Possibly Re-powering

K

kevrangray

New member
I'm considering re-powering to a fuel injected engine. I'm not 100% sold on the idea because of what dealers are telling me what they will give me on trade for my Honda. I currently have a 90HP Carbureted Honda on a 2005 Cruiser. I am thinking that it would be nice and more convenient to go to a fuel injected engine but not sure which route to go with. I'm considering powering up and also changing over to the 115 E-TEC. Was curious if anybody had any thoughts on this engine. It is a 2 stroke which makes me a little nervous.

Any inputs are welcome,

Kevin
 
Kevin, I am curious what the dealer told you about trade in price for your engine. I have the same exact engine, and also was somewhat dismayed at what it would purportedly bring. The dealership I spoke with said that it was in the $3000 range. I think I will keep my carbs for a long while...
 
I spoke with about 3 different dealers. They all said different prices, 3000, 3900, and 5000. The 3000 and 3900 were from a Honda and Suzuki dealer and that is what they were going to give me if I were to trade it in for a new one. The dealer that quoted me 5000 was if I were to trade it in for a new 2011 Evinrude E-TEC 115 for 8500. My Honda 90HP only has around 30 hours on it and it's a 2005. I bought the boat from a gentleman that did not get to use it as often as he would have of liked to. Since I'm active duty in the US Navy I get to use it but not on as often as I would like to either, which is what has kept the hours down low.

Hope that helps.
 
Unless the engine was running poorly or requiring too frequent carb cleaning service I too would not make the upgrade unless I had a good deal for the trade.

I had an i/o carb engine on my last boat and I would never buy another. Toward the end I had to get the carb cleaned once a year.

I don't have first hand experience with the Etec 115, but I use multiple Etec 90's on small passenger boats. Two vessels have older twin 90HP Merc 4 strokes and two vessels have 2008 twin Etec 90's. The 4-stroke Mercs have much more torque. The Etec's are lighter, smaller, and have a nice power band in higher RPM's but the torque is much less and they smoke/smell like any other 2-stroke boat engine I've ever used. I'm sure with the new technology they are not as bad to the environment though. I'm sure they are fine, reliable engines but I would not personally buy Etec based on my experience with them compared to 4 stroke engines.

Good luck with your efforts.
 
Although there are a few advantages to the fuel injected engines vs the carbureted (most no choke, better cold starts, possibly less ethanol problem)--I don't think that you can justify the cost difference between a used Honda with Carburetor with only 30 hours and a new e ted or fuel injected 4 stroke. The weights of the Honda and the E ted are only a few lbs different. You have to use the special oil for the Etec, which will probably make up for the difference for any fuel costs. (of course no engine oil changes for the Etec is a feature).

You don't need more than the 90 hp on the C Dory 22--30 mph is about the max for good handling (sure some folks go faster, but not what the boats are designed for)

Does the cost include rigging and the new gauges which will be necessary with the Etec?

My "new" 22 came with a Honda 90 with very low hours. I have no intent of changing out the engine, even though the last 4 outboards I have owned previously have been fuel injected.

Just be sure to drain the carburetors when you are not using the boat for more than a few weeks. Also best to use non ethanol fuel (in either engine).
 
You're sitting on an outboard that has proven reliability and longevity, that for all intents and purposes is like new. Sure, there may be some inexpensive initial fuel issues to address assuming it's sat for a while - but once done, there's no reason to believe it won't outlast anything you could replace it with.

No way I'd swap it out. I'd put the $4K-7K upgrade cost towards something more beneficial - perhaps updated/additional electronics given the boat's age?
 
Da Nag":wy1tbzh5 said:
You're sitting on an outboard that has proven reliability and longevity, that for all intents and purposes is like new. Sure, there may be some inexpensive initial fuel issues to address assuming it's sat for a while - but once done, there's no reason to believe it won't outlast anything you could replace it with.

No way I'd swap it out. I'd put the $4K-7K upgrade cost towards something more beneficial - perhaps updated/additional electronics given the boat's age?
Click to expand...

DITTO!!
 
I have two friends with E-Tecs that love their motors! They have had no problems at all with them. They are lighter than most comparable 4 strokes, better hole shot power (may not matter on your C-dory). No maintenance for three years I think and there is the no oil changes benifit. If I were looking for a new outboard I would not turn my nose up at an E-tec or for that matter any modern four stroke. I believe they are all good engines
 
So Chief-You've got a Honda with 30 hours on it? In my opinion that motor will be fine for at least four more gold hashmarks. Repower? Fagetabouti!. Just enjoy it.
 
Kevin, are you going to use the boat at different altitudes, i.e. sea level and Lake Powell or Yellowstone Lake? That wouild be a very good argument for converting to fuel injection.
As others have posted the older Honda 90's are proven motors and all the power the boat needs. Regarding Evinrude, the (few) owners I've spoken to have had no unusal issues with them.
 
One has to take the no maintenance for 3 years/300 hours as a bit of advertising publicity. If the engines are run in salt water/silty environment, the water pumps should be at least inspected at 100 hours. The mid section (water pump) bolts need to be pulled, inspected for corrosion and greased before re-assembly, even if the water pump is not replaced. The prop pulled and at least the shaft splines greased/seals examined--and probably the lower unit oil changed on the off chance that monofiliment has caused failure of the seals or there is water intrusion. Yes, the majority of engines--especially if run in fresh water--can go 3 years/300 hours before the first service. (Having broken in a number of outboards, I would change the lower unit oil at 50 hours--just because of what I have seen in particulate matter in previous outboards from the manufacturing process. In reality most outboards (as any other boat engines) are ruined by neglect, more than lack of fluid change etc. By neglect I mean, not flushing regularly, leaving the lower unit in the water, not regularly dissambly of lower unit parts, checking seals, spraying the upper part of the motor with corrosion block etc.

Also fuel filters have to be serviced, the engine flushed etc.

The 20" shaft length 2005 Honda 90 is 373 lbs, The current 20" shaft length 115 hp E Tec is 375 lbs. (which is what the OP mentioned as switching to) (the 90 E Tec is only 325 lbs or 50 lbs less).
 
Kevin-

I've spent some time on this site hammering the Honda 90 for keeping carburetors for quite a few years while others have gone over to fuel injection, but it's still a very good engine, and definitely not in need of a re-powering just to switch over to EFI.

True, EFI engines cold start easier, don't seem to load up with varnish, may use a little less fuel, and adapt to different altitudes automatically, but the difference isn't worth several (3-5) thousand dollars when you've got an engine with 30 hours on it!

Put the $$$ into some other addition (would buy a High-Thrust 8-10 hp kicker and much of a remote steering station and/or speed control, etc.) that would really improve your boat's usability. Such an investment would also be more retrievable upon re-sale than an unnecessary engine replacement.

You could also put the equivalent $$$ into taking the boat on a vacation fishing trip the next time you get an extended leave. When do the albacore come north around Eureka and Crescent City? Interested in a trip to Baja? SE Alaska? :lol:

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Ah $3-5K for an upgrade..... on a "New" engine. Not for me. I'd use a very small portion of that for some really good Marine Stabil (Blue), and some Startron to combat the #*_@%!$$$ ethanol and and go with it. Marty's right, that engine is good for several more gold hashes.

Oh, and buy the way, that E-Tec burns a lot of very expensive oil. (From a comment just heard this weekend at the SBS CBGT from an owner that had one and upgraded out of the E-Tec.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

IMGP1255.highlight.jpg
 
E-techs use very little oil, and the fuel mileage more than makes up for the little oil that it uses. If someone has an e-tech that smells like any other 2 stroke, then something is wrong with that engine.

Don't fear the e-tech. Great engine. But, I also like my twin Suzies though there is no one within 600 miles of me who can service them. If I were to replace the Suzies, it would be with e=techs for reliability, torque, weight, small parts count, super simple maintenance and winterizing and so on. E-techs are also super engines for folks who only get their boats out seasonally as they don't gunk up when sitting. Winterizing and de-winterizing takes all of two minutes with the e-techs. E-techs are good enough for ranger boats on Tahoe, so I think they fit in among the best motors on the market.

I'm and e-tech and Suzie owner, so I know whereof I speak.
 
potter water":1bf5l6ci said:
... If someone has an e-tech that smells like any other 2 stroke, then something is wrong with that engine.

...
Click to expand...

I wondered the same based on all I read about the Etec's. My experience is based on using 4 (four) Etec 90's over 2 seasons. Two vessels in the National Park fleet have twin Etec 90's and two have twin Merc 90 4-strokes. Passengers sometimes comment on the fumes when backing out. Now it's certainly not a ton of smoke like we may see in a really old 2-stroke to be sure but the fumes are very noticeable. The fumes persist even when the engines have been running for several hours. I personally check the oil levels - these are relatively new Etec's (2008) and run only in freshwater.

I'm also surprised about your experience with torque. There is a very noticeable difference with a heavy load and low speed maneuvers with the Etec's compared to the Merc 4 strokes. The Merc's respond better in these conditions. I notice a nice power band in higher RPM's with the Etec's.
 
I suspect it is all a matter of boat type, engine selection versus boat type, altitude operations, etc. etc. etc. Most "my engine is better than your engine" discussions, in the end come down to trying to compare apples and oranges because of the wide variety of engines, hulls, water, etc. I think another person in the thread has it right. These are all good engines, take your pick.

My e-tech has no more smell than the exhaust from the Suzies, but then my nose is pretty old too.
 
Harry said:

"...E-techs use very little oil, and the fuel mileage more than makes up for the little oil that it uses."
Click to expand...

Correct me if I'm wrong but don't the E-tecs burn (as in use) all of their oil.

I'm not a mechanic, nor do I own one but if it is 2 cycle, then the oil is mixed with the fuel, (albeit in the E-Tec case, the engine does the mixing), even though you don't have to mix it in the tank. So how much of that oil gets used for say 40 gallons of gas? And that oil is how much$ so we can compare peaches to apricots :wink :wink

Thanks,

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

1_Honda_Power_2_B_ham_CBGT_2009_956.thumb.jpg
 
Correct me if I'm wrong here. Dosen't Evenrude have two different oil injection settings? Lean (50-1?) for conventional oils and ultra lean (100-1?) for their premium engine oil.
Could the wrong oil and or setting cause odor issues?
 
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