I can't answer that by myself, Dik, but between all of us here, we can probably compile measurements of every motor available. I can do the Merc BigFoot and Suzuki DF50. Think just cowling width is enough?
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Moe
Quick Overview OP Poll 50; 60; 70; 80; 90
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Frank C
Actually Moe, the 26X top speed quotation (24 mph) originated in 1998 with one of the first Merc 50 Bigfoot motors. It was installed by Gene Arena and the speed runs were on the Alameda estuary, a saltwater shipping channel just off San Francisco Bay. They actually ran two-way timed runs over a measured-mile in the channel. Conditions are typically flat water, light ripple, winds < 10 Kn.
I still have filed someplace Gene's brag sheet showing speeds at various RPMs, and comparing the Bigfoot to the most common previous installation - the Honda 50. (And parenthetically, my boat is still dry stored along that same shipping channel).
Gene and his brother (Arena Bros) raced hydroplanes in the 50s, so he was a stickler for proper measuring and mounting of the 26X outboards. Beyond the 24 mph, Gene is also source of the now prevailing wisdom that a 14" prop is best for these boats, but I think it has more to do with dock speeds and mid-range rather than top speed, where the prop drag offsets any speed advantage.
My insistence on a Suzuki 60 made it the first "oversize" he ever installed, and he designed the transom reinforcement and fabricated all mounting plates. Roger would not grant any dispensation of the 50-horse limit, but they did discuss it. Transom strength was not their limiting consideration.
Finally, one can almost judge the swim step "fill index" by looking at engine displacement. The Suzuki 60/70 at 1300 cc is wide even on my 26X. I hear that it completely fills the swim step of the 26M.
I still have filed someplace Gene's brag sheet showing speeds at various RPMs, and comparing the Bigfoot to the most common previous installation - the Honda 50. (And parenthetically, my boat is still dry stored along that same shipping channel).
Gene and his brother (Arena Bros) raced hydroplanes in the 50s, so he was a stickler for proper measuring and mounting of the 26X outboards. Beyond the 24 mph, Gene is also source of the now prevailing wisdom that a 14" prop is best for these boats, but I think it has more to do with dock speeds and mid-range rather than top speed, where the prop drag offsets any speed advantage.
My insistence on a Suzuki 60 made it the first "oversize" he ever installed, and he designed the transom reinforcement and fabricated all mounting plates. Roger would not grant any dispensation of the 50-horse limit, but they did discuss it. Transom strength was not their limiting consideration.
Finally, one can almost judge the swim step "fill index" by looking at engine displacement. The Suzuki 60/70 at 1300 cc is wide even on my 26X. I hear that it completely fills the swim step of the 26M.
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mtc
- Captain
- Posts: 545
- Joined: Mon Feb 21, 2005 5:06 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Panama City Beach, Florida 05 M 'Bellaroo' 60hp Merc BF
So, then from what I've read (in the Cliff's Notes of Mac Mods) we apparently prefer the 4 stroke to the 2 stroke.
Injection is the only way to supply fuel to an engine! I was an old Holley man, arguing the point that I could rebuild on the side of the road with a flashlight in my mouth and a screwdriver. But, age and wisdom (and a better job) has now taught me that I wouldn't need to rebuild an injection system on the side of the road - they just keep working. So, now I'm a convert and guess I'll sell the half dozen Holley's in my garage.
If I'm getting a 2003 Honda 50hp installed, cabling, etc. for $6,200 it's probably got a carb, eh?
What's a reasonable price range for a MFI model? Moe, you probably have the most recent price catalogs on your desk, or just know this from memory
I simply can't imagine what that 115hp is like on the back of this boat. Have you bent your mast? Isn't the motor too heavy? I'm jealous.
Michael
Injection is the only way to supply fuel to an engine! I was an old Holley man, arguing the point that I could rebuild on the side of the road with a flashlight in my mouth and a screwdriver. But, age and wisdom (and a better job) has now taught me that I wouldn't need to rebuild an injection system on the side of the road - they just keep working. So, now I'm a convert and guess I'll sell the half dozen Holley's in my garage.
If I'm getting a 2003 Honda 50hp installed, cabling, etc. for $6,200 it's probably got a carb, eh?
What's a reasonable price range for a MFI model? Moe, you probably have the most recent price catalogs on your desk, or just know this from memory
I simply can't imagine what that 115hp is like on the back of this boat. Have you bent your mast? Isn't the motor too heavy? I'm jealous.
Michael
Michael, the reference I use for Evinrude, Johnson (Suzuki-made 4-strokes), Mercury, and Yamaha pricing is Ed's Marine Superstore. They generally have the best motor pricing, but folks have found the controls cheaper elsewhere. And in some cases they've gotten a better package price elsewhere.
As has been mentioned before, it's best to buy a motor with local dealer support. My nearest Suzuki dealer is an hour away, and the nearest one after that is 3 hours away. A couple of folks here recommended Brown's Point Marine for on-line Suzuki support, and I've had good luck with them. Having the option of two or more dealer/service centers is also nice if you become dissatisfied with the primary.
According to the website, Honda still uses carbs on the BF50.
Frank C, that's an interesting story about the source of the 24 mph figure.
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Moe
As has been mentioned before, it's best to buy a motor with local dealer support. My nearest Suzuki dealer is an hour away, and the nearest one after that is 3 hours away. A couple of folks here recommended Brown's Point Marine for on-line Suzuki support, and I've had good luck with them. Having the option of two or more dealer/service centers is also nice if you become dissatisfied with the primary.
According to the website, Honda still uses carbs on the BF50.
Frank C, that's an interesting story about the source of the 24 mph figure.
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Moe
Let me add, if you're thinking of doing the motor install yourself, the M pedestal presents some challenges, and the solution seems to be mounting the Uflex control as high and as far forward as possible on the forward side, to give enough height to bend the cables into the post, and to give enough depth to mount the tach.
Here's a thread you might want to read, and a mod and there's another one about clearancing the pedestal for the cables, but I can't find it off-hand right now.
Public perception is generally in favor of the 4-stroke, but the E-TEC has a lot going for it too. I wouldn't rule it out.
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Moe
Here's a thread you might want to read, and a mod and there's another one about clearancing the pedestal for the cables, but I can't find it off-hand right now.
Public perception is generally in favor of the 4-stroke, but the E-TEC has a lot going for it too. I wouldn't rule it out.
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Moe
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marc ducharme
- Deckhand
- Posts: 43
- Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 4:59 pm
- Location: Salve Lake Alberta CA 04M50hp
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Frank C
Re: Quick Overview OP Poll 50; 60; 70; 80; 90
Michael,mtc wrote:There's a great deal of info on OB size and a broader overview would be very helpful. Would you please participate in this poll? I'm looking for the OB size mounted on the M. . . .
In case it's not obvious from above comments, I doubt you really got the poll you were looking for, "outboards installed on the 26M."
When I saw the poll "Overview" of motor sizes, I just voted 60 without reading the first post. But as is probably true for more than half the responses, it's mounted on an X-boat, not the M.
Matt 777 E-tec high altitude performance
How is the 50HP E-tec working for you in differing altitude - especially higher ones?
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waternwaves
- Admiral
- Posts: 1499
- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 8:18 pm
- Location: X less in North Puget Sound -have to sail other boats for a while
24 mph no cushions, 1 battery, little fuel.... mast on???
Frank C
hmm,
this presents a quandry....
this 24 mph claim existed in my 96X and 2600 brochures also, (which I still have from the original sale of my boat...) so my guess is....that the 98 figure was a rehash....
do you have any references to earlier motors/tests??
Thanks...
Darren
hmm,
this presents a quandry....
this 24 mph claim existed in my 96X and 2600 brochures also, (which I still have from the original sale of my boat...) so my guess is....that the 98 figure was a rehash....
do you have any references to earlier motors/tests??
Thanks...
Darren
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Frank C
I just guessed at the '98 dating. Arena was first to mount the Bigfoot when it came on the market. There was debate over how heavy it was (260) versus the "standard" Honda 50 - LOL! Or - maybe Roger quoted 24 mph in '95 from his careful design analysis, and it took Gene Arena 2 more years to PROVE IT!! And FM's STILL tryin' to prove 17mph under sail!
Could have been earlier than I realized. In those days Arena (dealer) was not up on technology, small computers and software. Ergo, speeds were "timed mle" rather than GPS, and his performance table was "typewritten"
- not in an Excel spreadsheet! 
Back then he said my DF60 was the fastest Mac he'd ever commissioned, 28 mph (measured on my GPS) one-up, no mast or rigging. Best speed that I ever witnessed was 24 mph, has steadily declined w/ age & gear, now 21 mph.
Could have been earlier than I realized. In those days Arena (dealer) was not up on technology, small computers and software. Ergo, speeds were "timed mle" rather than GPS, and his performance table was "typewritten"
- not in an Excel spreadsheet! Back then he said my DF60 was the fastest Mac he'd ever commissioned, 28 mph (measured on my GPS) one-up, no mast or rigging. Best speed that I ever witnessed was 24 mph, has steadily declined w/ age & gear, now 21 mph.