Engine question… Pro XS and Etec HO questions.

Ok. I have my rig sold suppose to meet the guy sunday for pick up. Now I am looking for a good used rig. I have experience with a 225 Pro Xs from my 2008 Cougar. I have a litte experience from a very brief ownership of a 09 Z520 that had a 250 Etec HO on it. I like the Pro XS ok it performed well had good holeshot and decent on fuel. The HO loved gas and was slower out of the hole but this isnt a even comparrison due to it was on a tub of a boat. So I am asking for QUALIFIED opinions. How will the HO do on fuel compared to a Pro XS on a Cougar or Puma? I am going to buy a nice used rig soon and these are the motors I will most likely choose from. I have a couple of boats that I have my eye on on with a Merc and one the HO. Will the Bass Cat hull make a great difference in fuel economy and holeshot on the HO? I mean I want it to get 4mpg or better crusing 4,300-4,500 rpm at 50-55mph. I knw the Merc will do that but honestly will the HO? I dont want another gas hog but if the boat makes a big difference I would consider a Etec. My price is 30k or less I would like to find a 2008 or newer Cougar FTD in that range. I ahve found a boat with a Etec thats just what i want in electronics and accesories but like I said it has a HO on it and if its gonna drink gas like the one on the ranger did im not intrested. Also does anyonw know how much it is to buy a extended warranty from Evinrude? The etec warranty expires at the end of 2011 and I want something with atleast 2 or 3 years warranty. I will buy a boat with a 250 Pro XS or a 250 Etec HO. I am just trying to decide if the Bass Cat boat will improve the performance and mileage a good deal. Thanks for any input.

This topic has 9 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 3 months ago by derek4one.

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February 12, 2011 at 5:37 am #426302

derek4one
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Just for the record… I LOVE the SHO !!!!! But cant afford this rig right now I have to get my payments down. Id love to keep it but it just cant happen at this time. I may cry the whole way home after I meet the new owner sunday………

February 12, 2011 at 6:31 am #426303

Flyswatter
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Derek,There is a steel of a deal Puma with a 250HO Etec, dual power poles, dual 1197s, 2009 model with low hours for $31,000. Id be all over that rig. Hope its still available for your evaluation. Good luck! I agree the SHO is a one awesome motor and would be very hard to leave that platform if you have been happy with it. Good luck in your endeavors.

February 12, 2011 at 6:41 am #426304

derek4one
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Thanks Flyswatter.. Its a Cougar FTD tho… .. I gotta pick on ya when I get the chance. I agree the boat, electronics and all the other stuff is a nice deal Im gonna give it a very hard look. I dont think i can find a boat like it with a Pro XS in that range but I am looking hard. I love the SHO. Its all the ysay it is and then some. I hope to own another 4 stroke in a few years. Im a 4 stroke guy at heart but for the time being i gotta get what I can afford. Not looking forward to buying oil again at all !!!!!! I am looking for a Cougar FTD I know lots of ppl like the net storage but i prefer not to have it. Just personal preference the Cougar FTD is the layout for me.

February 12, 2011 at 2:29 pm #426305

clownshoes
Participant

Derek I will call you later but I know the data on the 250HO fairly well- thanks to good education from the guys that work on mine and some “testing” that was done on mine.Quite simply put in my experience the 250proXS does better on gas. As you know I fish with a number of folks with mercs and have driven these boats a fair amount myself.Also- with the “upgrades” that need to be done on most 250HOs the gas consumption is going to go up. I wouldnt own one without a new fuel bulb.Now the question becomes how much does it really matter? Everyone makes a big deal outta gas consumption but given how frightfully pitiful all outboards are in the whole mathematical scheme of things backed up against a 30K purchase I am not sure I care much most days. Now if I were to commonly want to run 50 miles one way like the guys in LA or sometimes us river rats do I figure it makes some difference but I dont do that regularly in an event and figure on most events that tank of gas is gonna be gone at the end of the day anyway. Dont get me wrong its a factor but not the biggest one. I can run all around Ouachita, Degray, Greeson, Greers all day. Now you wanna run from Pine Bluff to LR and back like I asked Swann to do last year duuring an event your gonna run some gas through that sucker. AND XD100!To me for you the biggest factor is what Danny Guinn or Trader Bills wants to work on and can get fixed. How much is Danny gonna sell you oil for of each?The other issue Ill bump here a little as well is the accuracy of gas consumption gauges in your boat. You want to know the real truth get an analog fuel gauge dial it into the number your computer says you use at 5800 rpm and see what is really going on. Ive got a few patients that make good fudge but those computers do too-Real driving experience on my part and others that have driven both products many hours say the BRP uses more.I like owning a BRP product because of the repair source for me Derek, I like owning an uncommon product so someone around here(dumb angler types not BCB) continues to have an experience to report, I like how it sounds when it runs fast, and I can see the potential of the motor while also being able to afford to stick around and see if they realize it.Plus if they dont get there a remand motor from Riverside is “sicker” than anything on the planet. Period.C.O.D. Jr. III

February 12, 2011 at 2:29 pm #426306

Bama96
Participant

derek have you ever considered downsizing? If you really need to save money on the boat and fuel why not look at a Classic, P2, or Sabre FTD? I went from a Puma 250 Yam combo to a P2. I really dont miss the 20 boat. The P2 will do everything I want it to do and has great performance. You can find a used Classic with a 200 Merc over on BBC for close to 20K or less. I think it was an 06. Just something to consider. Not everyone “needs” a 20 boat.

February 12, 2011 at 2:35 pm #426307

jcdogfish
Participant

Gunrunner has an e-tec 225 and DougMcgee had a 250. They hang out a lot on BBC in the Louisiana section. Could give you some insight. Doug runs a 250xs now. All on Puma FTD and Cougars.

February 12, 2011 at 3:40 pm #426308

derek4one
Participant

Ward, I havent taken my boat to Danny for about a year now. Nothing against him just a situation I dont want to get into again. Im not gonna discuss it on a public forum but Danny knows why I dont bring my boat there anymore. I referred a guy to him a week ago o na used boat purchase so I dont tell ppl to not go there. I just choose not to for a personal reason. I have thought about a P-2 that would be as small as I would go. For me I cary a good sized tournament load and a Classic just doesnt have the front storage I need. There arent many used 2007-2009 P-2s out there. Id like a Optimax Pro XS or Hpdi on one of them. The only boat im looking at with a etec is loaded and affordable thats why I asked about the motor comparrsions. If I burn say 15 galons in a Pro Xs in a day and 25 in a etec then I dont want the Etec. But if a Etec only burns 5% more gas then I could accept that. Im not concerned with having a mechanic close by. Trader Bills and Futrell are both a hour or less away.Last edited by derek4one on February 12th, 2011, 3:49 pm, edited 2 times in total.

February 12, 2011 at 4:15 pm #426309

bworner
Participant

Between Wards expertise and my HO Throwing Propaganda we should be able to help you…..Get a print out of the HOs life, run serial # thru BRP, check for updates…..The HOs are STRONG motors, the Mafia or Rice guys can sling mud or Kung Pow Chicken, but its a animal….If you took all 3 225s or 250s and put them on Equal hulls you would see what I mean….Very reliable, Hole shot is propping and setup….unless you have a 2009 with out updates…..Brannon 847-450-4011 Pro XS salesman that loves the HOs…Your Signature …

February 12, 2011 at 4:19 pm #426310

derek4one
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I looked on the Evinrude website. In the testing done on R boat the best fuel mileage a 250 HO gets is 3.8mpg…. Thats barely decent honestly. I run several miles quite often. I dont really want a motor thats gonna burn 20% more fuel and on top of that nearly $50 per gallon oil. Im still looking and considering it but those numbers are not neraly as good as a Pro XS or SHO.
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