If you could do it all again... which motor?

[Wetsocks]

I'm shopping, so I'm looking at a new with either an E-Tec, Susuki, or Yamaha.

I started out thinking it would be a Yamaha... I just see so many of them and they all seem attached to happy owners. But as I read more and more about the E-Tec, the more I like. (with the exception of rfrye94760's recent experience!)

The things I consider most important... reliability, quiet, and as little pollution as possible, and low maintenance. Price too of course, but they all seem in the same ballpark, no?

Thanks in advance!

[Kelly Hanson East]

Do a google and find out your closest local service center for the brands you are considering.

In my area (NY) both Mercury and Nissan are well represented within 30 minutes drive.

The cost of dragging your boat to/from repairs can exceed the repair costs!!

[Wetsocks]

Hi Kelly, yep I did... I have pretty much all the dealers within a not too far driving distance, but a Yamaha dealer is the one I usually deal with.

[Terry]

Which ever brand you choose do not get less than the 60HP model.
When I first got my '03 M I wanted a 60hp but the dealer was pushing Honda and would not accomodate a different brand at the time. Not that there is anything wrong with Honda, it has served me well over the years and has been a bullet proof reliable engine. It just does not quite have the oomph I would like at WOT and I have never been satisfied with the push it provides. Therefore I rarely if ever use WOT. I am sure if I had aquired a 60hp at the outset I would have been a happier camper. If I could do it all again I would get at least a 60HP or greater. If/when my Honda ever dies I will definitely increase the HP.

[The Mutt]

The Force 40 on "Imagine" is great, keep in mind that our last boat had a 5hp Seagull outboard, I feel like Tim The Toolman.

If something ever happens to the Force 40, I'd look seriously at unbolting the noisy part from under it's cover and attaching a electric motor to the leg, then add as many solar panels and deep cycle batteries as possible, there would also be a 2KW generator for emergencies.

Glenn

[Scott]

My Catalina has a 4 horse and in retrospect if I was the original purchaser of the Mac I owned I would have gone small.

That kind of defeats the purpose of a Mac though.

[Highlander]

I am very happy with my Merc. 75HP F/S

J

[Kelly Hanson East]

I think I would have gone either 9/9 HP or 75 HP.

Coming through Westport MA gut a few weeks ago, I sure needed all my 50 ponies though.

[March]

I am very happy with my E-TEC 50. All things being equal (which they are not, of course), if I could have gotten a 60 or aa 75 for the same price, I would have certainly gone for it. But the idea of spending an extra couple of grands for a bigger engine doesn't appeal to me. I seldom use it at WOT, and the idea of planing at full throttle is is just one of those things: nice if you had it, no big deal if you don't. I have never felt like I missed the poneys I don't happen to have.

[Rick Westlake]

My Catalina has a 4 horse and in retrospect if I was the original purchaser of the Mac I owned I would have gone small.

That kind of defeats the purpose of a Mac though.

It didn't defeat "my purpose of a Mac" on Beija-Flor ... the Tohatsu 9.9 I chose for her, took good care of me and barely sipped at the gasoline. Full throttle I was going at maybe 5.5 - 6 kts, GPS speed. But I seldom went at full throttle.

95% of the time I don't need all fifty Honda-horses on Bossa Nova. Generally I only use the engine as a "kicker" to get back up Cadle Creek, running between idle and 1500 RPM; I'd bet your Catalina's kicker could push Bossa Nova around at those speeds. But I've got to admit - last Friday afternoon, heading for St. Michaels, it was a pleasure to wind up to 5000 RPM and blow by all the bigger sailboats that had left me in their wake while I was under sail. And I got a great anchorage, because I arrived before they did.

[nedmiller]

SILK has a 60 hp Mercury Big Foot and it has been quiet, extremely reliable, efficient, and low polluting. IF I could do it all again however, I would go with more power. My 60 hp can pull kids on tubes, but doesn't really pull an adult up to water ski. When cruising with all the weight we carry, when we are really wanting to make good time, I always feel like we are ALMOST on a plane---if only we had some more power we could flatten out and use the Mac in the way it was designed. IMHO, the ability of the boat to move fast makes the compromises worth it if you have a big enough engine to make it go fast! I'd go with a 90!

[opie]

It would help me choose a motor if someone could confirm the Etec Evinrude statement that the Etec can run all day at 1200 rpm without an water pump........ and without an oil pump as well. True?

[March]

Are you serious?

[bscott]

According to Evinrude the E-tec will run programmed for X100 if the oil supply line is cut for 5 hrs @ 1,200 rpm. Their promo did not mention a failed oil pump or a broken water pump but had them cut an external oil line on a 225HP. Its hard to say how long it will run on an empty internal oil tank E-tec 60.

I have an E-tec 60 which I rarely run at 5,500 at 8,000' altitude. Most of the time I cruise at 2,400-3,500 but it would be fun to be able to be a 90hp at the same price and weight on flat water

Bob

[waternwaves]

90E