MacGregorSailors.com

A lot depends on the service in your area. I like my Merc. When I repower I would go with a 25 hp and have it towed the longer distances or go with a 110 hp. I would stay with Mercury.

While many wishers & tinkers say 90 is enough,
& while I hate to be a pooper...

Knowing what I know now, and running like I run... I'd go for the E-tec 115 & if I could screw up enough bucks the HO edition.

My 3 cylinder 90 moves me - but I wish moved me better - as in more efficiently. The answer lies in torque and there's more torque in a small 4 than a 3...

I can't imagine going much bigger due to weight and transom stress but there's a 140 out there that's having so much fun he hasn't had time to chime in

I can't justify the 25 pony upgrade - & I've tried

But if you're gonna repower, GO BIG OR GO HOME.

You've been warned

James V wrote:A lot depends on the service in your area. I like my Merc. When I repower I would go with a 25 hp and have it towed the longer distances or go with a 110 hp. I would stay with Mercury.

It sounds as if "big engine = fun" ... but what about the flip side of it, range? Or "miles made good" per gallon of fuel?

James, I'd ask you or Chinook before anyone on this ... because I'd like to follow in your wake to the Bahamas someday. It's 75 nm across the Gulf Stream, from West Palm Beach or Lauderdale to Freeport ... with my Honda 50 at high cruise, it should take about 5 to 6 hours. (I haven't done hours of high-speed run, so I don't have enough data for MY fuel consumption.)

Would a larger engine's increased fuel burn keep up with the increased speed, or would it demand more? For example, let's say my Honda 50 will give me 12 kts at 3 gph ... thus it would burn about 18 gallons in that Freeport run. If a 90 would give me 20 kts cruise - but guzzle more than 5 gph - I'm gonna need more fuel. (OTOH, if I cross at 5 kts that's going to be a long long day.)

I just saw a great piece on "Ship Shape TV “regarding repowering. They featured the ETEC, and what impresses me (as well as the many other ETEC points in the thread) is the ICON /I-Command System. Power is one thing...now fine control and ease of integration, that’s fun!

http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-for ... ystem.html is just one thread I read so far.

Speaking of raw power and fine docking control, has anyone attempted the two engine mod on a Mac? Say a couple of smaller HP engines instead of on large one?

BTW, I'm working out the same calc's myself regarding future FL/Bahamas run (Spring '011) and would love to get a group of Mac's to go.

"Sub" Ed

On the two engine mod - Search under Mad Mike

2 Nissan 6 HP IIRC...and he sailed it offshore. Note the name before commenting.

Mike's member name is maddmike. Do a search for "arrow nissan", no quotes. He used two 6hp and one 18hp.

~Rich

In crossing to the Bahamas, I would not plan on a crossing more than 6 mph. The seas are almost always to big. The bigger engin will help you going into wind and seas when most sail boats will not go.

My gas milage in crossing to Bimini was around 8 mpg. Towing a Dinghy and fully loaded. Your next stop from Bimini is the Berry Islands or Andro's. 90 miles. I was going dead into the wind and seas. My milage droped to 5 mpg. I am glad I had 30 gal's of gas with me.

The Bigger engin would help on the ICW. I could have gone 20 mph and had more anchor down time. I do not know how if the boat could have handled that long of higher HP. I have over 1500 hrs on my engin. Some think that the boat would start breaking apart - part by part. However, I can pay to have it towed from Key West to wherever almost as cheep and FASTER!

Wetsocks, don't let my experience scare you off of an E-tec. The issue I had could probably be better termed a "harness" issue. Just a couple flakes of plastic or fiberglass (maybe left over from the manufacturing process or picked up pulling the harness through) appear to have been interfering with the ground. I spent a couple of hours last weekend, under power, with my son. The motor was quick to start, responsive, smooth and relatively quiet. So at this early stage of ownership, I give my E-tec a thumbs up.

I have a 26X and I recently swapped my 50HP 2-stroke for a 30HP 4-stroke. I did this because the 30HP 4-stroke is quieter, much better fuel economy, Less smelly, Still plains so I can drain the ballast although if I have more than 1 guest I have to drop them off to make it easier to drain the ballast. It's fine with just the misses and me. Much smoother and easier to manoeuvre inside the marina.
The 30HP Tohatsu (Nissan) is 4 years old. The 50Hp Nissan is 11 years old.
I am not experienced enough to know if the lighter engine has any effect on the sailing characteristics of the boat. I would expect that it would improve the boats performance by being a bit lighter however the stern of the boat may have come out of the water a bit and that may make a difference as well. It all depends on the individual. If you are the type who likes to tear around at breakneck speeds with a 11 meter stick in the air (imagine the wind resistance) then go big. If you prefer a more leisurely pace then go small.

I bought a 40HP Bigfoot Merc. We are at lake meade in las vegas and the boat rental companies all you 40 HP bigfoots on their fleets which is about 5 boats total. I chose the 40 instead of the 50 because it really is the same engine but the 40 should last longer since it is using less of its total potential power so there is less strain on the engine. I swapped out an older Nissan 25hp 2 stroek which ran just fine but was a little too slow for my taste. Am very pleased with the 40. Have been in 50hp boats and really don't notice a big difference.

Egress wrote: I bought a 40HP Bigfoot Merc.
I chose the 40 instead of the 50 because it really is the same engine but the 40 should last longer since it is using less of its total potential power so there is less strain on the engine.

can somebody please explain this to me????

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

can somebody please explain this to me????

Count me out.......... I have not got a clue how that makes any sense.

But hey..... whatever floats yr boat I guess.

G

Apparently, the 40hp version is only a derated 50. It would run at a reduced RPM and with less stress on the same block and components. I could be wrong, but that is how I interpret it.

~Rich

It's always seemed to me that if you are going to carry around the weight of a 50hp on the back why get all the horsepower as well. You can operate the 50hp at lower rpms and get the same lower wear benefits you perceive a 40hp brings.

Ditto from my 70hp / 90hp Tohatsu TLDI, that's why I have the 90hp parts in it.

It's one reason I think the new Suzuki 70 / 80 / 90 family will be a great Mac motor. For the weight and size of what used to be the top of the old 60 / 70 family, you can now get a 90. Seems silly to not buy the 90. Now if only dealers would install them.

How heavy is that Suz 90? Will the transom seat close with motor all way up? The E-tec 60 is 100 lbs lighter and the seat will close, plus you can walk through. It seems to be worth somthing to me to have a three year service interval vs twice yearly for most other motors. By the way, latest testing by a boating magazine says the Suzuki is loudest of all at full speed (Suz 50hp vs the other 50's). You would never guess which 50hp was fastest (done on a light little flatboat capable of 50mph!) Well it was one of the worst performers ever on a Macgregor. A motor most folk never got on a full plane. Just goes to show, if it is good for one thing, might not be good for another. Good for 50mph, slowest for pushing a 20mph boat. Also, could be the "testors" never got the right prop on the test motors! Some were 20mph faster than others. If Evinrude had won the whole thing,I'd have said so.
Mike Inmon