E-TEC 25 - It's finally here!!!

[esobofh]

Well, after 2 months of waiting.. my new E-TEC has finally arrived!

The dealer mounted it on the boat for me, and I took it home to connect the fuel, battery and fill a bucket for it's first start-up (well, mine anyway.. the dealer already started it).

Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyjxWqiixwc

Picasa images:

http://picasaweb.google.com/esobofh/EvinrudeETEC25?feat=directlink

Lake trial is today.. results to be posted shortly!!!

 

[5150abf]

Re: E-TEC 25 - It's finally here!!!

Holy Crow!

A 25 on that little tinny, I would buy some goggles and get a pilots license, that thing is gonna fly!

Sweet looking motor.

 

[JustJason]

Re: E-TEC 25 - It's finally here!!!

just curious... what's a 25 etec going for these days?

 

[esobofh]

Re: E-TEC 25 - It's finally here!!!

Well - we headed up to Stave lake in Mission, BC. A nice lake, with good size and a variety of water conditions (glass, hard chop, canals, open water, etc). An ideal test lake, if it weren't for the amount of floating debris (wood and logs.. it was like a mine field!). I brought my camera, but forgot my memory stick.. DOH! We got in some swimming and some eating.. a good day!

I have to say though.. I was a little bit dissapointed in the performance, pretty much everyone was making comments saying, I was going to kill myself and that we'd be more in the air than in the water. That wasn't the case at all, the E-TEC was extremely smooth, and controllable, the boat didn't feel over-powered at all.

So, for comparison, here's the data on my boat with previous configs;

1986 7.5hp Merc (total weight ~660lbs) 3 blade, 8p prop - 24Kmh (14.9 mph)

1976 9.8hp Merc (total weight ~640lbs) 2 blade, 7p prop - 23Kmh (14.2 mph)

1976 9.8hp Merc (total weight ~640lbs) 3 blade, 8p prop - 28Kmh (17.4 mph)

And yesterdays results:

2010 25hp E-TEC (total weight ~900lbs) 3 Blade, 12p prop - 42Kmh (26.1 mph)

2010 25hp E-TEC (total weight ~670lbs) 3 Blade, 12p prop - 45Kmh (27.9 mph)

I was surprised that the difference between the two runs wasn't much greater. This leads me to think that this motor could do with more prop.. anyone have any thoughts on that? The boat shot up on plane quickly, and moved along nicely, but I just feel like there should be more speed.

Anyone have a suggestion for pitch here?

It's a 14' aluminum open utility.

Thanks!

 

[esobofh]

Re: E-TEC 25 - It's finally here!!!

just curious... what's a 25 etec going for these days?

Taxes in, PDI, etc - I paid $4172.00 CAD (today, that's $3820.00 USD).

I bought during the Evinrude 100 year anniversary promotion, and paid a $1000 less than the equivalent Mercury 4 Stroke. I think my end price is still lower than what the current retail would be now. It was meant to be for the 2009 models only, but the factory was running so far behind, I ended up with a 2010 model by the time it was delivered.

 

[Whoopbass]

Re: E-TEC 25 - It's finally here!!!

Your E-tec speeds are nearly identical to what I get from my 1986 30hp Suzuki.
My boat is a 15' aluminum with front/rear decks, bow mount trolling motor, and two deep cycle batteries.
Seems like your rig should be going a little faster. Did you tinker with the motor height adjustments?

 

[esobofh]

Re: E-TEC 25 - It's finally here!!!

Your E-tec speeds are nearly identical to what I get from my 1986 30hp Suzuki.
My boat is a 15' aluminum with front/rear decks, bow mount trolling motor, and two deep cycle batteries.
Seems like your rig should be going a little faster. Did you tinker with the motor height adjustments?

I clocked speed through trim position 1, 2 & 3. 3 was the fastest for me (I haven't tried 4 or 5 yet).

Or are you referring to the actual mount on the transom? There are two mount holes, I can move it up about 3/4".. not sure if that would help. I just have the feeling it needs more prop. The boat only weighs 140lb, and I would guess most boats that would utilize this motor would weigh in a lot heavier (on average).

That said, the factory supplied prop is designed for "general/overall good performance" on, what I would guess is, a much a much heavier boat - I feel like it's hitting it's top end quite easily with this prop.

I honestly don't really know though.. it's my first boat, and first meaningful outboard (sorry to my good 'ol merc 7.5.. i just wasn't really worried about 'propping' something that small) - any input is appreciated.

 

[JoLin]

Re: E-TEC 25 - It's finally here!!!

I'd continue approach it scientifically and do all the "free" stuff first

Complete your tests with the remaining trim holes. Note the results.

Raise the motor to the other mounting point and repeat the first set of tests. When you raise it, make sure you test various conditions like tight turns to see if your prop cavitates.

When you've get the best combination of height and trim, you'll want to run your WOT tests with a tachometer attached. That oughta tell you if you need a prop with a different pitch.

It's a lot of trial and error, but in the end you'll know that you maximized your performance, and you'll have a great set of baseline results to refer to.

 

[Whoopbass]

Re: E-TEC 25 - It's finally here!!!

The 5th or last hole will probably be the fastest. You might even try raising it higher with some type of spacer (I did this to my old 25 motor and 12' boat).
A new prop for that thing is probably expensive. On the older 2-strokes a
10 1/8 X 13 pitch prop worked the best for speed.

I know it seems like you should be able to hit 40 mph with that new high tech motor and your light boat but from my experience it just doesn't happen. When I had my 25hp Johnson I put it on a few different size/weight aluminum boats and the top end was always about the same (about 25 mph).

I also tested a Johnson 9.9 and 15 hp, and also an old 30 hp Tohatsu with my current 15' boat. The top end on the 9.9 was about 17 mph, the 15hp topped out around 20.5 and the Tohatsu almost hit 26 mph. The main difference was hole shot and pick up speed. The 9.9 was a dog. The 15 was pretty good. The 30 topped out quick and stayed there.

I think your in the ballpark of top speed but you might be able to get a few more mph out of it.

 

[Zeeter]

Re: E-TEC 25 - It's finally here!!!

Your dealer should be able to tell you what your top rpm was. Choose a prop based on that.

 

[esobofh]

Re: E-TEC 25 - It's finally here!!!

Your dealer should be able to tell you what your top rpm was. Choose a prop based on that.

Are you meaning through the E-TEC diagnostics? he should be able to see what the highest rpm reached was?

If that's the case.. that would be great.. i've been going through tach options and they all seem ridiculously overpriced, for just wanting to see what the rpm is. Anyone have any cheap ideas for a temporary tach? Will automotive tachs work to gauge the rpm?

 

[esobofh]

Re: E-TEC 25 - It's finally here!!!

A new prop for that thing is probably expensive. On the older 2-strokes a 10 1/8 X 13 pitch prop worked the best for speed.

And that is what was supplied by evinrude actually, I called my dealer, and he said to come on by and grab whatever props I want to try, then when i settle on one, bring the rest back, no charge (assuming i don't damage any).

The max pitch he's got is a 10 1/8 x 15... I've read online that each pitch increase will drop the rpm by 300-400.. is that what you guys have seen? is that in increments of 1 pitch, or 2? I don't see a 14 available..

 

[Zeeter]

Re: E-TEC 25 - It's finally here!!!

Take it to the dealer and have them use the diag to give you the max rpm. You donnt want to put too much prop on. One inch in pitch is closer to 200 rpm up or down.

 

[d.boat]

Re: E-TEC 25 - It's finally here!!!

I know it seems like you should be able to hit 40 mph with that new high tech motor and your light boat but from my experience it just doesn't happen. .

Yea, HP is HP no matter what the technology (assuming consistent measurement of HP!). The differences are going to be in other aspects of performance.

.. i've been going through tach options and they all seem ridiculously overpriced, for just wanting to see what the rpm is. Anyone have any cheap ideas for a temporary tach? Will automotive tachs work to gauge the rpm?

Haven't priced one for a while, but I don't believe the "tiny tach" type thing is ridiculously expensive. Cabelas sells something like that for around $40. They might sell something similar on iboats too.

 

[hipster dufus]

Re: E-TEC 25 - It's finally here!!!

i put a tiny tach on my 9.8 tohatsu. about 50.00 with shipping. idiot proof install. mine has a resetable hr meter.good luck

 

[Wee Hooker]

Re: E-TEC 25 - It's finally here!!!

If your going to mess with props, you need a tach. Otherwise you risk damaging the motor and or running it below the recommended RPM range ( which won't let it achieve full HP.) I would also caution about going to high in prop as it reads like you often have the boat well loaded (which generally requires a low/mod pitch.) An over propped boat loaded with people and gear is REALLY disappointing.

P.s. 27+ is respectable in a 14', 140# tin boat. How much more do you want?
Ps.s . Not a bad price. Well under what my dealer predicted. FWIW, I paid the same for my 09 30 HP Nissan.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: E-TEC 25 - It's finally here!!!

With an ETEC, he doesn't need a tach. All he needs to do is run by the dealer with the boat and let them read the computer. They can then tell him what prop to go to.

 

[ziemann]

Re: E-TEC 25 - It's finally here!!!

Exactly- your dealer will be able to look up the RPM's you are running at on the diagnostic software and make a recommendation for a prop. Here is the RPM chart for any one that needs it- Sorry it is for 2008 and does not include the 25 & 30 hp models- but you get an idea of roughly where you are going to be at in RPM's for optimal performance:

2008 RPM Range Quick-Reference


Model Operating Range Optimum Range
40 HP 5000 - 6000 5400-5600
50 HP 5500 - 6000 5600-5750
60 HP 5500 - 6000 5600-5750

75 HP 4500 - 5500 5000-5200
90 HP 4500 - 5500 5000-5200

115 HP (60?) 5500 - 6000 5500-5600

150 HP (60?) 4850 - 5850 5500-5600
175 HP (60?) 4850 - 5850 5500-5600
200 HP (60?) 4850 - 5850 5600-5850

200 H.O.(3.3 90?)4500 - 5800 5500-5600
225 HP(3.3 90?)4500 - 5800 5500-5600
225 H.O.(3.3 90?)4500 - 5800 5500-5600
250 HP(3.3 90?)4500 - 5800 5500-5600

250 H.O.(3.4 90?)4500 - 6000 5500-5600
300 HP(3.4 90?)5000 - 6000 5500-5600
2008 Evinrude? E-TEC? Models

 

[ondarvr]

Re: E-TEC 25 - It's finally here!!!

If you want the best performance possible then get a tach, other wise you'll need to take it back to the dealer after every run to see what the results are.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: E-TEC 25 - It's finally here!!!

To me, there are two reasons to have a tach. One is to assist in the selection of a prop. The other is to monitor engine performance and choose power settings on a continual basis.

In considering the second issue, I agree - having a tach is a good idea. On a low power, tiller steered motor, however, the issue of practicality does enter the picture. In that case, I probably would not bother with a tach.

As to prop selection on an ETEC, the motor's computer is not going to let him overspeed it. I don't know if it would allow him to severely lug the motor, but I would hazard a guess that it would go into safe mode, if lugging began to cause excessive heat and/or detonation. Given these considerations, what we are talking about, is a couple of trips to the dealer to "dial in" the setup, through prop selection.