TRYING AGAIN - ETEC 90 QUESTION

[mika]

Friends,
Have my new MacM on order and need to make a decision on the motor. I really appreciate all the great advice you guys have given me. But I still can't get an answer to a crucial question. Problem is, only a few of you could possibly know the answer. What I need to know is this: Will an ETEC 90 fit under the pilot seat without a modification to that seat? I know it's taller than the 60, but is it TOO tall? I am not comfortable with immediately butchering (aka making a structural fiberglass mod to ) my brand new boat. (One of you referred me to a Mac sailor who has the ETEC 90, but that person hasn't replied to my email inquiries.) Any additional info or advice any of you can give me re the ETEC 90 would be greatly appreciated, but I've got to know for sure about this height issue.

Thanks!

[Catigale]

I think you need to put this question to your installer before you pay them anything???

[Spirit of the Wind]

i can't answer exactly, but I have a 90 ETEC on a . From the top of the transom to the top of the motor housing is approximately 20 inches. Hope this helps.

[TonyG]

I have a ETEC 75..The prop is out of the water before the motor touches anything.
I believe the 90 has the same outside dimensions. I have a 2005 M with a 2006 ETEC motor.

[raycarlson]

dont worry the seat is not a structural mod. 3 screws and you can take it completey off and it will not affect the handling of the boat one bit,and is a great place to get your feet wet with cutting up your brand new boat. you can get experience drilling,grinding, fiberglassing and gelcoating,epoxy bonding, and the best part is if you F it up to bad you can just buy a new one.this was one of my mods except i lowered my seat height as it was about 8 inches higher then the rest of the cockpit seating, as the wife and i are usually buck nekid when sailing it made you feel like you were setting on a bar stool when you where steering

[beene]

My point is, does it matter to you if the motor will tilt up all the way, or will you be happy if it tilts up, just shy of hitting the seat and is either out of the water or is just barely touching.

With me, it was more important to have the power to use an M as it was intended. Here is a quote from the manufacturer....
"The 26M offers high speed powering without compromising sailing performance, giving you the peace and quiet of sailing, or the fun of powering at over 24 mph."

Ok. You will not do that with a 50 or 60. You need a 75 or higher to do what the boat was designed to do.

My 75 has a 1600cc block, so it will not fit under the seat. I tilt it up just shy of the seat back. At that point the skeg is still touching the water.

I am happy with that. Some feel that anything touching the water will slow you down. My M is not meant for winning any sailing races. If I loose .001 of a knot while sailing because my skeg is touching the water, I will not loose any sleep over it.

If you like etec and like the 90, I say go for it.

.02

G

[beene]

Oh, I forgot to mention, I recommend installing transom wedges for your outboard.

The stern of an M does not have enough negative slope to allow the outboard at full down to bring the bow down enough while powering. My wedges are -5 deg and will bring the bow down to just the right spot for max speed, least spray into the cockpit and great visibility over the bow from the helm seat.

Cheers

G

[Highlander]

Beene
While were on this subject you still have not sent me the pic's of that boat stern seat side swing-fold away brkt we seen on a sail boat at the Boat Show !! ?

J

[C Striker]

Oh, I forgot to mention, I recommend installing transom wedges for your outboard.

The stern of an M does not have enough negative slope to allow the outboard at full down to bring the bow down enough while powering. My wedges are -5 deg and will bring the bow down to just the right spot for max speed, least spray into the cockpit and great visibility over the bow from the helm seat.

My bow blocks visibility from the cockpit. I get tons of spray motoring at speed. And my etec 60 will not push my boat up to 24 mph. I wonder if I had those wedges installed if the boat would do as advertised with the 60, the max recommended by macgregor. It seems the more I learn, the more I learn everything the factory claims needs to have a footnote.

[Gazmn]

I have an E-tec 90, but i have an . & I had my seat removed for more room around the cockpit. So, i don't have your clearance issues. Another possible work around is to install a jackplate. Anywhere from 4 - 10 inches. I LOVE the real estate this afforded me but it's additional weight and could open a whole bunch of other worm cans

Here's a pic of my 10" jackplate - which is a bit much but was done trying to offset other issues i have.


Perhaps a 4" jackplate could offset the seat bump, and give you better in/ out options

[Captain Steve]

Gazmn,

Did you make the wood flooring back there, I made one but that looks much more elegant. Just checking to see if you have a plan or drawing.

Thanks

[Free2sail]

Yes, I second the request for plans and detailed schematics for the floor/deck. Looks dam sweet. I know that it will probably take time to finalize the drawings for everybody, but I'm willing to wait!

[Hardcrab]

Mika,
Check your PM

[Captain Steve]

free2sail, see my mod of a "back Porch"

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1063

functional, but the one gazmn has is good looking...after 8 years mine needs replacing. Maybe some more pictures would reveal enough details to replicate it!!!

[Gazmn]

Aw Shucks, thanks guys

I'm quite flattered. Sadly that porch hardly made 2 seasons. It was regular plywood that I started using as a template and got carried away with. The mod is here.

It's since been replaced by a much more basic, & sturdier, 3/4" solid white starboard w/ treads -- boring but quite effective. I don't have pics yet but will post soon.

Regarding "template" I did a poor trace from on top of the stained back porch for my starboard replacement. It's one piece, wasn't quite perfect but gets the job done well. I'll try and dig up the # to the maker; he may have kept the plans and be able to duplicate.


Hope not to have hijacked ur post Mika, what do you think of the jack plate idea?