E-tec 90 installation on 26M

[Hans]

I am importing a new to Perth Australia and would appreciate any tips on fitting the e-tec 90 for best performance, ie prop size ,mounting height and additional support etc

Thanks Hans

[beene]

Hi

I used 2 aluminum plates for extra support on the transom. One in the motor well, and one inside the aft berth.

When choosing which holes to use on the motor, I lined up the ati-cav plate with the bottom of the boat, not the bottom of the transom. There is a couple inch difference there.

You also might want to look at using transom wedges. I have heard BWY installs them on all their boats now. The M does not have a steep enough transom angle to allow the o/b to trim in enough. This results in poor planing nose high attitude, wet ride, and you can't see well from the capt seat.

I have them on my M and you can see the results......





BTW
I use a 14x13 Hustler prop.

G

[Mac Ziggy]

Hans,

Congratulations and welcome.

I agree with the use of the wedges. I added a hydrofoil but plan to add the wedges. The E-tec is based on a 15 degree transom and the M has a 12 degree transom. The hydrofoil adds some lift and helps get the bow down but it is probably not the most efficient.

My installer used standard reinforcement plates. The steering arm needs to be attached to the center hole on the engine. I had an aluminum 14X 11 prop. It was supposed to be the E-tec pontoon type but was actually the standard. It worked well for pulling a tube but didn't hold up well to submerged logs in the river. Changed to a 13 3/4 X 13 stainless - couldn't get a 14 X 11 in stainless. Gives a little more speed, if you need it, and pulls good too.

We have had very low water levels here but hope to be back on the water soon. I am very pleased with the performance of my M with the E-tec 90. I had a 99X with a Honda 50 before and never liked the wallow through the water feeling.

[beene]

You forgot to mention how sweet that 90 looks on the back of your M!

Post the pic Mac.

I love seeing that white beauty back there.



G

[delevi]

Ziggy,

With the 90, can you tilt up and down without having to lift the helm seat? When tilted up, does the whole engine come out of the water?

[Mac Ziggy]

You have to lift the seat a little (maybe 2 inches) if you tilt all the way. You can put the seat all the way down once you have reached max tilt. I don't usually have a problem because it goes up far enough to put the brace in place to trailer before I get that far. I think that is what the picture in the “up” position above is.

I only recall tilting up all the way while on the water one time. I hit something and checked the prop. I don't know if it actually cleared the water but I could have changed the prop.

[wbpenney]

My 2008 E-TEC 90 has a stop adjustment, so you can set the motor to stop just before it would hit the seat. This will be well above the position to set the transport support. It also is high enough to bring it out of the water for sailing.
The motor came with a 13 1/2 X 15 prop. it is too much of a pitch, so my dealer is getting 13 and 11 inch pitch props to test. Right now I top out at 4000 RPM running 20 knots without ballast. At top speed the torque is so much that you have to hold the wheel tightly or it will take an immediate turn to starboard

Bill

[Alex]

" At top speed the torque is so much that you have to hold the wheel tightly or it will take an immediate turn to starboard "

In this case you have to play tilt a little bit up to avoid tendension of boat turn to starboard . Try it, it works great !!

[Catigale]

MacZ - whats that through hull on the transom just port of the ballast valve for?? Releasing the hounds???

[Mac Ziggy]

That through hull is for the seven foot hose from the sink and I think the motor well is T'd in there too. It's been a while since I crawled back there.

James V recently had a problem with his.

[Bobby T.-26X #4767]

MacZ - whats that through hull on the transom just port of the ballast valve for?? Releasing the hounds???

that's the drain for the motor/transom well. same location as an X.

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

[Moe]

" At top speed the torque is so much that you have to hold the wheel tightly or it will take an immediate turn to starboard "

In this case you have to play tilt a little bit up to avoid tendension of boat turn to starboard . Try it, it works great !!

Here's why:



As Don T said in another thread, the outboard is most efficient when perpendicular to the direction of travel (thrust parallel to the line of travel). Not only does down trim trade off forward motion for stern lift, but it also causes torque steer to starboard (with a right-hand drive prop) because the pitch on the starboard side increases and that on the port side decreases (relative to the line of travel) when you trim down.

If you have to run with some down trim, you can offset some of the torque steer with the outboard's trim tab. However, these are designed for speeds higher than you'll achieve on the Mac so they won't help as much on a Mac. And like a rudder, if you turn them too far, they can stall and not be much help at all.

Transom wedges allow more down trim and increase the torque steer problem, compared to the same boat without them. In a previous thread, beene reported his torque steer so bad he stated he was afraid to let anyone else have the helm.

[edit: added vertical black lines perpendicular to the line of travel to hopefully better illustrate the changes in pitch]

[Catigale]

Im having a little trouble visualising the asymmetry which gives rise to torque steer...anyone have a link to a better diagram?

[Bawgy]

Stephen hold your left hand out in front of your face thumb closest to your face . Now angle it to mimmick the blade on a propeller by pointing the tips of your fingers towrd the right Now imagine your travel is from Right to left . Using your elbow as a pivot rotate your left arm toward your right . The blade angle has now increased considerably while the opposite blade would have decreased

[beene]

beene reported his torque steer so bad he stated he was afraid to let anyone else have the helm.

That is correct. But with Moe's help, I was able to find the sweet spot and balance the helm. I still use full tilt in to get up on step, and to be completely honest, unless I am handing over the helm, I leave it full in and just hold firm on the helm. To have the helm fully balanced absolutely perfect requires a bit too much nose high attitude to be able to still see well over the bow while sitting at the helm.

G