i need help with motor choice

[pokerrick1]

You don't have to be a rocket scientist

I was a rocket scientist in a former life (before there were rockets)

Rick

[mastreb]

I wouldnt call it stupid, not to carry any parts or tools on board, A little misguided though. Those back up sails also have parts that fail, as well as near impossible to dock, or Moore under sail. Not having spare plugs or prop, and a few other spares could cost a whole trip if something failed. A trip that may have cost a grand or two just to take, let alone the precious time off work that would get waisted.

I know why you said what you said, sort of "we dont need no stinkin badges" sort of thing. But really for want of a ring ding or a pair of pliers and a whole trip is gone, oh I know, I see mikes boat over there, he will have tools and parts and knows how to fix it........Mikes going to start charging for that sort of thing soon, lets see 100 dollars an hour, plus parts and 15 percent, or flat rate rental on the tools, like 100 bucks......plus deposit..
best to have a little bag of tools and a few handy parts me thinks.
Mike

It's true I do have a rig box full of spare pins, cotters, ringdings, sail tape, and a toolbox for the sails. I guess I understand how to fix rigging, so those are the tools I carry

[DaveB]

If you have a laptop bring it with the Shop manual CD and any other trouble shooting you saved in Your computer.
My motto is, Reef when you first feel you need to and fix your problems when you see them,not when they fail.
Makes good sea sence.
Dave

Maybe I'm being stupid, but the spare parts I carry on-board are called "sails". Anything goes wrong with my motor that I can't figure out (or the Chartplotter won't tell me, since I've hooked up the EMM cable--TON of troubleshooting info pops up there BTW, before you get blinking lights and mystery "beeps") means I'm hoisting sails. I can't see the point in carrying a lot of redundancy and tools on board when I have a completely redundant propulsion system available.

Have just thought of a name for the dinghy and it's 4hp tho: "Worst Case Scenario"

[aya16]

Yeah, and you can watch movies on the lap top when your not looking up fixes....
Mike

[mikelinmon]

E-Tec
It is the OEM motor for the M26. No, MacGregor does not make the OEM motor for the sailboat. Just buys them in bulk from the manufacturer. We also do not make the OEM sails, just buy them in bulk from the sailmaker. The battery is an OEM also. See where this is going. No dishonesty, no claims. But, the OEM motor is the 60hp E-Tec. OEM means just one thing; it is the Ooriginal Eequipment which is installed by the Mmanufacturer. Get it, OEM. You can guess just why we selected E-Tec, guess anything you want. Several of these replies are dead on correct. I was not the most influential in selecting E-Tec. It was one of the most experienced motor dealers we have had, ever had or that any ever had; Gene Arena/ Dan Arena. None have more knowledge of boat motors, they selected E_Tec. They got me to try the E-Tec, switched from xxxx which I had sold for 10 years. Never looked back (so far).
Mike Inmon

[raycarlson]

when i bought my 08 the oem dealer was nissan/tohatsu.nissan will not sell any motor larger then 25hp to any dealer/person who has not attended their factory training classes in TX.unfortunately my macgrgr ex-dealer from denver,CO sent their last minute hired mech to the class(three days) at which time i think he quit and left,but not before they ordered my TLDI 50.the unfortunate part was whoever he let install it apparently was clueless to proper rigging and mounting of outboard motors.I at a later date redid the entire install to make it marine worthy.I also contacted tohutsu america to lodge complaint against the colorado mac dealer who botched the original install.I received a letter from the VP of american warranty advising me that my motor was never registared as being installed and that the mac dealer was not a tohotsu authorized dealer due to not meeting any of the minimum requirements they demand.however after providing a few items of documentation tohutsu sent me a letter of apology for the poor service i recieved and advised me of a authorized dealer in Phoenix where i could take my boat to have my motor installation checked and repaired at their expense, and they started my warranty period from that day rather than the date of purchase.That kind of customer service( from tohutsu not mac) is above and beyond,also as i am approaching four years of ownership i have not had one hic-up out of my nissan, it has ran flawlessly.from my readings on this forum the history of the evinrude e-tec's seem to be quite a different story,possibly quite a bit of a profit motivation for Mac to hang BRP(evinrude) products on their boats now. my only reget is i went with the 50 instead of the 90,in large part due to the false performance claims mac advertises in regards to what the 50 will due.

[vkmaynard]

FYI: On the JMGT 2011 trip our 2010 Suzuki 90 used approximately 7 gal of gas over 40+ mi from the ramp to Talbot Island to St Augustine FL, at varying speeds including near full throttle (5800 RPM, see YouTube chase boat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQqtOPgn8pY).

The newer 90s (2010+) are supposed to be 33% more efficient, probably due to the smaller block. The older 90/115/140 run quieter at mid RPMs due to lack of high frequency vibrations in the boat. You can have a normal conversation at <2100 and 5000-6300 RPMs with our 90.

If I were repowering or buying new, 90+ would be the only motor I would consider. IMHO 90 is plenty for the X. If I had an M today I would install a 115+ due the hull shape difference. In all installs from 1+ hp I would absolutely use a four blade prop. Our fully loaded 90 hp X with 22 gal of water, 18 gal of gas, 2 batteries, full cooler, head, four days supplies and four people will keep up with Billy's 140 X (with all his junk like a Scuba tank) with his three blade prop. Eric's mod-laden, heavy boat with his 90 and four blade prop will do the same.

I like the size of the ETecs. You can get a E115DSL that weighs 375lbs with a really small volume case. They are not much louder from what I've heard. Looks like great fit for an M with more room around the engine.

Victor

[Billy]

First, since you have an X, most mid-size engines will fit the transom and give you room to get by.

If your consideration is speed use "Crouches Planing Speed Formula" to decide how much HP you need: WOT(mph)=the square root of HP/weight (pounds) times 175.

In my case----140hp/3500lbs. = .04 of which the sq rt is .2 times 175 = 35 mph
My top end is 36 mph @ 6200 rpms with mast up and very lightly loaded (pretty close)

another example: 50hp/3500lbs = .01429 sq rt is .1195 time 175 =20mph
What most Xs with 50 hp Hondas run before their owners start loading them down.
(I use 3500 lbs. to include the boat, engine, fuel, operator & passenger.--just a guess)

As for the "big" 4 stroke engine, if I'm slow cruising I get better than 6 nautical miles per gallon. I once did a long motoring leg with two other Xs. One had a Suzi 60 and the other a Honda 50. Neither got any better fuel mileage than my Suzuki 140.
If I decide to run WOT, I get about 3 mpg; but, I make up for it in time. And yes, one can carry on a conversation in the cockpit without yelling @ WOT--it's really that quiet.

I'm not suggesting which engine to get, just sharing some knowledge from my experience. And in the case of a big engine, one needs to use common sense--everbody has your number if something happens.

As for rough seas and getting away from a storm, I have run 15 to 18 knots hitting the 5' rolling waves at 45 degrees and never catching air. I was fully ballasted.

The down side is the aft weight. It can affect your sailing performance and may require you to distribute some of your equipment/supplies/etc. more forward.

There's lots of good engines out there, but I just prefer the Suzuki 4 stroke. In the past 9 years it has proven itself. It will idle all day with no problem or run its heart out. Very reliable and easy to work on if you need. Since purchase, the only money I have spent is routine maintenance--same as a car engine.

One other thing I do. After each use, I run the fuel system dry. (debatable)

Best of Luck on you decision!

[rfrye94760]

E-Tec OEM means just one thing; it is the Ooriginal Eequipment which is installed by the Mmanufacturer. Get it, OEM.

Mike Inmon

I wasn't aware the manufacturer "installed" motors. I know you can purchase a boat and OBM as a package but I thought the dealer handled installation of the motor. Not that it matters to me...problem free second season with the Etec 60 and I'm still friends with my dealer, Bill@Boats4Sail.
Bob

[Catigale]

To close off the engine choice thread

the options to the new buyer are

1 Order a Mac with no engine, and arrange an install of a motor locally with a party of your choosing.

2 Order a Mac and have your dealer install the engine of your choice

3 Order a Mac from your dealer with an engine package installed at the factory in CA- today, this motor will be an ETEC 60