Motor Upgrade for Dummies

[98MACX]

If someone has the patience to respond to such basic questions, please forgive me for I know nothing about engines! I have been reading as many threads as possible. I have picked up a bit of information. Based on my readings, I believe if I want to go to a more powerful engine, the EVINRUDE E-TEC 90 is the one for me. Here are my very basic questions.

• 1) Right now it take a good heave to lift up my 25HP Nissan engine, how hard is it to lift these 90HP engines into the tilted up position? Or do you install an electronic lifter?
  
  2) With this 300lb+ engine, do I need to put the gas tanks further forward or balance the weight off? I have read of people needing to do this, but wondering if this kind of engine will also require this level of weight management.
  
  3) What kind of speeds do you see with this engine loaded with 4 or 5 people? I get about 7.5 knots on my 25HP 2-stroke Nissan.
  
  4) Do I need to worry about fuel allot more with this engine? If I were to guess, I think I get about 4-5 hours of motoring mid to full throttle on one of my 25 liter tanks.
  
  5) From what I've read, I believe I need the 20" shaft, is this correct?
  
  6) Do I need to do anything else special such as reinforcing the transom or anything else for this kind of weight
  
  7) Will the sailing quality be compromised by a noticeable amount with this extra weight on the back?
  
  8) Can these motors be manually started? If no, do you have any sort of other back-up solution in case of a power failure?

Any information you can provide that is completely dumbed down for me would be greatly appreciated!

I found a used 2006 one with 120 hours on it (salt water) so I think I might pick that up depending on the information I receive from the responses.

Thanks,
(Long time reader, first time poster)

[Catigale]

Ill take a stab at these

1) Right now it take a good heave to lift up my 25HP Nissan engine, how hard is it to lift these 90HP engines into the tilted up position? Or do you install an electronic lifter?

Cant be lifted by hand easily- need a power trim solution. I would think this comes with motor

2) With this 300lb+ engine, do I need to put the gas tanks further forward or balance the weight off? I have read of people needing to do this, but wondering if this kind of engine will also require this level of weight management.

Gas tanks can remain as they are..its like having an extra person in the cockpit

3) What kind of speeds do you see with this engine loaded with 4 or 5 people? I get about 7.5 knots on my 25HP 2-stroke Nissan.

(I defer to someone who has the engine to comment

4) Do I need to worry about fuel allot more with this engine? If I were to guess, I think I get about 4-5 hours of motoring mid to full throttle on one of my 25 liter tanks.

The engines are roughly the same efficiency as the smaller ones, so you will get about the same mileage at a given speed, coarsely put. Of course, with 90HP you will likely be zipping around at higher speed, where you use more fuel.

5) From what I've read, I believe I need the 20" shaft, is this correct?

Cant comment

6) Do I need to do anything else special such as reinforcing the transom or anything else for this kind of weight

I would recommend this - a simple transom backing plate in Al for example

7) Will the sailing quality be compromised by a noticeable amount with this extra weight on the back?

I will reserve comment on this...this is a bit of a hand grenade topic - fair warning!!

Can these motors be manually started? If no, do you have any sort of other back-up solution in case of a power failure?

Hand starting a 90 isnt practical from what I recall posted here. A jumpstart battery (<100 USD) makes a great backup for the boat though.

[Hardcrab]

I'll stab at #7.
I have the 90 Tohatsu on my 05M. I do not think the extra 30 pounds of deadweight (285lbs for 50 hp/315lbs for 90hp) can be perceived as a problem under sail. I do not know what the specfic weight delta is for the ETEC 90/50 HP's.
My M floats bow-heavy when observed from the dock, ballasted or not. We do, however, use the V berth for most onboard stowage duty, guessing about 25-30 pounds of "stuff" for a typical weekend.
I think that you are making a good call going to more HP.

[Bawgy]

I have an E-TEC 50 and it does the job . I would go with a 90 next time but wanted the warrantty issue with my new boat . BRP is looking to unload Evinrude and the larger ETECS are blowing up left and right . The six cylinder models are the ones going kaput. I have not heard any bad on the inlines but I do worry about the future of the company . I wold go Tohatsu if it were me

[beene]

IMHO

1. Engine will come with hydraulic tilt and trim, no lifting
2. Leave the tanks where they are.
3. With the right prop 14x11 24+ empty, 22 loaded.
4. Use the extra hp to get the boat on plane, then power back to 3700 and hold 20+ mph but less fuel use.
5. 20" yes
6. I would use aluminum plates, but it's your boat
7. In my experience, I went from a 7.5 Honda 4s to a 75 Merc 4s, nil change in sailing performance. To get better sailing performance, I would suggest a keel boat that has a rep for just that.
8. I would not recomend hand starting. Go with dual batt config, house, start, with a Perko switch keeping them isolated and when all else fails, put the sails up.

Good luck

G

[Frank C]

ModsNote: Gazmn's following post and several more were split to a new thread, but GZ still offers good advice to this OP ~fc
ETEC 90 on 26X

I have the White Saltwater 90 HP on a 97X. While it's nice, there are truths stranger than fiction. I have not gone over 15kts. With or without ballast. I have bottom paint and a lot of Shtuff. Accept the fact this will never be a speed boat.

• 1- Motor comes with trim, tilt lift.
  
  2- I use 4 6 gal Evenrude portable tanks in the usual place. I believe I'm better balanced with the Ballast in. Otherwise I'm tilted back a hint.
  
  3- You'll get about 10 to 12kts with 4 or 5 people. KEEP THE BALLAST IN.
  
  4-Look to do 8 - 10 kts and be happy. I fill a 6 gal every other outing if I'm out for a couple of hrs.
  
  5- 20" shaft
  
  6- At the very least get backing plates aluminum or SS. There's one I saw that had a bracket on the outside too and it would offset the tilt in a favorable way. I don't have this
  
  7- I'm a lousy, new, sailor. And I can't currently disengage engine from steering. Deal with it. You got more ponies than most sailboats.
  
  8- Haven't tried to manually start. I don't believe you could. Get a Perko and 2 Batts. This motor requires 1000 cranking amp Batteries. Don't fool around with your Batts.

My setup cost about 10 Boat Bucks when the smoke cleared. On a scale of 1 -10, I'm a 7-8 on the contentment scale.

Don't regret it but I'd like to weigh my boat and see what I'm pushing. I expected more ummph from other postings. And I've had my motor checked 3x. It's not the motor... I use a 14x11x3 prop with a 14x9x3 backup. WOT is 4800 RPMS. 17 kts W/ no ballast, Glass conditions no wind, solo. I don't break 5000 rpms no matter what.
Phat Bote Optimal is 4500 -5500 RPMs

It will be a world of difference from your 25, as it was for me from my former 35. You'll use alot more gas.

Good Luck