Johnnielund
Petty Officer 3rd Class
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2002
- Messages
- 91
I suppose the only real reason for this post is to be able to vent. I m not even sure Im posting on the right forum. <br /> All that being said, Ill begin with a little history.<br />I have a 1993 16 Lund Explorer powered by a 30 HP Johnson, which I bought in July of 2001. Love the Lund, love the Johnson. Im probably a little prejudiced in favor of Evinrude & Johnson, since Ive had some type of OMC outboard for around the last 40 years. There was a period in 2001 when I bought my first boat (16 Sylvan powered by a 25 HP Merc) didnt like the Sylvan (unstable), didnt like the Merc (hard to start). Three months later, I sell the Sylvan/Merc, I buy the Lund/Johnson and Im very pleased to say the least.<br /> As I said earlier, Im a big Johnson/Evinrude fan. Keeping in mind the fact that they all build good outboards. Honda, Merc, Suzuki, Yamaha / 2 stroke 4 stroke theyre all good. It is a matter of personal preference. Kinda like Jeans or Dockers. They all get the job done. Its just a matter of which is my personal preference. Thanks to this board, the Bombardier website and people like Seahorse and John from Illinois, I have also followed closely the demise of OMC and the subsequent rescue by Bombardier and most important to me, the development of the E-Tec.<br /> I have recently come down with a severe case of one-foot-itis. To begin to cure this I attended the Chicago Boat Show on January 14, 2006. Upon entering I head directly to the Lund Display. I quickly eliminate the Pro-V as the cost is prohibitive. I however am quite impressed with the 17 Explorer Crappie Edition. The dealer only carried Merc (Im fully aware that Brunswick owns both Merc and Lund) and Honda. When I told him I was interested in E-Tec his answer was that he couldnt understand why anyone would want a 2-stroke. Next its off to find the E-Tec that they have running in a tank inside. I found it at a big pontoon boat display. Needless to say I am very impressed with the E-TEC.<br /> So now what do I have? A Lund dealer that does not carry E-Tec. But so what this is only one dealer, and next week is the Chicago Boat Travel and Outdoor Show in Rosemont, surely there will be a dealer there that carries both Lund and Evinrude.<br /> One Lund dealer from Chicago offers Merc (of course), Yamaha and Evinrude. However he does not recommend Evinrude, but will do it if I insist. His question to me is why I would want an outboard that is backed by a company that has changed hands 4 times in the last 5 years and that has an infomercial that is full of false advertising and that if I wanted 2-stroke that Optimax is almost the same thing. No, price it with an E-tec. is my answer. Lo and behold the price with an E-Tec is around $2500 more than with Merc or Yamaha because of all the rebates and show specials that arent available with Evinrude. I thank him for his time, and move on. I walk away disappointed and wondering if he isnt Forktail in disguise.<br /> The next dealer over is Alumacraft. This dealer carries Merc, Yamaha and Evinrude. He is just as excited and impressed with E-Tec as I am. After taking some good natured ribbing about being at his display wearing a Lund jacket, he explains to me that Alumacraft has double plate hull construction from bow to stern, unlike Lund whose double plate is only from the bow to 1/3 the way to the stern. I look closely at the Alumacraft Dominator and Navigator. Nice boats, but dont seem to have the fit and finish of Lund. I particularly like the SportTrak gunwale accessories on the Lund, which Alumacraft does not have. Maybe Alumacraft is the way to go. Dont know.<br /> As a side note I also stop by the Ranger display (way out of my price range). Everyone at Ranger seems to have good things to say about the E-Tec.<br /> Next Lund display, all they carry is Yamaha. But at least they have enough class not to E-Tec bash.<br /> Sorry for this oh so long post. I just had to get this off my chest. Feel better now! Thanks.
I just feel that there is too much maintenance on the four strokes.<br /><br />Talking to dealers about engines they dont sell is a waist of time as is talking to dealers about the engines they sell is also. Talk to people you see at the ramp, hangout there all day if need be. Hey, its very intertaining watching everyone launch and load there boat if nothing else. 
