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Dave, take the lady up to Kalispell, Montana, and get a cabin. Don't think about buying any kind of boat. You would be just shooting yourself in the foot.

Raw gas smell, none. Smooth walls inside, not a good idea to be on the bow while underway, plus it is a convex shape. Mildew is of course possible, adding a vent or 2 will help a lot.

But if she is just looking for a comfy spot to lounge in the sun while you power around then other boats would do this better.


The 26X has a large cockpit to lounge on, but while sailing it gets exciting enough that laying back is not usually in the cards. The M has a similar cockpit, but might be a little smaller. Not sure, since I haven't spent much time on one.

All new motors burn pretty clean, whether 2 or 4 stroke. The older 2 strokes are stinkier, but the new super high tech 2 strokes might even be cleaner than the 4 strokes, at least accoring to the vendors.

Craig LaForce wrote:All new motors burn pretty clean, whether 2 or 4 stroke. The older 2 strokes are stinkier, but the new super high tech 2 strokes might even be cleaner than the 4 strokes, at least accoring to the vendors.

Not true ... the eTEC 50 still emits a whiff of that classic 2-stroke oil smell.
The 4-strokes emit no combustion odors at all.

Engin odor, None with the sails up.

As you have seen with your car, nothing is odor free. Neither is most of the waters. My advices is to rent a boat for a few times and see if she like it. Even a small power boat on a lake.

I like the smells. All natural (execpt when the wind blows the engin exaust into me, which is not much or often).

Good luck.

Frank C wrote:

Craig LaForce wrote:All new motors burn pretty clean, whether 2 or 4 stroke. The older 2 strokes are stinkier, but the new super high tech 2 strokes might even be cleaner than the 4 strokes, at least accoring to the vendors.

Not true ... the eTEC 50 still emits a whiff of that classic 2-stroke oil smell.
The 4-strokes emit no combustion odors at all.

Agreed. As impressed as I was by a friend's E-TEC 50HP for it's quietness and no-smoke, I could still detect a slight odor of burning two-stroke oil. That said, if she can detect odors from modern automobiles, there's even a possibility that she could from a four-stroke outboard pushing the boat slowly wit a tailwind, even if most of us couldn't. The exhaust bubbles up from behind the boat and could be blown forward.

Even though their are lifelines forward, you're likely to be cited for having anyone sunbathing on the bow when underway. She could probably stretch out on a cockpit seat (at least on the 26X) on the leeward side, but is more likely to get wet, and would have to move when you tacked.

Dave,

My olfactory abilities rival superman's too, unfortunately; makes for a problematic world. Yes, the boat will have its odd smells. Yes, it may develop mildew that can be sensed even before it can be seen. Often that's how you know you have mildew. Every boat will develop mildew, even your open bow, because anywhere water can remain, and there's some shade and heat, you'll get mildew. In a cabin, its even easier to get the little guys reproducing like mad.

Bellaroo has no smell of mildew - I make certain of that. All of us here keep our boats very clean, it's very easy to do. You ventilate the cabin, keep the water controlled, bilges clean, clean surfaces like you would clean your kitchen. The fiberglass inside is like your boat now, smooth gel coat finish. There is some carpet inside on the hull of the M, none I understand on the X.

There is fuel venting and if you get your nose over the vent cap, you would be able to smell it - it's there. But, under normal circumstances you can't because when then engine's running, there is negative pressure in the tank. If you run with two, then you'll always have some fuel around but I've never smelled it other than during refueling. The fuel shouldn't be a problem.

Exhaust, same. It's there and any two stroke will emit smoke. They're much better now than earlier models, but their very design creates smoke because they burn oil in their combustion. Get a four stroke.

Theyre lots of smells she will enjoy, the salt air, the sun, the coconuts, etc.

Regarding sunning - once you're out there it very difficult to avoid the sun. As a matter of fact, most of us have installed the largest biminis we could mount to do so. Florida sun will cook you like bacon and on a good day you can hear your skin sizzle. The deck configuration prohibits sunning underway, simply too much going on up there to lay around. At anchor, you can, but not underway on engine or sail.

Sailing is an experience in of itself - there is nothing like it. Comparing it to a powerboat is difficult and often invalid. Even under power, the Macs are not really like powerboats, just sailboats with real engines on the transoms.

One last thing, if you have an air-conditioned car, try driving with the vent closed so only cabin air recalculates. That sometimes helps keep the exhaust out.

Recommend you rent a sailboat before you go through the trouble of having to sell yours after only a season of deliverance.

Michael

Frank C wrote:The 4-strokes emit no combustion odors at all.

Frank, Gotta call you on this one... If it burns gas, it must emit combustion odors, doesn't it?

Granted, a 4 stroke isn't supposed to burn oil, as a 2 stroke does. But, the newer 2 strokes burn so little of it, and burn it more completely, that they emit much less odor than most people would expect.

With that said, during break in, my ETEC stunk. But, that's beause it was injecting something like 4 times the oil "needed". Since then, it is barely noticable, even though it is injecting twice as much as needed. <- I had them program it to use any oil, since the oil was as readily available as it is now...

I bet it would truely rival a 4 stroke, if it was injecting only as much as needed, which is what they claim...

Call if you must, D, but I stand by my observations. No, the Suzuki DF60 emits no discernable combustion odor, whatsoever. I can only assume that it's more water soluble than the 2-stroke, but even my Sierra V-8 emits almost nothing of exhaust odor ... it's so easily diffused in the slightest amount of air ... only when I'm hitching up the trailer do I notice it at all.
(Course, I don't run the Sierra 5.3l in a closed garage, but I also don't have a boat garage)!

And yes, the eTEC 50 does emit an unmistakeable hint of that classic 2-stroke odor. Diesel boats have a similar problem ... any such odors (diesel is worse) eventually roll my stomach with motion sickness. I've never found that from the 4-stroke, at all.

I also dislike the smell of raw gasoline emanating from venting fuel tanks in very hot weather - but that dislike is less than the others - for me. Fortunately (:?:), we rarely have heat enough in San Francisco to cause the tanks to vent !

To weigh in on the Tohatsu 90, I have never really noticed any smell to speak of. No odor from the gas tanks either. Just fresh air and sunshine.

Our Dinosaur tow vehicle, lacking almost any OEM enforced emission modifications, will overcome most downwind or in close proximity without wind, but Pulls like Locomotive. I had a friend that would pass out in underground parking, just from his low tolerance for engine exhaust. Ive been around diesel most of my life and have never overcome that exhaust (Thank goodness for emission Converters) Our tow vehicle is economical, and was purchased for towing our trailer keel boat, but has found more use as a Mac Transport and other details. We would prefer a new vehicle, but until the financial prowess and function come together, were bound by this negative aspect.

We have a DF50 on our Mac and several small auxiliaries. The emissions from our 2-strokes are more noticeable when first started like newer cars until the cat converter lites off, but are within reason for its service. The new computer injected two-cycle are no doubt very good and rated 2 & 3 star for their clean emissions. Lets hear it for progress and keeping exhaust as Clean as a Safeway Chicken!

To control mildew and odors inside the boat I use Damp Rid. It keeps the moisture under control and consequently the mildew. I have noticed a real difference from before I started to use it.

The E-Tec 50 generates a good deal of smoke. Doesn't smell any different to me than my father's powerboat (4-stroke) As for gas tanks, the modern ones are self-venting, so you don't need open any vents. No smell while sailing or powering, provided you close the caps tightly. I think your wife will like the M's interior. As for riding on the bow... why are all you guys opposed? I believe the term is "rail meat." Makes for a fun experience and sunbathing. Just have to make sure you don't make a mistake and clober her with the boom.

Leon

Leon, I don't ever recall any smoke at all out of my Merc 4-stroke. Only exception to that is if I put like a 1:1 mixture of Seafoam through the motor.