Looking to power a 18/54 Uncle J ride.. Wanted to get some generalized info on both the 37 EFI and Te Carbed 35 with the pros and cons of both and what to expect speed and preformance. Center console vs Tiller too..

Efi is fast but a carbed motor won't leave you stranded


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I've got an EFI and have had zero problems. A carb will be more reliable but you get more power from the EFI. These motors have spare fuses in them so you aren't stranded if you pop one. I would go EFI personally because you will want all the power you can get with that 18' boat. I have an 1854 with the 37 and sometimes I wish I had the BD4400 when on big water. You should see around 28 mph with the 37 on that size boat.

That's true but how much would some delta mods cost? That have some impressive gains with their mods. The idea has popped in my head but three things are keeping me from doing it, Cost, 27 I can run now is plenty fast enough, and reliability.

You think it's fast enough until you run it after delta mods.


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I bought an EFI at the beginning of the year and its awesome when it's working, but I'm wishing i wouldve gone the carbed route because Ive been stranded 3 times. That's me though.

I had a reputable MM dealer tell me EFI's are running about 50/50. If you get a good one you are set. If you get one with wiring harness issues it takes several trips the shop to iron out the problems some of which are never totally rectified.

Its pretty simple if you wanna go fast and have a motor that may just quit running until you pull the shroud off to find which wire/fuse/relay is bad repair then go back to running fast get an efi!

if you don't mind going a few mph slower and like a reliable motor that is easy to diagnose and tune get a carbureted and wait this efi shit out until all these other guys have figured out the problems and solutions to them.

I have an EFI, its at 129 hrs. It went DPE Level 3 at 90ish. This weekend was the first issue Ive had. Didnt leave me stranded but was a long idle in.

DO I wish I had went carb instead..... For a brief time idling in Yes, but in all honesty Ive been very happy with the setup. In stock form I was very impressed how well it ran, I could have easily left it stock and been satisfied with its performance.

Had a carbed 35 for about 7 years and 350 hours. Have one season on an EFI now, same boat. EFI starts easier when its cold, a little smoother and less prone to stall when you goose it and is a little smoother at idle in gear. Can't tell you I notice any other differences. Now if you want to ask about hydraulic reverse versus electric reverse...

I've got 26 hours on my EFI and the only problem I've had is the hour meter died at 15 hrs during the long river run at the Sparkleberry Swamp Duck Run. I have an 1854 and 28 mph is about right with light load.

I think what 3ck was getting at was alot of people are quick to say how theyve had no issues but have very few hours.

Id be curious to know how many hours people have on their efi and what issues theyve encountered.

I sold my 25 subaru with 230+ hrs with no issue, its around 300 now and still rolling.


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Yea I'd be curious of those numbers too and also at what point the problems commonly start appearing. My 26 hrs is still real young....

My 35 went thru about 5 tiny tachs. My 37 killed the first one early on. I know from past I run about 50 hours per year and have for 15 years on multiple motors. Don't see why that would change so I figure I have 50 hours on mine. Did have some kind of oil leak that GT fixed. 35 leaked oil everywhere for most of its life.

My GTR 37 EFI had it's first fuel issue at about 75 hours and about 8 months old, ran good for a month or so and now it is back in the shop with fuel issues seeming to be the exact issues I had before and now it is at about 125 hours.

Can you elaborate on your fuel issues mguidry?

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60 hours or so on my EFI motor with no issues. However, I'm a little scared at times due to all the issue I've seen come about with them.

We also have to remember. This site is where everyone comes when they have issues. Sort of like asking a mechanic at XXXX dealership shop which brand has the fewest issues.

--that being said--

My motor has been in the shop twice and I'm at the 100hr mark or thereabouts. It was built 10/14, and purchased 2/15. The only "EFI Specific" issue was the fuse harness at about 30hrs, which was promptly repaired. I had the cylinder heads replaced at 82hrs due to the same valve sealing issue they all seem to have at one time or another if left stock, and chased a gremlin in the valvetrain after that repair. It was fixed and has had about 15 trouble free hours since then. I still do not regret the decision to purchase the EFI system over the standard carb, and I don't think the Ecotrons/ProDrive system is really any better, other than it being closed loop, and even that is personal preference in a lot of ways. It's still subject to the same list of problems. I've had the last roughly 70hrs without an EFI related issue. Anyone who knows me, knows I don't abuse my equipment but I run it like was intended to be used. I'm not easy on it by any stretch.

We've had the carb vs EFI debate here till it's been beaten to death, and back to life. Get what you want, and run it. They all have problems eventually.

I'm only at about 21 hours wth no issues with EFI. the first time out I was stranded and figured it was a fuse or relay but is was a loose wire on my small fuel forwarding pump under my transom. I had no idea I had one under there and though it was kind of odd to not have a priming bulb but it all made since when I saw that small pump. do you guys take them to a Briggs dealer for work or an actual MM shop? Reason I ask is there is no mud motor shops around the middle GA area so I would be taking my rig to the damn lawnmower shop

Somebody can correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure that pump is part of the. Briggs efi system. And wiring issues have accounted for most of problems I've heard of so far. So to me it sounds like you had an immediate efi motor problem

I don't think you can credit the issue to the EFI system if one of the wires was not connected properly to the small fuel forwarding pump lead at the dealer. Once i found the problem and installed it properly I have had zero problems. I guess we will have to agree to disagree on it being an EFI issue because IMO it wasn't.

Great conversation.

Fair enough just add as much or as often to the end of my statement then


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So just how much speed do ya give up with the carb'ed model?

Thanks for all the imput guys!!

3.274 mph

Once modded, none in my opinion, maybe a little in stock form. I wouldn't let speed be my primary concern when deciding on a mud motor.

Yeah, throwing a rod, cracking a lower is definitely a carb related problem. Efi's won't do things like this