New Engine Option for the Mac

[robbarnes1965]

Hi Gang,

This may be a out of character for Mac motor discussion but has anyone ever considered DOWNSIZING?

I don't necessarily want to lose power - one of the great features of the boat - but the big motor makes getting into the water pretty impractical. Squeezing between the motor and the rudders is a pain in the ....

I am wondering if anyone has tried two smaller motors in place of the rudders and a center rudder or some other arrangement. I often look longingly at boats with inboards and the scoop back with steps.

Rob

[delevi]

You may want to check out a boarding ladder from West Marine. It hangs on the side of the beam, hooked over around where the genoa tracks are. Allows you to get out of the water without having to squeeze past that big outboard, and you get to enjoy the big outboard. I don't have one myself but am considering getting one. Now if only they had something for the dog. I saw something posted on this site a while ago, but it is not set up to accommodate the amount of freeboard our boats have. It isn't easy to get my 11-year-old Labrador back on board without a commotion and ample stress for both me and the pooch.

Leon

[Love MACs]

On our X we have the standard boarding ladder of course but I also have a boarding ladder that I found on close out at Gander Mountain. Hangs well and looks good, just clears the Genoa tracks and have tried it with the boat on the trailer. It is easier to use than trying to get on the boat with the transom ladder (again while on the trailer). But nothing beats a step ladder But that is hard to do while afloat

I have a lab also that loves to jump on the boat from the rear, she can easily make it between the motor and the rudder/transom (while on the trailer). But I am worried also about how to get her on board when we are in the water. Have looked and looked and can't seem to find any type of doggie ladder that looks workable or doesn't cost a third of a boat buck. The best idea I have seen, and it was on this board in Mods, was a kicker motor platform with the back engine solid mount removed and place on the top of the folding platform. The mounting was done at a lower lever, it appears, than what it would normally be bolted on at. The top/step set right about water level and would be strong enough to hold a dog or a person to use as a swimming platform. I was at Gander Mountain again today and saw the kicker mount for $49.00 cheap enough but I am not ready to do that Mod yet. God I hate to even think of drilling holes that close to the water line. Would welcome more ideas myself.

Allan

[vkmaynard]

We just purchased a new Suzuki 90 with prop, tac monitor, harness, ignition panel, cables and flush mount binnacle throttle (no more jamming our hands between the steering wheel and the throttle).

Now we can finally tow the teenagers on a wakeboard again.

First time our boat will be on plane, ever.

Our Honda 50 with all the controls immediately transferred to a friend and fellow Macgregor owner who is swapping out his newly serviced 50 hp Tohatsu.

Anyone need a 50 hp Tohatsu with controls near Raleigh NC?

We chose this motor because they run so smoothly and quietly. 2009 was the first year the 90 hp motor shared the same block as the 70, so it weighs 341 lbs vs 416 lbs.

I looked for a used 2010ish Honda 90 for two years, then a used Suzuki 90 2009 for the last year with no luck. Two years later I gave up and purchased this motor, finally

FYI: Chatlee Boats in Sanford NC sold the new motor for $6,500 with a 6 year extended warranty. The controls, etc cost another $1,000. They were way below everyone else in cost.

Any prop suggestions?

Victor

[beene]

14x11 or 14x13 depending on what is more important to you.

I use the 14x13 from Turning Point, bought on iboats.com

I change out to the 14x11 when water skiing.

Which I do not do that often.

G

[Stefan]

It's nice to hear that someone got the same engine, I also have df90atl on 2009 26M, installed 14X13 prop on it, but I am not too happy with the RPM, it only gets to 5500 with no load, and about 5200 with 6 people onboard. Acceleration was not very impressive either. I am looking to get an 11 pitch prop(to achieve targeted 6300 rpm WOT), or possibly a 4 blades one in order to get enough push from the start, it would be interesting to know if someone found the best choice for this motor.
may be this one indeed noticeably weaker compare to the older model df90 with 2L in it?!

[Highlander]

Should be checking out the Torq, Spec's

J

[DaveB]

Victor,
How does the width of your new Suzuki compared to the Honda 50? I don't want a engine any larger width wise than the Honda 50 and been shoping. You have the macX and so do I and want to get up the swim ladder without going sideways. I am 245 lbs 6 ft. and feel maxed out getting aboard.
Please don't tell me to loose weight!
Dave

We just purchased a new Suzuki 90 with prop, tac monitor, harness, ignition panel, cables and flush mount binnacle throttle (no more jamming our hands between the steering wheel and the throttle).

Now we can finally tow the teenagers on a wakeboard again.

First time our boat will be on plane, ever.

Our Honda 50 with all the controls immediately transferred to a friend and fellow Macgregor owner who is swapping out his newly serviced 50 hp Tohatsu.

Anyone need a 50 hp Tohatsu with controls near Raleigh NC?

We chose this motor because they run so smoothly and quietly. 2009 was the first year the 90 hp motor shared the same block as the 70, so it weighs 341 lbs vs 416 lbs.

I looked for a used 2010ish Honda 90 for two years, then a used Suzuki 90 2009 for the last year with no luck. Two years later I gave up and purchased this motor, finally

FYI: Chatlee Boats in Sanford NC sold the new motor for $6,500 with a 6 year extended warranty. The controls, etc cost another $1,000. They were way below everyone else in cost.

Any prop suggestions?

Victor

[restless]

Just a random thought.. we have a hydrofoil/delta fin fin on our outboard which doubles up as a pretty ideal step to get onboard.. (had the same on our old ski boat) so much so that I've taken the transom swim ladder off and will either swap it for something usefull or chop it into a pedestal gps-saver.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

Here's what we need on a Mac! Use jet fuel, kerosene, gasoline, or diesel. Submersible as well, rope start and manual trim only. Yours for a cool $21k.



http://features.boats.com/boat-content/ ... u-can-own/

[Kelly Hanson East]

Mad Mike Dunn cruised the world with his Mac with two 6 HP Nissans IIRC...mounted on transom mounts - he kept the heavily upgraded rudder mounts though. Should be a couple of posts here if you search...maddmike for a username I think??

[vkmaynard]

It's nice to hear that someone got the same engine, I also have df90atl on 2009 26M, installed 14X13 prop on it, but I am not too happy with the RPM, it only gets to 5500 with no load, and about 5200 with 6 people onboard. Acceleration was not very impressive either. I am looking to get an 11 pitch prop(to achieve targeted 6300 rpm WOT), or possibly a 4 blades one in order to get enough push from the start, it would be interesting to know if someone found the best choice for this motor.
may be this one indeed noticeably weaker compare to the older model df90 with 2L in it?!

I thought I read your post. I did not realize that buying a Suzuki 90 was "going were no Macgregor owner has gone before". I thought surely I would hop on this board and pick out a prop. The dealership will work with me swapping out props until it is correct.

I'll let you know what I find. I'm aiming for 6,300 empty with two people.

Victor

Moving the Honda 50 to it's new owner. We know how to really upset the neighborhood. We've become professionals!

[Love MACs]

Vic congrats on the new motor I know you were "in discussion" when we talked last. Hope it gives you all the toy pulling power you hoped for. And thanks for all the info on the shower mod. Haven't got to it yet and will have to make some alterations to your original plan but definitely put me on the right track.


Allan

[vkmaynard]

Victor,
How does the width of your new Suzuki compared to the Honda 50? I don't want a engine any larger width wise than the Honda 50 and been shoping. You have the macX and so do I and want to get up the swim ladder without going sideways. I am 245 lbs 6 ft. and feel maxed out getting aboard.
Please don't tell me to loose weight!
Dave

Same concern over here. We did not want the 2008- motor because it shared the 140 hp block and is very wide. We wanted to be able to get on and off the back of our boat with ease. The Honda 50 measured 14" across. The specs on the new Suzuki 90 say "20" across, so we lost 3" per side. I am not sure how it will "feel" until we try getting on an off the boat in late April (with wetsuits).

Maybe some brave child of ours will try for a few minute this month. We decided to pull the trigger now since Suzuki has a no charge 6 year extended warranty until Mar 26.

Last year was a complete bust for our family wakeboarding 10 min from our house due the under powered Honda (for our purposes). We used the Mac once and could only pull the kids at 14.5 mph (they are bigger now). Normally the Mac spends 70% of it's time wakeboarding. Our kids don't like sailing or cruising under power, it's "boring"!

Victor

[vkmaynard]

Vic congrats on the new motor I know you were "in discussion" when we talked last. Hope it gives you all the toy pulling power you hoped for. And thanks for all the info on the shower mod. Haven't got to it yet and will have to make some alterations to your original plan but definitely put me on the right track.


Allan

Let me know how the shower mod works out. Great talking with you.

Victor