Hi All<br /> this may be sort of interesting to some, who knows! I had a pair of 1990 120 loopers on a 20 foot twin hull, which I had done nearly 1,500 hours, in 2000 I swapped for a pair of 115 fichts, now the fichts are 5 years old and have over 2,000 hours on them so I think I know them pretty well, here is my long term comparisons on the two motors. First off both motors weigh nearly the same so I gained nothing there, next fuel economy, the fichts barely sip petrol where as the 120's took some feeding, I guess about twice the fuel consumption of the fichts maybe even a bit more but the oil is more expensive for the fichts.starting was a bit the same for both, the fichts just need to turn key, wait a jiffy then start where as the loopers needed choke and lever setting to start, but not a big deal, now in terms of running, the fichts will idle all day as smooth as silk and no smoke or fouling problems but the old loopers where not all that happy trolling for long periods, the biggest difference and this is where I think the loopers where slightly ahead is in power, the loopers had almost unlimited torque and you could happily just move the throttles up and the boat would just increase speed in time with the throttles, but the fichts have a very definite "power band" and when you take off it almost seems like it is going to "bog down" but when it hits the power band it goes like hell and requires throttle back adjustment as speed will just keep increasing, now this is not bad just different, in the service area the old loopers where easy to "fiddle with" but the fichts are a lot more complex and require more specialised technical expertise to keep running at their best, mind you they have over 2,000 hours of almost trouble free running, as far as looks go the newer motors always look great so no contest there, a small thing I personally do not like, although it has never posed a problem in the air intake is on the front of the 2000 models cowling and cops a lot of salt water spray when running, you may be thinking why am I writing this but I am going to repower soon and maybe this may have helped with someones choice in going from an older to a new generation motor, what will I buy when I trade the fichts?? well does anyone make a 115 with ficht fuel economy, looper torque and about 80 pounds lighter? hhmmm I doubt it but if they do put me down for two!
