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Hey Joe,

Nothing against the ETEC and I know you like yours but facts are facts. Fact is as you pointed out I can't buy the Yamaha in CA. Fact is Patrick can get one in Canada and in some other areas of the USA they are still available at least for this year. Given the choice between the two motors listed I think my analysis is correct.

I would prefer the Yamaha for price, weight and ease of maintenance as I like to do my own maintenance.

I would prefer the ETEC for fuel economy and range.

I do not know how Patrick will weigh those considerations but that is up to him. Obviously, you feel differently than I do but that's okay too, we don't have to agree.

As far as the oil I agree that when you are on shore you can get XD-100 synthetic oil lots of places. But, a couple of times I have been on the water and was low on two-stroke oil and needed fuel. in San Francisco on the dock at Marina Green (Home of SFYC) they only had TCW-3 no XD-100. I made a note of that and checked at Jack London Square Marina (same deal there) and the same thing at the Grand Avenue Marina in Alameda. If I were considering a new motor that would figure in to my equation so it is worth mentioning. It might be something Patrick wants to look into when choosing a new two-stroke motor in his neck of the woods.

Regards.