrude's model designation is bit annoying and can make it hard to know exactly what you are looking at.