MacGregorSailors.com

Gazmn,

while I'm not motor expert, thought I'd read in another thread about someone having same issue you describe. They visited multiple dealers, sounded great performed "adequately", turned out their motor wasn't firing on all cylinders. Still sounded fine, because the first 2 were dragging the 3rd one along. Once they found the issue, they were extremely pleased with the performance.

Do a search on 90hp and you should be able to find it.

Best of luck.

I'm with jahemk . Gaz, don't concede. Something is absolutely not right. You're not getting all the horses you paid for. There is no way your 90 should preform the same as my 50. No way, no how. I don't care how much crap you have on board. Consider this: I have an extra 150 lbs with the ballasted keel. Also bottom painted. Net performance hit (under 1 mph.) Also consider a ballasted boat vs. non ballasted. Net difference in speed with 50 hp (3 mph.) In my guestimation, you should be able to hit 25 mph at WOT, fully loaded boat with ballast in. BTW, you should be able to spin at least a 14x13 prop, maybe higher. If they're making you pitch down, it's clear the engine isn't running like it should.

LD TRIPPLE REEFED

jahemk is talking about a Tohatsu 2 stroke 90. I remember that thread also.

Your top speed is just at the lower end of what I'd expect, IF you are ballasted with a heavy load, plus the motor maybe not well trimmed, plus a less than flat sea state.
My 90 speeds come from a gps.
Ballasted, somewhat heavy load, less than flat seas, I will see 21-22 knots, 5200 rpm's max, 14X11 prop. (Mfg's target rpm's are 5150-5850 max throttle)
Unballasted with the same conditions will get me to 23-25 knots, 5350 rpm.
PO stated he'd seen 33 MPH, absolutely empty of everything, with even the mast left on shore, I think.

So you just may be in the ball park at 20 MPH (17-18 knots?)

What's your RPM like versus the mfg's spec?

Thanks for your help. I called Bluewater yachts and they said they thought the ETEC 90 would be too loud, especially at 7-9mph speeds. Do any of you have idea if that is valid?

profitt2 wrote:Thanks for your help. I called Bluewater yachts and they said they thought the ETEC 90 would be too loud, especially at 7-9mph speeds. Do any of you have idea if that is valid?

well I sorta agree with their assessment, if they're talking about slow speeds.
a 4-stroke is the optimal performer in terms of noise level and smoothness around the docks and when actually "motor sailing".

so, if i were purchasing a 90hp today, i'd opt for that new Honda or new Suzi. sounds like they're both lightweight enough.
the only other issue is how big the powerhead is.

that's the one benefit of a 90 2-stroke...that the powerhead is smaller and weight lighter than a 4-stroke.

there are trade offs to both.

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

Well, I decided today and ordered my ETEC 90. Thank you all for your input. It was very helpful. I got an Unbelieveable price...must be due to economy slowdown. But now I have a few more questions? Any idea what prop would be best or how to choose a prop? Also, some of you suggested the M might get squirrely at higher speeds. Is this a common problem? What speed would you consider max safe speed with an M?

I sailed a heavy Grampian 24 for years and moved to the Mac. I have to say, I love the boat, the layout, the ease to trailer, and have discovered that powering is one heck of a lot of fun too! My next task will be to choose a chartplotter, because I want to trailer to Florida and cruise the gulf around Captiva. I am considering the Garmin 545S. Do any of you have thoughts on chartplotters?

Thanks again.

Profitt,
Congrats on your decision. It's the engine I've been wanting. I seriously doubt you'll experience any of the squirliness, etc. I have a good, long relationship with my dealer and they know their stuff. Since they now install the Etec 90... if there were any issues, they would have told me. They're also quite conservative, so if there were any issues, they wouldn't be installing them. May I ask where you ordered from? As for plotters, check out the Raymarine A60. Just recently installed on my boat and love it. They can be had for a great price since they're being replaced with the A65. Hard to say what prop. Etec engines tend to go big on props. I use a 13.25x13 (formerly a 14x13) on an etec 50. Most Mac owners with outrboards from other manufacturers use 14x11 or lower on 50-60 hp. My guess would 14x13 since that 90 gear ratio will spin the prop faster. Some prop shops have charts where they can look up your boat specs and determine the appropriate prop.

LD TRIPPLE REEFED

Delivi,

I had a friend at a shop in Nashville called The Prop Shop order it for me. He is going to intsall and tune. He outfits racing power boats and really knows his stuff. In addition, he keeps is shop in a big warehouse down town in the lower rent district to keep his overhead low. His number is 615-255-0593. He got it for me just above dealer net.

Thanks Prof.
LD TRIPPLE REEFED

What about a Mercury Optimax 115hp on Macgregor?Any comment about it?

Thanks bro..........

My 05 M ,with a 06 ETEC 75 ,Exceeds 24mph anytime
with 2, 200 lb people on board. Thats GPS.
The boat is lightly loaded and has 2 ,6gal cans on board.
The ETEC engine is a pleasure to own.

I am ordering a mac from Costa Mesa. Capt Mike said the 60 is the motor recomended for the 26 M ???

I spoke with my sales rep and was informed that putting a 90 on my boat will void the factory warranty. he Will be contacting Macgregor directly Monday to get the information regarding a 70hp and if it is approved from the factory what additional hardware we will need.

Profitt2, there seems to me something else must be going on for you not to reach a good hull speed. Be sure you have checked out everyting before changing motors. On my X, with an ordinary cruising load of 1000lbs over empty boat, masts up, rough ablative hull paint, but no ballast, I get 17 GPS certified mph with my 4 blade, 8 pitch, 11.8" prop. My motor is the original, stock, 1997 Merc 50 2 stroke Classic, not bigfoot. I experiemented with pitch and props and have as my backup a 3 blade, 7 pitch, 12.5" prop. It gets to 18 mph, but I like the better low speed handling of the four blade. I couldn't find the exact dimension I needed but got a prop close to desired rpm and had it repitched lower for $20 each.

E-Tec too loud? Bologna, The E-Tec will be at lower power setting for any given speed than Suzuki except wide open throttle at which time, just going faster. I have sold 100's of the Suz 50hp motors, had no trouble with them. Last three years selling E-Tec and also doing some repowering of fishing boats, those guys want range no matter what and we never sold a repowred motor till we became an E-Tec dealer. My eyes were opened by the fishing boat guys. They don't seem to care about price like us sailors, they just want range! They will take off a perfectly good motor and buy the E-Tec. Arena had been telling Roger (who always liked Merc) and me (long time Suzzy) about them since day one. I tried the 60hp since it is same weight as the 50hp, hooked up with Evinrude right then, MacGregor became OEM for Evinrude 3 years later. This should be a moot point, factory installed E-Tec 60hp for $6,995, no service needed for three years and the factory recommended limit of 50 hp for dealer installed motors, think of it; your warranty is good for up to 50hp, but if factory installed the 60hp is covered. hey, it is in writing.

MIke Inmon