New Engine Option for the Mac

[DaveB]

Victor,
Thanks for the reply. I usually cruise at 5.5-6 knots so the 15 Knot or better speed is not for me. I do at times try to beat the current or sunset to get to the boat ramp.
I will probably go with the tried Mercury Big Foot or Yamaha 60 HP.
I had to many 2 cycle outboards and never want to go back even tho they say their great, Many 2cycles are used here in SW. Florida but they are on power boats that go 3/4 speed or more all the time.
Dave

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]

We installed the new Suzuki DF 90 motor and started it this weekend. A lot of work.

Added a new internal mount control that easily clears the wheel.

Suer quite!

Victor

Prescott Uncrating. The crate probably cost more than the motor.




New internal mount control.

[DaveB]

How did you manage to buy a 90 hp outboard and install it youself? From what I have heard you can't buy a outboard over 30 hp without haveing a authrized dealer install it.
Hope you have a large Aluminum or Stainless steel backing plate.
I also wonder the clearance on your boarding latter getting up.
Hope it works out for you.
Dave

We installed the new Suzuki DF 90 motor and started it this weekend. A lot of work.

Added a new internal mount control that easily clears the wheel.

Suer quite!

Victor

Prescott Uncrating. The crate probably cost more than the motor.




New internal mount control.

[bubba]

At idle rpm you will probably go over the marina speed limit. We have the 70 Suz and at idle we move at 3.5 to 4 kts but we love the ability to fully charge our 3 batteries easily. One of the local 26M's has a 90 to pull water skiers.

[Highlander]

Very nice indeed , did you know that Suzuki is the only O/B maker that race tunes all their O/B eng.'s thats why their so smoove !

J

[Stefan]

in the 26M it left very little space to go by, we have to squeeze in sideways in order to get in


I would really like to hear what prop you end up with. By the way, is there a noticeable difference between Hustler and Solas performance comparing the same size. I don't have anyone to ask here locally, no prop shop, no one heard of re-pitching of aluminum props, so I'll have to buy a new one, but I want to get it right this time. Searching the web I could not find a 4-blade prop for this motor with less then 15 pitch, I think it wouldn't be good since it takes even more load. Variable pitch prop could be a good idea for me, but it seems there is no right size for me either.

[vkmaynard]

4 blade 15 pitch will be too much for the 70 based on my research. We have the 4 blade 13 7/8 x 15 as a starter. I think it may be too much for the 90. Solas makes a 4 blade 13 1/4 x 13 (4413-133-13) for the Suzuki.

Check out http://www.propgods.com/content/index.aspx My brother says they tune props.

We have a decent amount of room to get on and off the X. It has a much wider clearance around the motor than the M.

The engine does not hit the back of the seat in the full up position.

Water test soon.

Victor

[Highlander]

Man thats a small eng. block !
here's my mec75
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010076.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010071.jpg
lots of torq though
J

[vkmaynard]

How did you manage to buy a 90 hp outboard and install it youself? From what I have heard you can't buy a outboard over 30 hp without haveing a authrized dealer install it.
Hope you have a large Aluminum or Stainless steel backing plate.
I also wonder the clearance on your boarding latter getting up.

Dealer install is not required for the 6 year warranty. The plates are probably not needed. The transom is as thick (2"+ with glass and marine grade plywood) as boats they were installing 140+ HP motors on. I will probably install a 1/4"-3/8" plates on the back to distribute the load of the transom wedges.

The ability to get by the motor was another plus for us on the X design. Here are some pictures of the 90 from the stern.

The Suzuki is tighter than the Honda by 3" per side but not a problem. The ladder works and the motor misses the seat (previous 90/115/140 hit the seat full up per Billy). I may remove the port rudder while wakeboarding (one bolt, two knots, a few minutes). I wanted to do this with the Honda also.

Looks more beastly now

Victor

[vkmaynard]

Finally got the control mounted with the least resistance. I rotated the control so the cables point straight down the cabin sole PVC pipe (marine grade?). Chamfered the pipe to reduce wear. Very clean install. This is the ONLY control type I would personally put on the Mac. Teleflex makes a similar unit.

Rotating the unit toward the pipe change the cable length from 16' to 11' (removed the 360 deg loop to get to the bottom of the unit pointing straight down). I am going to try the Teleflex Extreme (the dealer does not carry Uflex). Maxflex cables are ridiculously stiff.

The "shifter" has detents where you can pick the angle you want. 30 deg angle up works perfect. With the control being positioned forward as much as possible there is now “huge” clearance (5”) between the wheel and the "shifter". My hand would get jammed between the wheel and the shifter with the Honda standard control unit install.

Victor

Shifter angled higher than picture shows, bad camera angle.


Note the Billy AC Mod in the backgroound

[mallardjusted]

That new O/B looks nice! This year I'm probably upgrading my trailer, and maybe next year getting a 70 to 90 O/B.

Out of curiosity, for those that have installed the 70-90 Tohatsu/Nissan or Etec, aren't they slightly smaller physically? Any problems with the motor up clearing the helm?

Maybe it was mentioned, but I see as another motor option Yamaha now has upgraded their 50/60 block for a 70 hp version (same ci). Might be another one to consider???

[Russ]

The engine does not hit the back of the seat in the full up position.

I learned the hard way with my Suzi 70 that there is an adjustment for the top end tilt limit. Now it stops just before the seat.



--Russ

[vkmaynard]

This motor will hit the steering control crossbar before hitting the seat. I need to set the upper limit to just above the point where the lock can be engaged.

I am real happy with the form factor of this motor on our X. The cowling is as big as it can be without jeopardizing the functionality of the boat. The 2008- 90s had a lot bigger cowling and weighed 80 lbs more. The Etech 90 only weighs 20 lbs less (5.8%) and cost $800 more with one year less on the extended warranty. I personally prefer a 4 stroke after seeing Billy's super quite Suzuki 140 (XX). Ridding on an X doing 36 Knots was amazing. These boats are really stable as power boats.

An M here has an Etech 90. We are going to run side by side soon.

Victor

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

My Tohatsu 70-90 does not come anywhere near hitting the seat when raised. It's a much smaller powerhead than the Suzuki beast.

[DaveB]

Victor, thanks for the info and pictures. Looks good on the stern. I would think you need to turn outboard to Starboard to raise the swim ladder.
I am Bow heavy because of duel batteries under V-berth and storage for anchors and other items. Putting a 100 lb more engine would balance the boat out but when both of us are on board in cockpit thats 400 lbs and probably levels the boat. I just haven't taken pictures when we both are on board.
Will be interested what the performance is with a loaded boat.
Your just in time for Summer Fun!
Dave