MacGregorSailors.com

Ok you Mac owners and the never ending debate on which motor is best: Roger has spoken. The E-Tec is the official motor for the Mac. Roger has tired of defending powering performance caused by use of motors not up to the Mac's needs. As of today, all Mac dealers now have available to them the E-Tec 50 and 60! I have personally been urging this for some time. The motors will be installed at the factory for dealers who pick up the boats themselves and shipped in the original carton to dealers who get boats via railcar. Those dealers will need to learn to do the install themselves. Next thing on the floor is the new roller furling jib/genoa. It is a slick/strong/ light good looking unit made by MacGregor just for the trailersailor! Throw away your misc brand stuff, just kidding. I just got back from delivering a boat to Austin TX. The new aluminum trailer is much better than the old steel one. Soft ride, no bounce. I even pulled the trailer back empty and my wife and I went off-roading, trailer and all in my H-2. We could not have gone in the rough with the old trailer, too much bounce. This is one serious improvement. I'll be trying tommorrrow to talk Roger into a kit for conversion of the M to X on the alum trailer! Iv'e done some already and it is very easy! Just some wood blocks, call me if you need details or drawing of such. Mike Inmon

Viva E-Tec! Did I read right that the factory will install a 60hp?

IMO, Roger's choice of engine reminds me of his choice of trailer. Under powered and undersized respectively. Need I say more?

Kind Regards,
JonBill

If this is right that a 60hp E-tec is now a recommended motor I say not before time but I am now totally p!@#$% that I didn't do it originally due to insurance worries.

Is the E-Tec a 4 stroke motor?

Is the E-Tec a 4 stroke motor?

No, they are the "new technology/pressure injected" 2-strokes. They've been out in numbers for approx 3 years now. Tohatsu's TLDI are also pressure injected 2-strokes (although the pressure system designs are somewhat different), and it seems like they've been out a year or two longer than the E-Tecs. So they both have some hours behind them now.

Mike. As a MacGregor dealer myself, I would like to correct you on a few points made regarding the Evinrude program. This isn't new news and it certainly isn't "as of today". All dealers were notified of the fatory's intent to develop a program months ago. The announcement of program availability came a few weeks ago. Although dealer pricing is in place for the E-Tech 50 and 60, the factory will not be ready to ship engines until after the first of the year as we have already placed orders for boats with them.

The E-Techs are nice engines and should sell well as the factory has done a pretty decent job of negotiating with the folks at Evinrude. We have been installing Suzukis to date and will be making the switch as soon as the factory can start shipping them.

Why the 60? Pretty simple. The 50 & 60 are essentially the same engine. In fact, there is no difference in weight.

Well, I'm a happy chappy then. Thanks for the foresight ssichler!
That'll make insurance easier (sorry Bob)

One of the big differences with the e-tec is its stratified charge mode (under 2000rpm I think...homogenous above that)

Further reading for those interested

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratified_charge_engine

or the evinrude megatalkitup website.


James

It's interesting that MacGregor has picked the motor that has had the most reported problems on this board over the past few years.

I'm still wary of the E-Tec technology, it seems that there are still bugs to be worked out. The Tohatsu TLDI seems to be quite a bit more mature and reliable 2 stroke technology.

And with the weight numbers being hit by the latest 4 strokes, I would still think long and hard before going with the E-Tec. Just because Roger picks something doesn't mean it's the best. He has a long track record of paying more attention to the cost rather the quality of things.

The motor is a big chunk of the total boat budget, make your own choices rather than just following the herd.

Duane has some good points.

I have been around outboard engines and owners for some time now and the opinions on any given engine will vary widely. I have always been a fan of the Mercury line until this summer.

We have installed three or four 9.9s this year and I have to admit I am pretty surprised at how erratic their behavior has been. They have been hard to start, buggy to run, etc. Really surprising considering past history.

I agree with Duane that the factory probably made the final decision on the Evinrude because it was able to negotiate the best all around deal for itself and its dealers. Their installed price to the dealer is pretty hard to argue with. Of course, it is up to the dealer to determine what he or she will retail the package at.

Most of the engines out there are really technological marvels and I believe any one of them will do the trick. In the end, I would probably look at each of the candidates and look at the bottom line cost. Personally, I cannot see paying a $1,000.00 or more premium for one engine over another.

this is the answer...

The "New" Honda 90 Vtec (or 70 w/out Vtec)



weighs less than a Suzi 60/70.
4-stroke, 3-star rated.

if i was re-powering today, this is what i'd do.

Bob T.
"DāBob"
'02X w/ '04 90-TLDI (14" x 11 pitch)
Dinghy Motor: '06 2.5-Suzuki

I'm inclined to agree w/ BobT, also on the 90 vTec, with only one exception.
I'd rather wait a year or so, to see what owners post about the new Honda.

Even though I am a old Johnnyrude user, I haven't used a new one since their buyout by BRP. Plus I have heard some bad stories about some of the V6's blowing heads. Then I heard a rumor that BRP is shopping for buyers to dump Evinrude & Johnson on. So I am leaning towards Nissan/Tohatsu.

I was going along nicely thinking the E-tec was far superior to the Honda (not the new one) until I took my 15 hp dinghy motor in to be tuned. The dealer who deals in both Honda and BRP was quite adamant that the Honda is superior in almost every way except the warranty/maintenance shedule but even there he reckoned the 3 years/300hrs was absolute c@#^.

Oh well I have a 50 HP e-tec and am quite happy with it except for a couple of minor annoying niggles, it will do until I have covered the coastline and places I want to see and then someone else can repower or not. (but starting to really enjoy this sailing caper).

Lake Tahoe only allows 4 stroke outboards, unless the new E tec is exempt?. and I think many pristine lakes will be following suit to 4 stroke only.