90 ETEC on a Potter 20 CC???

[Terry England]

You originally asked about an E-tec 90, I think. They only come in 2 to 1 gears and turn about a 13 -1/2" wheel. You could use one on that boat with maybe a 13" pitch wheel and get in the high 20's WOT. I think you'd make about 22 MPH cruising at 4,000 and it would leave the same wake as a duck.

The Marshtackie is a Seacraft "Panga", which are even rarer than the Overnighters. I've run a 90 E-tec since 2006 on it and although the boat is about as utilitarian as a Jon Boat, I load it up with a 1500 pounds of dive gear and 3 or 4 old fat divers and run 25 miles out in the Gulf with it on a regular basis. Loaded she makes about 20 - 22 MPH at 3600 rpms because the little triple has lots of mid-range torque and pulls like a John Deere. WOT (5600) loaded it will make 32 mph. The last 56 mile day trip I made took 16 gallons to top off.

Lots of good opinions on this site. This is just one.

[beastley]

My appologies didn't intend to hijack the op's questions.

But Terry do you think that 115 would be the best for this boat? I've been trying to be conscious of the balancing issues with the bracket. I'm no speed daemon, and would prefer the hull perform as close as possible to design.

Thanks for your opinion.
John P.

[McGillicuddy]

Pardon the interruption, Mr T., but I think the modern 25" e-tec 90 uses a 2.25 gear ratio.

Beastly, is your bracket set for a 20" or 25" shaft.

Etec 115 or initial etec 130 would be great, and I'd venture you might be closer to touching 40mph. But the 90 is about 2 grand less and 60 lbs lighter which may be significant when pushed 2 feet back. And like the 3 Lions man said ,the mid range torque is great for common cruising speeds. I still see the overnighter getting low 30s. The 20' SC cuddies are far more nimble than they look.

I have an '83 I-6 115 that takes my Seafari to 36 mph and am amazed what the the etec 90 does with 3 cylinders. I'd swap in a heartbeat if the cash were available. for me the mid range is most valuable because out west I'm airborne if I'm running 25mph in the swells.

I'd talk to Bushwacker a little about your weight re-distribution should you opt for the 115.

[beastley]

Gillie, thank you for the feedback. My bracket is set for a 25". I'll check out the specs on both motors but this narrows the choices down considerably. I prefer the economy of a smaller engine. For me the hard part is striking the right balance for this hull. Seems like today's mind set is to throw more horse power at it and be done. I don't necessarily agree with that notion.

Appreciate your guidance. Denny has already pointed me in the right direction on a few items.

[Terry England]

Gillie, You are right. I stand corrected. I did find out they don't have them in Counter-rotating or I would have put a pair of 'em on that ol' Bert. Evinrude makes the 115's that turn both ways.

Beastly, see what Denny thinks (Bushwacker). He is running a 20' Safari with an E-tec 150 on Hermco bracket, but decades ago when Megladons roamed the high seas he was running an Evinrude 115 cross-flow all over the Bahamas with a splash-well. When everybody was afraid to take their boats off the trailers at Long Point in May, Bushwacker ran his Safari 90 miles up the coast, waded ashore and asked "When's the party getting started?" I'm glad he's calmed down some this decade - but he's still sport'in along like a wild man!

[eggsuckindog]

IMHO I still think a 115 is needed on 20, not so much for Top end but middle range especially if running in swells. An Etec 90 is prolly similar to a Merc 115 tower of power and that worked fine my 18

ps - I think the Etec's are by far the best outboards being built today if you can afford one. 2.5 Merc 150/175's if on a budget aren't too bad as there are tons of used parts out there if you know where to look, if not Merc will rape you but the Japs are worse about that.

[72potter20]

I'm not a speed demon, I just want the most fuel efficient setup possible and a well balanced boat and the suzuki/etec 90hp seem to be the two best motors for that purpose.

[Terry England]

3500 rpm's with 4 divers, 7 tanks fish and food coolers and 4 sets of dive gear-
18.9 knots / 22 MPH / 5 GPH

[FishStretcher]

Nice PLB. I can do better MPG with two guys in a 20 with a 4 stroke 100 by a bit- 5nmpg, but never tried it with 4 guys and all that gear. That looks pretty good.

I *DO* like the seeming corrosion resistance of this particular Yamaha. I guess the F225 is not so good?

[captbone]

Check out the new 115hp Mercury. It can swing a 16pitch prop with the larger gearcase and weighs 359lbs.